Hardest thing with flight training is...

[BoDEAN]

In my opinion, is the modivational level. With the industry in a slump right now, and an aspiring commercial pilot, it's hard to stay modivated at times with finishing flight training. I am going on a year with my CFI training, all I have to do is call the FAA and schedule a ride, but the modivational level is in the slumps right now, because of all the negative and downslides in the industry.

I don't know if others feel this way right now, but I just thought I would share what's on my mind.

 

[qwerty]

Save yourself the time and money if you are having a hard time being motivated.

What motivated you before?

If airplanes don't get you excited you might be much happier doing other things.

 

[BoDEAN]

Planes always get me modivated. You didn't get what I was saying. I am sure I'm not the only one on here that have periods of "off times" when they sit back and digest all the downslides in the industry, and it brings their modivational level down. I have increased my training to 4 days a week to try to "push aside" the downfalls in the industry, and keep my sights focused forward. I guess this time is a "real test" for young pilots out there. My only thoughts are if we get past this down times, it will make us that much more mentally stronger in the future.

 

[Hippie]

The hardest thing in flight training is…

Signing the check.

If you’re not motivated enough to suck it up and weather this slump then you’re in the wrong line of work.

I’ve weathered slumps before and during those times all you can do is stay focused, do whatever it takes to make ends meet and let the weak die off.

I’ve held my share of **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** jobs while waiting for the industry to pickup, I’ve been furloughed and fired, I’ve quit jobs and been laughed at for working other jobs.
I’ve worked in food service, retail, and telemarketing to put food on the table fro my family. I have finished two degrees, certified myself as an Emergency Medical Technician Basic, and Advanced Cardiac Technician and worked night shift at the local ER triaging everything from gunshot wounds to dope addicts and worked PT with local EMS running ambulance calls at 4 in the morning. I’ve put myself thru Police Officer Mandate training and worked PT as a reserve cop for a local Podunk PD.

I’ve paid my dues to be where I am; nothing in this world is for free. So either make up your mind that this is where you want to be and hang on for the ride or find yourself another line of work.

Hippie

 

[BoDEAN]

Thanks for the input. I guess I need to be in the plane more. Whenever the wheels leave the ground, I get this peaceful feeling, and it's like everything on the ground is left behind, and smiles come out. I guess it has been a slow week of flying, so I had time to sit and reflect. I have never once questioned if I enjoy flying or if this is the right field. I know it is, it's in my heart. All I was saying is there are emotional slumps people get in (I'm sure I'm not the only one) and when one overcomes these slumps, they becomes mentally stronger.

 

[bobbysamd]

Motivation

Learn a little about hiring history. Believe it or not, aviation history should motivate you. Just look at the last twenty years of history. Bad times in the early eighties followed by a hiring boom (that, sadly, yours truly heard about too late). Bad times big time in the early '90s - and you know how good times were until 2000.

Bad times always get better - always - and being positioned for the good times should be your motivation. Timing is nearly everything in this business. People who jump on the bandwagon during the peaks risk suffering the valleys. If you use the valleys as a time to prepare, you'll be ready to catch the next hiring wave.

Best of luck to all. Apologies for all the cliches.

 

[Joseph II]

Don't worry, I know exactly how you feel!

I got my CFI-A in 12/01 and have yet to use it. There are jobs to be had but they are tough to get.

Most FBO's work in either two ways:

1. Obtain a rating through the school you intend to fly with and then once you get that rating, hope there's room for you to instruct. From there you must find your own students.

2. Have 250 hours of dual given to meet the insurance requirements, or severely kiss up to the chief pilot and have him bypass the dual requirement. Once in the door, you must find your students.

I have connections via both options but they are not "good" enough connections. A great example is at FBO #2, last month there were 4 freshly minted CFI's from their program. They don't need new instructors right now and if they did, they would take the one's from their school before taking outsiders. In addition, the average total time for instructors at FBO #2 is currently 1,500 hours. A few instructors have over 5,000.

So, what am I doing? We'll I'm working my desk job and just started taking more college classes (I only have an Associates) on my companies dime. I'm going to lay low until the economy picks up. My wife and I could move back to the midwest to instruct but it's a risky gamble especially at this time and also because I'm going to school for free.

I constantly remind myself that things *will* get better!