Aviation Weather
Weather theory, hazards, reports, forecasts, graphical products, and official briefing sources.
4 mapped TCO lessonsOpen review lesson →
Enroll · $20/monthInstrument Study Center
Prepare for Instrument training, wherever you fly.
Explore online ground school or use the study tools below. Outside students are welcome; you can keep training with your own instructor.
Online Instrument Ground School
Build the knowledge behind your IFR decisions.
For private pilots starting an Instrument rating and Instrument students preparing between lessons. Train with your own instructor, wherever you fly. You do not need to be a Splendid Aviation flight student to purchase.
- 11 chapters and 23 instructional lessonsWork through systems, navigation, weather, planning, and instrument procedures in a defined sequence.
- Chapter quizzes and four course examsCheck understanding, review answer explanations, and revisit your saved attempts.
- One place to continue studyingReturn to your lessons and progress through your My Splendid account.
A random question list can tell you what you remembered. This course connects the explanation, the lesson, and the assessment so you know what to review with your instructor.
A study course that supports your CFII. Flight instruction, instructor debriefs, endorsements, and checkride fees are separate; purchasing does not grant an endorsement or guarantee a test result.
Read a free lesson excerpt ↓From purchase to your first lesson
- Choose Instrument access.Review this course, price, access period, and refund terms.
- Pay with Stripe.Use the email you want associated with your student account.
- Activate and start studying.Follow the email instructions or sign in to your existing My Splendid account, then open Instrument Ground School.
Free lesson excerpt · Weather Factors and Hazards
Instrument-weather decisions combine atmospheric structure, stability, moisture, lift, wind, fronts, and terrain with the hazards those processes create along the route and at the planned time.
- Relate pressure patterns, temperature, moisture, stability, and lifting mechanisms to cloud type, ceiling, visibility, precipitation, turbulence, and convective potential.
- Treat thunderstorms as avoidance hazards. Account for embedded cells, gust fronts, wind shear, lightning, hail, turbulence, and rapidly changing conditions beyond the visible cloud boundary.
Why it matters: Weather products describe an evolving atmosphere. The pilot must convert observations and forecasts into route, altitude, timing, fuel, and escape decisions.
Course source: SA Instrument TCO Rev 0 Ground Lesson 20; FAA-H-8083-28B Aviation Weather Handbook; AIM Chapter 7; FAA-S-ACS-8C Area III.
This excerpt is for preview. It does not create a grade or completion record.
View Instrument course access ↑Before you enroll
Can I buy this if I train at another flight school?
Yes. Individual online course access is intended for pilots training with their own instructor, including pilots outside Splendid Aviation. A Splendid flight-training package is not required.
How do I access the course, and what is the format?
Use your My Splendid account to launch Instrument Ground School. Lessons and assessments run in your browser. The course is self-paced, with Access for each paid monthly period. This is online access, not a shipment of books or a scheduled live class.
Who is this for, and when should I use it?
Private pilots preparing for an Instrument rating and students already taking Instrument flight lessons. Study before your lesson, review the topics your instructor assigns, and use the assessments to identify areas that need more work.
Does it replace my instructor or provide an endorsement?
No. Work with your CFII for flight training, personalized debriefs, readiness decisions, and required endorsements. Course purchase and online scores do not automatically provide those services.
Is this the same as the free tools or a voice practice pack?
No. Free flashcards and flight-preparation tools remain available. Ground School provides structured course access and assessments. A voice practice pack is a separate product and does not purchase the Instrument course.
What about course updates?
The course is maintained online. The content available during your access period may be corrected or updated. Purchase does not promise new features, future programs, or lifetime access.
What is the refund policy?
Cancel future renewals at any time. Paid access continues through your paid period. Paid periods are normally non-refundable; billing errors, undelivered access, and applicable legal rights are covered by the terms.
Read the cancellation and refund termsWhat happens at checkout, or if I cannot get into my account?
Stripe shows the order and available payment methods before you confirm payment. After payment, the return page provides account instructions and a secure My Splendid sign-in link once access is ready. If your activation email is delayed, keep your receipt and contact support@splendidaviation.com. Existing students should check their account before buying duplicate access.
Explore the curriculum
Your Instrument course roadmap
Follow the course from weather and aircraft systems to navigation, planning, and approaches. Each chapter connects the lesson material with the decisions you will discuss with your instructor.
Human Factors and Decision Making
Instrument-flight physiology, situational awareness, resource management, and aeronautical decision making.
1 mapped TCO lessonOpen review lesson →Flight Instruments
Instrument systems, operation, errors, limitations, and IFR equipment requirements.
1 mapped TCO lessonOpen review lesson →Aerodynamics of Instrument Flying
Attitude instrument flying, cross-check, aircraft control, system failures, and unusual attitudes.
1 mapped TCO lessonOpen review lesson →Navigation Tools
VOR, DME, RNAV, GPS, integrity monitoring, database currency, and navigation limitations.
1 mapped TCO lessonOpen review lesson →Federal Aviation Regulations
Instrument privileges, operating rules, airworthiness, equipment, experience, and proficiency requirements.
1 mapped TCO lessonOpen review lesson →Instrument Departure Procedures
IFR clearance and departure planning, obstacle departures, SIDs, releases, and climb requirements.
1 mapped TCO lessonOpen review lesson →National Airspace System
Airspace, airports, flight information, ATC systems, radar services, and communications.
2 mapped TCO lessonsOpen review lesson →En-Route Operations
ATC clearances, en-route charts and procedures, holding, reports, and IFR emergencies.
4 mapped TCO lessonsOpen review lesson →Cross-Country Flight Planning
IFR decision making, route and altitude selection, weather integration, navigation logs, and flight plans.
1 mapped TCO lessonOpen review lesson →Arrivals and Approaches
Arrivals, approach charts and procedures, VOR, ILS, GPS/RNAV, missed approaches, and landing decisions.
6 mapped TCO lessonsOpen review lesson →Practice and preparation
Choose the tool for your next study session.
Review free flashcards, prepare for a flight lesson, or open voice practice. Voice tools show their own access requirements.
More Study Tools
Open Printable Guide
Interactive procedure lab
Visualize the ILS descent profile
Adjust groundspeed and glidepath to estimate a target descent rate. Current charts, aircraft documents, and instructor direction control.