Lesson reorganizations + new airworthiness content

Hey pilots! May content updates are live with some major reorganizations and important new regulatory content.

CFI & MEI Lessons & Slides

• II.D. Principles of Flight — Totally reorganized for smoother, more logical flow with new info on AOA (for teaching - not ACS required), load factors, and risk management
• II.E. Flight Controls & Systems — Light reorganization for better flow and structure
• II.F. Performance & Limitations — Light reorganization for better flow and structure
• II.G. National Airspace System — Reorganized for smoother progression. Now flows from Class A to Class G airspace with a separate Rules section
• III.B. Airworthiness Requirements — Added "Key Nuances" on 100-hour inspection requirements referencing the FAA's Colvin, Fly By Knight, and Pipitone Letters of Interpretation
• III.C. Weather Information — Added depth and clarification on task R2a - Onboard Weather Equipment

ACS Reviews

• Private & Commercial — I.B. Airworthiness: Added applicable information from the Colvin LOI
• CFI — III.B. Airworthiness Requirements: Added "Key Nuances" on 100-hour inspection requirements

Understanding the 100-Hour Inspection Changes

The updated airworthiness content references some important FAA Letters of Interpretation that clarify when the 100-hour inspection is actually required. I've put together two blog posts to help clarify these nuances — these aren't just academic, they're real scenarios.

• Start here: The 100-Hour Inspection Rule Explained — Covers the foundational Fly By Knight LOI
• Then read: Who Provides the Aircraft? It Matters More Than You Think — Dives deeper into the Colvin and Pipitone letters

CFI Class Pass — Changes Coming

We're restructuring the Class Pass to combine the best parts of the CFI Prep Course with what's working in the current format. Still $95/month. We'll keep you posted as these changes roll out.

• New structure for better learning and accountability
• More communication — updates when videos are posted and notes on each week's classes
• Different day options to give you more flexibility
• And A LOT more ideas we're testing
• Get your Class Pass here

New: PPL Ground School

I'm putting together a structured Private Pilot ground school — an entirely new product aimed at Flight Schools and Independent CFIs who want formal training materials. Bonus: as we format and structure these PPL lessons, it's leading to improvements in the CFI content too. That's one of the reasons you're seeing reorganizations and new content added to CFI lessons in this month's update.

• Complete structured syllabi
• Will expand to additional ratings over time
• Still in development but making solid progress

What's Next

• Improvements to the FOI Study Tool and launching it as a standalone product
• PPL Ground School development continues
• New website is VERY close to launch
• CFI Class Pass improvements rolling out

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Hey pilots! April content updates are in your account and we've got some exciting additions this month. Here's everything:

CFI & MEI Content

• NEW! — XV.F. Turbine Engine Operations: As turbine content becomes more common in Commercial checkrides and airline interviews, we've got you covered
• II.I. Navigation & Flight Planning: Updated flight intercept procedures & DA calculation
• X.A. to E. Slow Flight & Stalls: Clarified yaw effects, specifically gyroscopic action

CFI-I Content

• V.B. Compliance with Procedures: Updated Position Report items to read next succeeding point

ACS Reviews

• Quick fix of DA calculation references (replaced 15°C with ISA)

Syllabi

• All Student Trackers cleaned up — Removed default dates for each lesson and restructured date entry

FOI Study Tool — Making Real Progress

The FOI Study Tool continues to evolve. Not its own product yet (only accessible as part of 'TWS Pro' at the moment), but it's getting close! Stay tuned.

• Meet BSP (Backseat Pilot) — Your AI study helper rooted in the Aviation Instructor's Handbook for accurate Q&A and insights
• Edit and save your lessons digitally on the site
• Approve or Deny BSP updates to your digital lessons
• Multiple study tools including a mock oral based on the FOI ACS requirements
• Use the study tools alongside the digital BSP lessons

CFI Prep Course — 4 Days, Next Week

We're running one intensive session next week in a new format. Four students max (only 3 spots left). Four focused sessions. Real personalized feedback and mock checkride prep on the final day.

• April 6th–9th (4 consecutive days)
• 4:00–5:30pm PT daily
• Perfect if you're struggling with structure, unsure where to start, looking for a head start on CFI training, or ready to sharpen your teaching skills
• Check out the killer reviews and grab your spot here.

CFI Class Pass

Three focused live classes every week. Expect some restructuring soon to make it even more convenient and structured.

• Saturdays at 1pm PT — CFI-I / MEI Checkride Prep
• Sundays at 3pm PT — CFI Checkride Prep
• Sundays at 5pm PT — Office Hours (whatever you need!)
• $95/month for all of it — get your Class Pass here.

What's Next

• CFI Class Pass restructuring — Making it more convenient and structured
• FOI Study Tool — Will be its own product in the near future and will grow outside the FOIs
• New website — Close to complete and much cleaner and faster
• MORE updates and improvements coming your way

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Hey pilots — quick heads-up: we just pushed March content updates. Here's what changed and why.
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As promised, this month brings the Mac versions (Pages/Keynote) of all the updates we released in February.

Content Updates

As promised, this month brings the Mac versions (Pages/Keynote) of all the updates we released in February.

