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Pilot Institute Review 2024: Is It Really The Best Online Ground School Today?
Looking for Pilot Institute reviews 2024? Then you’re in the right place.
The photography industry is no longer limited to handheld cameras. Drones have become popular today as they enable you to capture scenes from a different perspective.
But, is drone flying as easy as it seems? What about the Part 107 test?
In this Pilot Institute review, we’ll answer the following:
- what is Pilot Institute?
- what exactly do they offer?
- do these courses really help?
- is Pilot Institute legit and worth investing in?
And lots more.
Without further ado, let’s begin!
Pilot Institute Review 2024 (Summary)
- Website: https://pilotinstitute.com/
- Founder: Greg Reverdiau & Johann Beishline
- Location: Prescott, Arizona
- Product Type: Online ground school
- Best for: Beginner drone and airplane operators
- Pricing: $0 – $837
- Money-back guarantee: 30 days
- Recommended: Yes
Pilot Institute has been around since around 2020.
In a span of 4 years, they have already helped over 280,000 students pass their FAA exam through their online courses and ground school.
But, Greg started creating the first course in 2015. It took him a year to finish the lesson plan but it was all worth it because it became a major hit.
Generally speaking, this business was created to help aspirants fulfill their aviation dreams.
(As a photography website we focus on drones, but do keep in mind that it’s for beginner airplane operators too.)
The photography industry also found a good use for their classes since many professionals are now into drone flying – a field already mastered by the coaches in PI.
If you think you can fly drones anytime, anywhere, then you probably haven’t heard of the FAA regulations about this. At Pilot Institute, you will learn everything you need to know about commercial/recreational drone flying.
The entire PI team is committed to helping you get that certification so you can fly your airplanes and drones professionally without issues.
Now…
Is Pilot Institute worth it?
Oh yes, Pilot institute is absolutely worth it!
Thousands of 5-star reviews and a 30-day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee can’t help but make you wanna check it out.
What Is Pilot Institute?
First things first:
What is Pilot Institute?
Pilot Institute is an online learning hub/ground school where you can learn everything about flying drones and airplanes.
They prepare you for the FAA exams and the real-world flying experience.
This platform offers several courses that run from commercial drone lessons to training as a private pilot, and many other aviation-related stuff.
They have a 99% passing rate and have since helped more than hundreds of thousands of students get their license to fly.
Not only that, they confidently promise to refund your class and send you $175 in case you fail the test on your first try.
Plus, they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied with your classes.
This just goes to show how much effort the team has exerted to confidently provide you with top-tier learning resources from a pro.
The People Behind Pilot Institute
Pilot Institute is spearheaded by Greg Reverdiau & Johann Beishline.
They were brought together by their passion for flying and later decided to create Pilot Institute.
Greg Reverdiau is from France and he was exposed to the aviation industry at a very young age because his uncle was an airline pilot in the US. When he visited him by the time he was 12, Greg knew he was set to become a pilot as well.
When he turned 20, he left his home country and flew to the US to fulfill his dreams.
When he became a pilot with his first flight in 1999, Greg had no plans of returning to France since he wanted to stay in America for good.
Then, the 9/11 tragedy happened and that took a toll on the aviation industry. Reverdiau just recently graduated around that time, so looking for a job related to flying or teaching (as a flight instructor) is far-fetched.
Since he didn’t want to go back to his home country, he decided to take on a management position at the place where he studied. Greg worked there for 13 long years and became VP of the aviation program.
While working there, Greg noticed the absence of ground school instructors there. They were using an online platform to train students. And this is where he got the idea.
He started creating his first course in 2015, but it wasn’t easy. It took him a year to produce and complete it. But it was all worth it considering that it became a major hit.
Now, this brings us to the story of the other founder, Johann Beishline. Johann had a marketing company that he recently sold around the same time. He wanted to spend more time with his family.
He accompanied his grandfather to fulfill his lifelong dream of flying in a hot air balloon. After that experience, Johann developed an interest in aviation as well. So, he searched for ground schools where he could learn how to fly.
After numerous searches, he stumbled upon a video – yes, you guessed it right. It was Greg’s first instructional video.
Shortly, the two got acquainted and built Pilot Institute, and the rest is history.
Who Is It For?
So, just who is Pilot Institute for?
Well, it’s for those of you who wish to pass the FAA exam.
But more than that, it’s for those who wish to gain more than just preparing for the test. It’s for those who want to become a highly knowledgeable pilot with relevant training.
The point is, that it’s for everyone who wants to fulfill their aviation dreams – a ground school right in the comforts of your home.
So if you’re planning to enroll in a ground school and want to save up on fees (in-person training is very expensive), then Pilot Institute is the place to go.
Courses Offered (Free and Paid)
Pilot Institute offers a wide array of courses you can choose from – for both manned and unmanned aircraft. Let’s check out the list of their courses below.
Paid Classes
These are classes mostly headed by the founder Greg Reverdiau himself. He has been a professional pilot since the early 2000s and has been in the aviation academe for quite a long time.
