Private Pilot Training Materials

For the FAA private pilot knowledge exam you need current test prep that includes the active question bank with answer explanations, plus a core reference such as the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge; a complete training kit from ASA, Gleim, or Jeppesen bundles both together.

For most students a complete kit is the better value because it bundles the textbook, syllabus, knowledge test prep, and reference handbooks at a lower combined price than buying each title separately, and it ensures the materials are designed to work together.

Gleim is structured and tightly focused on passing the written exam, ASA offers comprehensive materials widely adopted by flight schools, and Jeppesen uses a heavily illustrated textbook system; all three are FAA-aligned, so the best choice depends on how you prefer to learn.

The aeronautical knowledge is the same, but kits are organized differently for each rule, so choose a Part 61 kit if you are training with an independent instructor and a Part 141 kit if you are enrolled in an approved flight school program.

Most pilots continue with instrument or commercial training next; you can carry over your foundational handbooks and move on to the matching test prep and reference materials in our broader flight training material and training and simulation collections.