CFI & MEI Content

• All FOI lessons with the new restructured format
• Link and formatting updates throughout

CFI-I Content

• Various Lessons — Slide fixes and clean up

ACS Reviews

• Link fixes and formatting updates

FOI Study Tool

• A lot of changes and progress here!
• Latest Addition: A conversational DPE/mock checkride feature for the FOI topics!
• Beta Test: I'll send out another email within a week describing the process and what it entails, and asking for 5–10 volunteers for a 4-week test.

What's Next

• Consistent content updates and improvements
• Once I finish the FOI work, I'll start reformatting the rest of the lessons
• Digital study tools beta testing and expansion (I have so many ideas)
• New website is getting closer
• So much has changed over the last 6 months with the Class Pass and new digital tools and I'm really excited to see where it goes over the next few months!

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Hey pilots — quick heads-up: we just pushed February content updates. Here's what changed and why.

Content Updates

As promised, this month brings the Mac versions (Pages/Keynote) of all the updates we released in February.

CFI & MEI Content

• All FOI lessons with the new restructured format
• Link and formatting updates throughout

CFI-I Content

• Various Lessons — Slide fixes and clean up

ACS Reviews

• Link fixes and formatting updates

FOI Study Tool

• A lot of changes and progress here!
• Latest Addition: A conversational DPE/mock checkride feature for the FOI topics!
• Beta Test: I'll send out another email within a week describing the process and what it entails, and asking for 5–10 volunteers for a 4-week test.

What's Next

• Consistent content updates and improvements
• Once I finish the FOI work, I'll start reformatting the rest of the lessons
• Digital study tools beta testing and expansion (I have so many ideas)
• New website is getting closer
• So much has changed over the last 6 months with the Class Pass and new digital tools and I'm really excited to see where it goes over the next few months!

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Content Updates

This month's updates are just for the Word/PowerPoint and PDF formats. Mac versions (Pages/Keynote) coming in the next update - my apologies, things got very busy launching our new Class Pass and finishing the FOI tool.

CFI & MEI Content

• Section I Lessons — All FOI lessons are now completely restructured — Cleaner logical progression, concepts tied together, building toward practical application
• This new structure works seamlessly with our new FOI training tool (see below!)
• All Lessons — Link and formatting updates throughout

CFI-I Content

• Various Lessons — Links cleaned up and typos fixed

The Big One: Our FOI Tool is Built

The FOIs are where I see most CFI candidates struggle - and it makes sense. These concepts are completely new, but they're also the foundation of your Instructor checkride. So we're building something to fix that. And it's just the start.

• Learn — Study concepts alongside your BSP lessons (focused on application)
• Listen — Audio versions of lessons
• Quiz — Test your knowledge with practice questions and explanations
• Teach — Practice teaching concepts with immediate AI feedback
• Oral — Practice DPE oral questions with immediate AI feedback

The restructured FOI content you just downloaded? It's designed to work hand-in-hand with this tool.
And here's the vision: This same approach (and A LOT more) will eventually expand to all ACS tasks. FOI is the proving ground. Once we dial this in, we'll have this level of interactive training for everything from stalls to systems to checkride prep.
We're finalizing logins now, then I'll be looking for more FOI trial users. I'll keep you posted.

What's Next

• Mac FOI content updates (Pages/Keynote)
• FOI Tool launch and expansion
• New website is moving along
• Continued growth of Class Pass and CFI Prep Course offerings
• New ways to support your path to CFI (and farther)
• And, of course, more content refinement - because we're never really "done"

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Happy New Year, Pilots! We're kicking off 2026 with something we've been working hard on, and I think you're going to love it.

Launching This Weekend: The CFI Class Pass

Your new secret weapon for checkride prep. Weekly live classes starting Saturday, January 3rd, designed to get (or keep) you sharp, ready, and confident.

• Saturdays 1pm PT - CFI-I & MEI Topics
• Sundays 3pm PT - Mock Checkride Oral Prep
• Sundays 5pm PT - CFI Office Hours (bring your questions!)

Up to 18 hours of live instruction each month for just $95. Quick math: that's about $5 per hour of expert instruction, community support, and real checkride prep.

And your first week of classes? FREE. Try it out, see if it's for you, then decide.

CFI & MEI Updates

• I.A. Behavior & Communication – Added new "attention" + reorganized for clearer concept grouping
• II.K. Endorsements & Logbooks – Updated AC 61-65K links and corrected 61.39(g) & (h) references

Content Updates

• I.B. ^Learning Process - Improved flow and org (building toward our upcoming FOI study system!)
• II.K. Endorsements & Logbook Entries - Match the new AC 61-65K order and phrasing
• Plus various typo fixes and clarity improvements across multiple lessons

CFI-I Content

• II.D. Logbook Entries - Endorsements now match AC 61-65K standards

ACS Reviews & Syllabi

• AC 61-65K alignment

What's Next

• 1:1 CFI Prep Instruction - Coming soon for targeted, personal attention
• FOI + AI Study System - Making FOIs actually stick
• A new website is in the works
• And, of course, ongoing content refinement - Because we're never "done" improving

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