Helicopter Online Ground School Podcast

After 30 months of working with students from all over the country, one thing is clear: success on check-ride day comes from mastering the fundamentals, not chasing the exotic. Know your Category and Class. Know your night requirements. Get those simple things right, and you’ll earn instant credibility with your examiner.

The “two flights a day” approach isn’t about doing less — it’s about doing smarter. It’s structured repetition, thoughtful rest, and focused review. Flying helicopters demands physical skill, mental clarity, and emotional control. If you’re exhausted, you’re not learning — you’re surviving. So cut the unnecessary flying, focus on quality over quantity, and train like a pro. Because on check ride day, it’s not about who flew the most — it’s about who’s the most ready.

At www.HelicopterGround.com you can start a FREE 24-Hour Test Flight inside any of our courses — Private Pilot, Instrument, Commercial, or CFI. No credit card. No pressure. Just real lessons, real videos, and the tools that have helped thousands of pilots worldwide pass their check rides with confidence.And while you’re getting your logbook in order, grab the free tools every pilot should have before their next check ride:

Over the years, Kenny has seen students who walked into a check-ride nervous but prepared — their FAR/AIM tagged, color-coded, and ready. Then he’s seen others scramble through unmarked pages when the examiner asked something simple like, “Where do you find currency requirements?”Guess who leaves with a temporary airman certificate — and who leaves with homework?The takeaway? Don’t just own a FAR/AIM. Own what’s inside it.

Preflight discipline is a mindset. It’s something the best pilots carry from their first lesson through their entire career. When you make it a habit to shut out distractions and stay methodical, it shows up everywhere else — in your flying, your confidence, and your decision-making.If you’re training, start now. When you preflight, commit fully. When someone else is, give them space.Because when it comes to aviation safety, silence really can save lives. 

Pilots are using AskHogs before their check-rides and coming out ahead — sharper, more confident, and finally understanding the why behind what they’re doing. It’s like having Kenny sitting in the hangar next to you, only without him drinking all the coffee. ☕It’s free. It’s instant. And it’s freakishly good.

It’s okay to break a rule — when you understand it well enough to know why the exception exists.Guarding the collective isn’t just about control; it’s about discipline, awareness, and respect for how quickly things can go wrong in the wrong hands.So, never take your hand off the collective…Except when you should.And when you do, make sure it’s for the right reasons.

Repetition Builds Real InstructorsAt H.O.G.S., we’ve always said the best CFIs are built, not bought.The same goes for knowledge.If you want to pass your CFI check-ride and go on to be a truly effective instructor, commit to doing the work.Write it.Say it out loud.Explain it to someone else.Repetition is how instructors are made — and it’s the only way to master the FOI.Free Tools to Help You Study SmarterYou don’t have to do it alone. H.O.G.S. has free study resources designed to help you sharpen your FOI understanding and reinforce the fundamentals that matter most.

At H.O.G.S., we’re all about simplifying the process — making it easier to understand, but never cutting corners. That’s why we offer free resources that help you start building your own foundation the right way:

The Basics Never Go AwayEvery pilot, from student to seasoned CFI, can benefit from this reminder: the basics never stop mattering. The ACS checklist is the foundation for a smooth, stress-free check-ride. Forget it, and you’re setting yourself up for a preventable disaster.So before your next check-ride, grab your ACS, flip to that back page, and go through it line by line. It’s not just about paperwork—it’s about professionalism.✅ Join the Final Approach Course: FinalApproachCourse.com ✅ 24-Hour Free Test Flight: HelicopterGround.com 

Old-School Habits That Still Save LivesSome habits aren’t outdated — they’re timeless.That’s why at H.O.G.S., we teach students to go back to basics.Start the timer. Track your burn. Check your math.Don’t let the simplicity fool you — that’s what keeps you sharp, aware, and safe.Because at the end of the day, technology can fail, gauges can glitch, and fuel doesn’t forgive mistakes.Finish Strong with the Final Approach CourseIf you’re working toward your next rating and want to make sure your training, procedures, and check-ride habits are solid, our Final Approach Course is built to get you there.

Join the DiscussionHave you ever been taught to add right pedal during your sprag clutch check? If not — why do you think that is?Join the conversation and share your thoughts on the H.O.G.S. YouTube Channel.

Triple-Check EverythingAs Kenny puts it, “You can’t assume someone else handled it for you — because when you’re sitting with the examiner, you’re the one responsible.”That means before your check-ride, you should: Review every endorsement — make sure it’s signed, dated, and matches the correct regulation. Compare your logbook totals to the FAA requirements for your certificate or rating. Confirm instructor qualifications for each stage of training. These steps may sound simple, but they prevent one of the most frustrating outcomes: traveling for your check-ride only to find out you’re missing something small that stops the whole process.Finish What You StartedThe Final Approach Course was designed for exactly these situations — helping students tie up loose ends, fix missing requirements, and finish their training the right way.

