ModernATC vs. Sheppard Air
Sheppard Air is the dominant test-prep platform for FAA pilot knowledge exams. ModernATC is built for a different test: the FAA Academy curriculum and the ATSA. If you came here because Sheppard's name comes up in every ATC prep thread, here's what each is actually for.
- Pilot knowledge exams. If you're studying for the Private, Instrument, Commercial, ATP, or any FAA pilot written, Sheppard's question bank and pass-or-money-back guarantee is the standard.
- Pure question-bank drilling. Their flow is mature — pick a test, hammer questions, see explanations.
- Decades of brand recognition in the pilot community.
- Built for the air-traffic-control pipeline, not the cockpit. Our content is JO 7110.65BB, the Pilot/Controller Glossary, JO 7400.11, and the AIM — the documents the Academy actually tests.
- Modern spaced repetition (FSRS-6) instead of fixed-interval review. Same time invested, higher retention at exam date — especially over the months between TOL and Class Convening Date.
- Includes the ATSA aptitude exam with all eight subtests and a full timed mock. Sheppard does not cover the ATSA.
- Live phraseology drills with real Whisper-graded readbacks. No pilot prep service does this.
- Cited to JO 7110.65 paragraph on every card so you can verify the source instead of trusting the deck.
Feature-by-feature
All claims are based on published pricing and features as of May 16, 2026. If you spot something stale, mail hello@modernatc.com — we’ll fix it the same day.
| Feature | ModernATC | Sheppard Air |
|---|---|---|
| Primary use case | FAA Academy + ATSA | FAA pilot knowledge exams |
| JO 7110.65 question coverage | ||
| ATSA prep (all 8 subtests + mock) | ||
| Phraseology audio drills (Whisper-graded) | Pro tier | |
| FSRS-6 adaptive schedulingSheppard uses repeated drill-to-95% rather than spaced repetition. | ||
| Pass-or-refund guarantee | 14-day refund on yearly | Test-specific money-back guarantee |
| Cite to source paragraph | ||
| Mobile + offline | ||
| Updates with each .65 change package | N/A — covers pilot regs, not the .65 | |
| Entry price | $9/mo or $89/yr | Per-test fee (varies) |
Can I use both?
Yes, and many people do. If you're a pilot transitioning to controller (or vice versa) the two products complement each other — Sheppard for the pilot exam, ModernATC for the Academy.
Why doesn't Sheppard cover the .65?
Sheppard's product line is built around the FAA's pilot knowledge exams (FAA-published question banks). The FAA Academy block tests are For Official Use Only and have no public bank, which means any .65 study tool must author original questions cited to the source. That's what ModernATC does.
Is the ATSA the same as the AT-SAT?
No. The Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) replaced the AT-SAT in 2018. Both are aptitude tests for controller candidates, but the ATSA's subtests are different (Letter Factory, Plane Tracking, Spatial, etc.). ModernATC ships practice modules for all eight subtests.
Does ModernATC have a pass guarantee?
We don't gate study material behind a guarantee structure. Yearly plans carry a 14-day money-back refund, no questions asked. Monthly cancels any time.
One TOL. One Academy. One shot.
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