No One Warned Me About This Struggle in Flight Training

Even after nearly 1,000 flight hours, I was caught off guard by this feeling when going back to flight school. It's easy to get discouraged and feel like an "outsider" in aviation but I wanted to share this story in hopes that it would encourage you to push through that feeling and remember that in a flight school or aviation community, we are all united by the common bond of loving to fly. It's easy to feel like everyone else knows all of the answers or no one else struggles with the knowledge or flight skills, and that's simply not true.

Shoutout to Brian Williams at American Flyers in Addison, TX for the encouragement and conversation that led me to make this video! This video is not sponsored or affiliated with American Flyers.

[FlyingTherapy]

I'm 43 widowed with 2 little kids. After watching my wife pass away when she was only 39, I realized life is short. Don't wait, because tomorrow is never guaranteed. I'm currently 25 hours into my PPL and in the solo stage right now. I love it and so glad I took the step to learn to fly. I wish she was alive to see me doing this

[steveevans]

Until you walk into a flight school, you'll be surrounded by people telling you that "you can't." When you finally meet other pilots, they help you know that "you can." Those who love to fly will find a way and will encourage others along the way. The haters will remain jealous and on the ground.

[michaelcrump]

I am 47 years old with a dream of flying from seeing crop dusters flying as a child . I always thought it would only be a dream . After nearly a year studying and 8 months of flight training . I finally have a PPL. At times I was so overwhelmed. If I can do it, anyone can !

[davidcole]

I got started in aviation because I was at an airport as a 19 year old kid, just hanging on the fence and watching planes. A CFI saw me there and after he finished his lesson, he drove down to the end of the runway where I was and introduced himself and invited me to come in and take a $10 introductory flight. (This was 1986.) I went up two hours later in a Cessna 152, N25239 and got the ball rolling. Get off the fence is my message to those that dream about it.

[Tybell]

Aviation is absolutely worth pursuing! I am 36 years young and finally got the courage to take the plunge and quit the career that I absolutely hated and went all in and enrolled in a Part 141 commercial pilot program and am currently on my way to finishing up my PPL. Go for it!

[ChrisMeuzelaar]

When I was 16 my dad died and every dream I had of being a pilot went out the the window to stay and save the family farm. Now in my early fifties I'm learning to fly and just went solo last week. With work I could only afford enough time for one lesson a month, and there were times I struggled but I had an amazing supportive instructor in Julie. I still have a while to go, but things get a lot easier after solo. If your heart beats aviation, start the first lesson and if it gets tough, hang in there, it is so worth it PS Thank you to all the aviators who make the instructional videos, they are incredibly invaluable!

[moeinmemphis]

When I was about 12 years old I begged my mom to take me to the local grass strip where they were giving airplane rides one Saturday. I paid for my flight with money earned delivering newspapers. I LOVED it. I decided then that I wanted to be a pilot. I found a flight school at another grass strip about 20 miles away and took my 1st flight lesson at age 15, even though I really couldn’t afford it and my parents thought I was nuts. Now, some 50+ years later I have a degree in Aeronautical Engineering, am a retired Air Force pilot, retired corporate pilot, an aircraft owner, and still work full time a flight simulator instructor. I just earned another type rating last week. Aviation has been good to me, all because I took that 1st step to learn to fly.

[colinbartram]

I'm 73 and hope to have UK PPL by the end of the year. I've learned to accept that each new level of skill is gaine through a process of embarrassing bungling at first, then getting it right some of the time, then all of the time (well, nearly all of the time). Currently learning to talk with Tower without sounding like a dumb student :-).

[bruinschiefs]

I'm 20 hours away from finishing my commercial in Canada. 41 years old, doing a career change, just blew my commercial written test so my confidence has plummeted. Everytime i keep quiestioning whether it's worth it at my age, but as soon as I get back in the cockpit it all goes away. Re-writing my exam next month and ready for the next steps. Really appreciate this video!!!

[deldavis]

I’ve always wanted to learn to fly. I’m 61 years old now and am working on taking my ground school exam this week. And I’ve already started with helicopter ground school as well. I think about all of the hours I would have had in the cockpit if I had started in my 20s, I really missed out. I say to all who want to take that leap. DO IT. If you don’t now, you will regret it later.

