Say those two words together and you might picture an airplane flown by computers instead of a human pilot. While the unmanned airplane concept works well for some military applications, there is going to be a need for pilots in the front of most airplanes for many years to come. What is changing though is the increased role technology plays in helping pilots fly, and especially the role it plays during the flight training process.

Take a look in the cockpits of new general aviation airplanes and you won’t find the traditional round gauges and dials in the cockpit. Instead you’ll see one or two LCD computer screens digitally displaying all the pertinent flight information along with a large GPS moving map. These advances have allowed much more information to be placed in front of the pilot, which for the most part is a good thing.

However, during initial flight training you’ll want to focus more on the fundamentals of flying the airplane, and using the sight picture out the windows for reference. For this reason many flight schools (including Sporty’s Academy) will most likely start you in an airplane containing less complicated “steam gauges”. Everyone’s goals in flight training are different though, so make sure to spend some time with your flight instructor to determine the best airplane/cockpit avionics combination for you.

While studying for your pilot certificate on the ground, there are many electronic         resources to help you with your training. One of the steps in the path to earning a pilot certificate is passing an FAA pilot knowledge test. Sporty’s free online Study Buddy program will help you ace this test by allowing you to review all the questions ahead of time and take practice tests that simulate the real thing.

To help you with the flight training portion, Sporty’s also offers a Complete Pilot Flight Training Course. This interactive, video-based course is available in a streaming online format for your computer, iPad, iPhone and Android device. Using a course like this will save you significant time and money, and will ensure you’re prepared for each lesson at the airport. As an instructor I can tell you that students who use a course like this get so much more out of each lesson because they have seen the material ahead of time.

Speaking of the iPhone and iPad, there are numerous aviation apps available to assist you both on the ground and in the air. You’ll find apps that provide electronic logbooks, navigation charts, flight computers, flight planning software, and more. New aviation apps for your mobile device are popping up everyday, and using these resources effectively can add to safety and make you a more prepared pilot. To see a sampling of these check out the Aviation App Store.

The key in using any piece of technology during flight, whether it is a glass cockpit system installed in the aircraft, or a handheld flight computer, is proper training. Knowing how to properly use them both on the ground and in the air and not letting them become a distraction is critical. Spend some time with your instructor and make the most of these resources, and they will surely make you a safer, and more proficient pilot.