The Final Approach Course AdvantageWhen you book a Final Approach Course, you’re not just training for maneuvers. You’re: Getting logbooks reviewed line-by-line. Matching your hours directly against ACS requirements. Finishing strong with an examiner who’s worked with us for 25+ years. If you’re ready to finally finish your rating, call Heather at (574) 767-1797 or visit FinalApproachCourse.com . We have October openings right now.Free Resources Helicopter Maneuver Guide – free PDF for maneuver standards. AskHogs.com – Kenny’s AI clone, answering your helicopter training questions 24/7. HelicopterGround.com – explore any course with a free 24-hour test flight, backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. TakeawayThe 5-hour instrument requirement for Commercial helicopter isn’t optional, and it isn’t confusing once you know the rule.A CFI or CFII can sign it. A safety pilot cannot. Get it right in your logbook and you won’t get tripped up on check-ride day.

Final Approach Course AdvantageAt H.O.G.S., our Final Approach Course was built to help pilots avoid mistakes like this. We’ve seen 30 check-rides in 30 months, and every one revealed lessons worth sharing.That’s why we keep spots limited — one or two students at a time, with instructors dedicated to getting you finished up the right way.

The Final Approach Course AdvantageAt H.O.G.S., we’ve run 30 check-rides in 30 months. Every single one revealed a new lesson, a new mistake, or a new technique worth sharing. That’s why we created this series—to help you avoid these pitfalls before you sit down with the examiner.When you book a Final Approach Course, you get:

Final Approach Course AdvantageThis is exactly why we built the Final Approach Course. For 30 months now, we’ve welcomed pilots from across the country who just couldn’t get finished at home. Maybe their instructor left, their aircraft was down, or they were stuck behind a full schedule.At H.O.G.S., we keep it simple:

What would you do at 70 knots in an R44 when the tail rotor suddenly fails?That’s not a trick question—it’s one of the most critical emergency procedures you’ll ever face. And believe it or not, in the last 30 months of Final Approach Courses (FAC), we’ve had at least three applicants confidently give me the wrong answer over Zoom before they ever made it to Indiana.Instead of following the Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH), they started explaining some creative “instructor-taught” maneuver—using the throttle to manipulate the nose and “limp back home.” Sounds clever? Wrong. That answer = instant check-ride failure.The Final Approach Course AdvantageThis is exactly why pilots from all over the country keep coming to H.O.G.S. for finish-ups. We don’t just prep your flying—we prep everything. From POH procedures to ACS requirements to making sure your paperwork is squared away.No more waiting weeks for a flight slot. No more hoping your instructor sticks around. No more check-rides derailed by missing logbooks o

When Rich came to H.O.G.S. for his CFI add-on, he immediately stood out. A retired airline captain with over 26,000 hours, he carried himself with calm confidence. During his very first Zoom session, he offered to teach the S-bar maneuver off the cuff — and delivered a polished 45-minute lesson like it was second nature.That kind of preparation and professionalism left an impression. Rich showed what it looks like when a pilot arrives fully ready, not just in the helicopter but in every detail.Unfortunately, many applicants don’t show up that way. And one of the biggest problem areas? Logbooks.A Viewer Question Worth SharingRecently, a pilot asked:“I’ve been duplicating my paper logbook electronically as a backup. Do examiners accept electronic copies or printouts? They won’t have the instructor’s signature — could that be an issue?”The answer is simple: yes, it’s an issue.If your logbook doesn’t clearly show instructor signatures for dual flights and endorsements, it will not be accepted for a check-ride.The

Check-Ride Essentials: Don’t Walk In Without TheseWhen it comes to check-rides, even the strongest applicants can stumble if they’re missing the required items. No matter how sharp your flying skills or how deep your knowledge, the check-ride won’t start without the proper documents.In today’s episode of 30 Check-Rides, 30 Lessons: Final Approach Course Real-World Wins & Fails, we share Robert Gardner’s story — and how one missing item nearly derailed his CFI check-ride before it even began.Robert’s StoryRobert came to H.O.G.S. from New Mexico for his initial CFI check-ride. From the start, it was clear he had prepared thoroughly. He had done the studying, mastered the material, and flew the helicopter well.When our schedule opened, I told him, “Get in your car and start driving.” He did just that — packed his car, drove to Indiana, and trained with us until he was ready.But on check-ride day, something happened that could have stopped everything.The Logbook ScareWe flew the helicopter to the examiner’s o