[alaahussein]

To be honest, this is one of the most motivational videos I’ve ever watched,
Me myself was crazy about the idea of flying and being a pilot
I started my flight training about four months ago and I’m only two or three months away from my first check ride
At the beginning, I really didn’t know. How can I figure it out financially
I’m only 20 years old
On a part-time job
But all what I can tell you now is it’s not gonna be hard if you’ll love it
My parents hold me a little bit. I saved some money and I took some loans out but I’m 100% sure that it’s worth it.
For anyone who is about to start
And don’t know where or how look it up and start as soon as you can
You will never have the knowledge if you don’t start, just start with a simple step, and all the things gonna start coming together with time.

[ft]

I was lucky enough to be a part of a family of aviators who have been flying for decades, so it was a surprise to nobody when I started working on my ratings in January 2021. I'm glad to say that I passed my Commercial Pilot check-ride this past March at just 254 hours. I'm here to reassure you guys that I'm not some sort of prodigy or genius if you really put in the time and have the passion for flying almost anyone can do it. From my experience, the hardest part of Commerical training is staying motivated while grinding out those hours, especially with a low bank account balance, but once you reach the end and that new card comes in the mail the relief is unbelievable. I'm currently working toward my CFI and I gotta say it's a brand new struggle not just re-learning all the private and commercial maneuvers from the right seat, but learning how to instruct and how to explain things to a student who might be struggling. Throughout my training, there have been times when i thought I wasn't good enough or I wasn't ready to progress, but you just have to remember that not everyone is perfect, and as long as you are improving everything will turn out fine.

[TomSeeryCreative]

I'm 51 and going for my PPL after many years of thinking about it. I got paired up with a Flight instructor that's half my age which seemed a little intimidating at first. After getting to know him, the age difference isn't even a factor. We bonded over our love of aviation and really enjoy our time together. Your video is so true. Encouragement is such an important part of this journey.

[ranjrog]

Got my private in 1977 and my instrument rating in 2021. In the process of scheduling my commercial check ride now as the written is done! You are exactly right - just keep plugging ahead - even if it takes a while!!

[madelineprado]

I started my aviation journey at 25, initially wanting to start flying when I was 18. Since I didn’t know many people who wanted to fly at that age, especially women, I thought I was being ridiculous to want that when I could pursue something mainstream and safe. I’ve had the craziest ups and downs during my training for my PPL, and these conversations are what keep me sane when I’m doubting everything and having the hardest time remaining confident.

[alexbernier]

I'm 32 and have never touched the controls of any aircraft. I've recently decided (after many years of thinking about it) to pursue a commercial pilots license with the hopes of getting to a major airline someday. I haven't started yet, I'm just making calls and getting more information this week. Wish me luck

[jonathonhinson]

You nailed it! This is the reality MOST pilots experience. It took me 8 years from my introductory flight until I got my commercial. My “day job” had been technology but I LOVED to fly. For me it was not confidence that compelled me, but a reluctance to quit. After 30 years of IT work I got my first Part 135 job flying in Alaska. And, I was the least experienced person in the room. I’m going back again this year 😊

[serverguy]

Charlie - this is great. I'm 48, got my PPL last year and my IFR rating this spring. Just started working on commercial...which, much like you, starts all of these questions about "what if". Like you said, one step at a time is a solid way forward while the rest comes into focus. Side note - thanks for offering up your ownership course...that was immensely valuable over the last few months as I was trying to wrestle with some of those questions.

[JordiiC]

I’m starting my flight training back up this weekend after having life beat me down. I ended up moving to a new town and working for an airline in operations but seeing the pilots taking off and walking around in uniform made me not want to give up. I know life is hard still, but I won’t give up the fight to get in that seat, and you shouldn’t either. We love to fly.

[billcoley]

I am 72 years of age and I have had the desire to learn to fly since I took my first flight in a Cessna 152 at 16. I love anything to do with aviation. I was blessed to work in the aviation sector for 28 years.