Learn to Fly – Continue to the cfiRon.com website!
Accelerate Your Flight Training Journey
The more you learn on the ground, the faster you will learn in the air. This section provides structured ground-based learning — articles, curated videos, and a 53+ hour simulation curriculum — designed to supplement and accelerate your flight training, not replace professional instruction.
Ron Craighead is an instrument-rated commercial pilot and independent Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) operating from Gillespie Field (KSEE) and Montgomery Field (KMYF) in San Diego. He holds an Aeronautics degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with military aviation background through Civil Air Patrol and U.S. Navy service.
The Learning Strategy
“In order to really get a message across, it needs to be said seven times, seven different ways.”
Flight training uses multiple exposure methods to build deep understanding:
Read
Complex topics broken into 20-minute digestible pieces. No prior knowledge required.
Watch
Curated video collections from experienced instructors. Repetition from different angles reinforces learning.
Simulate
53+ hour structured curriculum on a high-fidelity Cessna 172SP G1000 digital twin. Save 20+ flight hours.
Each method reinforces the others. A student who has read about stalls, watched a stall recovery video, and practiced stalls in the simulator will handle their first real stall with confidence.
Why an Independent CFI?
- Consistency — same instructor every lesson (no rotation)
- Flexibility — scheduling that works for your life
- Experience — instructors who teach because they love it, not to build hours
- Personalized pace — training adapted to how you learn
Getting Started
Thinking about learning to fly?
Start with Discovery & Principles of Flight. No commitment — just learn what it’s about.
Already a student pilot?
Jump into the simulation curriculum or browse the video library to supplement your training.
Returning to flying?
If you’ve been away from the cockpit, a structured refresher program will get you current and confident.
Flight Training Resources
Downloadable checklists, kneeboard references, and study materials:
- Airspace Cheat Sheet — cloud clearances, equipment requirements, and the Airspace Triangle
- Risk Management Checklist — aeronautical decision-making in kneeboard format
- Airworthiness Checklist — determining airworthiness on every flight
- Pre-Solo Questionnaire — V-speeds and operational limitations
Checklists are mandatory during training and checkrides. Memorizing checklist items demonstrates professionalism during examinations.