He has experience in teaching and commercial flying as well. He’s a coach you definitely can put your trust in.
Here is the list of paid courses you can individually enroll in:
- Part 107 Made Easy
- Drone Maneuvers Mastery
- Drone Business Made Easy
- Drone Photography Fundamentals
- Drone Videography Fundamentals
- Real Estate Photo & Video
- Drone Mapping Foundations
- Drone Surveying Made Easy
- Drone Modelling Made Easy
- Visual Observer Essentials
- Drone Flying 101
- Drone Responders Part 107 Public Safety Class
- NIST Made Easy
- Cinematic FPV Drone from Scratch
- Private Pilot Made Easy
- Instrument Rating Made Easy
- Commercial Pilot Made Easy
- Checkride Made Easy
- DJI Matrice 30 Deep Dive
- DJI Matrice 300 DD
- Airspace and Charts for UAS Drone Pilots
- Aviation Weather
- Part 107 Waivers Made Easy
- Airplane Maneuvers Mastery
- Multiengine Training
- G1000 Made Easy
Paid Course Bundles
Pilot Institute also offers course bundles so you can learn more and save more. If you are planning to take several courses at PI, check the list below and see if your desired classes are offered in packages.
- Commercial Drone Pilot Bundle
- Drone Photo/Video Fundamentals
- 2 for 1 Bundle: Part 107 Made Easy/Drone Maneuvers Mastery
- Part 107 + Aerial Photo & Video
- Part 107 + Aerial Photo & Video + Drone Business Package
- Drone Mapping/Surveying/Modelling Bundle
- Public Safety + NIST + COA
- Private Pilot + Instrument Rating
- Private Pilot + Instrument Rating + Commercial Pilot Class
- Commercial Pilot + Instrument
- Private Pilot + Airplane Maneuvers
- Commercial Pilot + Airplane Maneuvers
FREE Training
The best part about Pilot Institute is that they provide free lessons and resources. These are very essential classes that will not only help you pass the exam but also become a better pilot in the future.
- Ultimate Drone Pilot Guide
- How to Apply for a Public Safety COA
- Recreational Flying Made Easy
- The Cinematic Drone Footage Playbook
- Part 107 Night Training
- Private Pilot Ground School
- Sporty’s Electronic E6B
- Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Pilot
Free Deep Dive Classes
These are drones that the pros at Pilot Institute have personally tested. Check out the list below and see if they have a free class for your gear.
- Course E6B
- CX3
- Parrot Anafi AI
- DJI Avata
- DJI Mini 3
- DJI Mavic 3
- Autel EVO 2
- DJI Air 2S
- Mavic Air 2
- DJI FPV
- DJI Mini 2
- Mavic Mini
- Parrot Anafi Thermal
- Parrot Anafi USA
- SkyeBrowse
- Autel Lite Plus
- Mavic 2 Pro/Zoom
- Aloft Air Control
- Skydio X2
- DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise/Thermal
- Skydio 2
- Cessna 172
- EVO Max 4T
- Diamond DA40 Diamond Star
- DJI Inspire 3
WOW! That’s quite a lot of courses out there. This goes to show how much dedication the entire team put into this platform to prepare you to become a pilot.
Pilot Institute Prices and Discounts
Greg and the team wanted to bridge the gap between aspiring students and the aviation industry, so they made sure the prices were affordable and offered good value for money.
As you may have noticed above, there are tons of free pieces of training, which is a bonus already. But their paid courses can range from $49 to $378 depending on which class you enroll in.
If you go for the bundles, the most expensive one they have is only priced at $837.
It’s possible that when you decide to join when they’re running sales.
Visit the website to check prices and discounts.
Is Pilot Institute Legit? Worth It?
So…
- Is Pilot Institute legit?
- Is Pilot Institute worth it?
Yes, Pilot Institute 100% legit and yes, it is very much worth it.
Their students have a 99.9% success/passing rate and couldn’t be any happier they took the courses.
Take a look at its review rating:
Not only will you pass the exam, but they promise you will become a more capable pilot and your coaches won’t fail to notice that.
Pilot Institute’s promise is backed by their 30-day money-back guarantee in case you don’t find the lessons helpful.
Plus, if you fail the exam on your first try, they will be sending you $175 right away. That’s how sure Greg and his team are about your success if you study with them.
Pretty awesome, don’t you think?
Pilot Institute Review 2024: Final Thoughts
Pilot Institute is a good place to start fulfilling your aviation dreams.
Or even if you’re only planning to become a pilot of an unmanned aircraft, you’ll certainly pick up several learnings when you enroll in any of their courses.
What’s more interesting is that alongside the paid classes, you can also get a lot of free lessons, especially for drone flying.
All in all, Pilot Institute is legit and worth checking out.
Now, I’d like to hear from you:
- What do you think of this Pilot Institute review 2024?
- Do you agree it’s the best online drone school, or do you have another recommendation?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!