Pilot Training Begins on the Ground

All flight training begins on the ground. The worst place to
learn a new skill is in an airplane. It can be very difficult to
grasp new concepts in the air without reviewing them first on
the ground. In the plane, training in the cockpit can have other
environmental issues such as cold (or hot), noisy, and bumpy.

You want to get up in the air as soon as possible and as
frequently as possible. Don't waste time at the airport studying
things you could have done at home. Get your studying done
before you get to the air. Some of the pilot instructors may
have been guilty of skipping some of the ground training so they
could get in the air quick, too. 

I've heard that some pilots have even missed flying lessons
because they didn't do their learning on the ground and weren't
ready to go up. They had to spend their training in the
classroom. What a waste of expensive instructor time.

Flight training by referring to the instruments only is hard to
learn, but can be practiced on the ground. You have to do this
to become a private pilot and if you want an instrument rating.

Don't think of ground training is a waste of your money. Don't
have a bad attitude and hopefully your training pilot won't have
one either. Also, poor preparation can hinder you. Ground time
can be expensive and some charge the same rate for ground time
as they do flight time, but remember, the CFI has to make a
living, too. Try to include a mix of ground time and flight
time. 

Be sure you know what is going to be covered before any lesson
and find out what is expected from you. If you show up
unprepared for a lesson, then expect to spend more time on the
ground. You sure don't want to have your flight time shortened
or even canceled.

Remember, preparation is the key to more flight time. Your
flight instructor's mail goal in your pilot training is to keep
you safe. Proper ground instruction makes flying easier and more
enjoyable.