Logging Ground Instruction

The Question:

Do I need to receive and/or log ground instruction? I completed a home study course.

My Thoughts:

Federal Aviation Regulations, specifically §61.105(a) (and others) states "must receive and log ground instruction..."

This is an FAA hot topic, where a few years ago they were trying to educate instructors about the requirement to log ground instruction. Now they are violating instructors who fail to log ground instruction.

Pilot Examiners may refuse to give a checkride if the pilot applicant does not have any logged ground instruction. They are entirely correct as the applicant does not meet the minimum requirements needed to apply for the checkride. If the instructor is a serial offender, the Examiner may decide to fail the pilot applicant (it's the student's responsibility as well as the instructor), and/or make a call to the FAA.

The home study course is excellent, but the instructor must still issue and correct a pre-solo written exam, the topics required by regulation, as well as educate the pilot undergoing instruction on any areas missed on the Knowledge Test (as required).