Yes — the Academy is free for the entire beta, with no credit card required. We're focused on getting the training experience right before introducing any paid plans.

Choose the Part 107 Commercial track if you'll fly for work, for a business or nonprofit, or for anything other than pure recreation (even unpaid) — those flights generally need a Part 107 certificate, and this track prepares you for the FAA knowledge test. Choose the Beginner / Personal track if you want to fly safely and confidently purely for fun. You can switch tracks anytime from your account.

Create a free account and pick your track. On the Part 107 track, start with an untimed diagnostic of up to 60 questions; on the Beginner track, start with the first lesson. From there, your dashboard recommends a next step based on your progress and weak areas.

It's a strict, multi-part verdict — not a participation trophy. You become Exam Ready only after completing the core curriculum; taking at least 3 full-length practice exams with your latest at 85%+ (and 3 of your last 4 at that level); clearing every ACS area above its minimum; leaving no red weak areas, no yellow areas still waiting on review, and no repeated misses on a critical safety or legal concept; and finishing at least one readiness exam within the 120-minute limit. It's a practice milestone, not a prediction of your FAA result.

The FAA minimum passing score is 70%. We set a higher internal target of 85%+ on purpose: consistently scoring well above the line on realistic, full-length practice exams gives you a margin for test-day nerves and unfamiliar questions, so you're not relying on scraping by.

Every question is tagged to an ACS area, task, and concept. As you practice, the Academy tracks your accuracy at each level — weighting critical safety concepts more heavily — and flags weak areas as green, yellow, or red. Weak areas get targeted review drills and resurface on a spaced-repetition schedule until they're solid.

Both are 60 scored practice questions in 2 hours and follow the current UAG subject-matter weights. The live test additionally displays 5 unscored validation questions. Your first simulated exam is a full practice exam; after that, the Academy gives you readiness exams, each built as a unique form with limited overlap with your earlier readiness forms. Both kinds count toward the full-exam requirements of your readiness gate, and the timing requirement needs at least one readiness exam.

No. The Academy is an independent educational service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FAA. Our content is exam preparation, not legal advice — always verify against current FAA sources.

We treat the FAA, 14 CFR (eCFR), and the FAA Airman Certification Standards as the only primary authorities — never generic study guides. Lessons and questions are tied to their sources, each source records when we last verified it, students only see content we have published, and a scheduled check flags sources that are due for re-verification. When a rule changes or we find an error, we correct the affected lessons and questions.

No prep can guarantee a result, and the official exam is an FAA knowledge test administered by PSI at FAA-approved testing centers. What the Academy does is give you an honest, evidence-based practice signal so you walk in having repeatedly demonstrated the knowledge the exam tests.

No. The Beginner / Personal track builds safe-flying confidence for purely recreational flying — it is not an FAA certificate and not a substitute for Part 107. Almost any flight that isn't purely recreational needs a Part 107 certificate, even if you aren't paid: flying for your job or a business, or volunteering for a nonprofit, all count. For those, the Part 107 track is where you'd go.

A confident first solo flight. You'll work through setup, safety, airspace awareness, batteries, and emergencies, then use a go/no-go checklist before your first solo flights. The Academy marks you Flight Ready once you reach 90%+ overall mastery on your beginner practice questions or score 90%+ on a full practice check (a timed beginner exam). That's our milestone, not an FAA authorization: you still need to pass the free TRUST test, register your drone if it weighs more than 0.55 lb at takeoff, including anything attached (a 250 g drone counts), and follow the FAA's recreational rules.