***FIRST CLASS ON TUESDAY 9/1 @ 6PM***

The purpose of this course is to provide students with all necessary book knowledge to pass the FAA private pilot written exam and become a private pilot. "Ground school" is the first step in the process of becoming an FAA-licensed private pilot; therefore, this DeCal is not designed to teach students how to control a physical aircraft, but rather to prepare a student for practical flight training and delve into the world of aviation. Similar to driving school (and like all pilot ground schools), the course will be held in a (virtual) classroom.

All instructors for the course are students at UC Berkeley who have earned their private pilot's licenses. Some instructors are graduates of this very DeCal!

There will be weekly reading and homework, as well as occasional quizzes. Remote attendance counts for 25% of the final grade (see syllabus). A passing (>= 70%) score on the optional final exam results in an automatic "Pass". The student who scores the highest grade above 80% on the final exam will receive a free flight lesson with a certificated flight instructor at a local flight school (as soon as practical)! All grading policies are detailed in the course syllabus.

Classes will be held TuTh 6:00-8:00pm starting on Tuesday, August 31. Auditors are welcome (send an email to jaxelrod@berkeley.edu for access), and receive the same course resource access as registered students.

Enrollment is first come, first served via calcentral.berkeley.edu. The university course listing can be found at classes.berkeley.edu: PHYSICS 98 002 (class #34305) for lower division students, PHYSICS 198 002 (class #34306) for upper division students. YOU MUST ENROLL FOR 2 UNITS ONLY.