Hardest part of becoming a cpl Pilot

[loods]

What part of your cpl training was the hardest:

(a)Actual flying
(b)exams
(c)getting the cash to pay for it all
(d)finding that first job

[SNS3Guppy]

The hardest part of learning to fly is always paying for it.

[IrishJetdriver]

As mentioned, the finance is always tough as there is not really an end to it until you get employed. Unless money is not an issue for you of course.

What you find hard is a personal thing. Everyone is different. However, if you are hungry for success then you'll be fine. You don't need to be a rocket scientist but you do have to be 100% committed.

The job market is becoming dire now for newbies so it is most unlikely that you will have an easy time NOW getting a job. Wait a couple of years, or spread your training over a good period (while earning money doing something else) and maybe things will improve.

If you don't have any flying licence yet then do a class 1 medical before you do anything else.

If you have a PPL then keep current and always try and fly accurately. Look at the IR limitations and you'll see the standard required. Why not try and fly to those accuracies ? It's only practice. When you land, choose where you will land and then ensure you do it. Notice the airline boys all land pretty much on the same spot. Practice again.

Don't spend the money yet if you don't need to. Keep your eyes and ears open. Good luck with whatever you choose.

[Dupre]

Paying for it is definately the hardest! (esp. if you are paying for it all yourself, with no debt and no assistance :ugh:)

Finding that first job comes in second but I actually found it quite enjoyable.

The exams are fome, and the flying is a pleasure :)

[1013 with altsel]

It was all hard!!!!! But worth it now! I think!

For me the hardest part was getting the job at the end!

[Kerosine]

It was all hard!!!!!

What part of your cpl training was the hardest?! :}

[Neon Circuits]

Contending with the weather and overcoming the disappointment of lesson cancellations...... :uhoh:

[speedrestriction]

Getting the license is a surer thing than getting the job. The most stressful part of the whole thing was after I'd finished training but not yet got a job.

[Whirlygig]

I'd definitely go along with finding a job as being the hardest part! The rotary job market and employment requirements are very different to fixed wing!

So, for me, in order of difficulty (but everyone's different!)

(d)finding that first job
(a)actual flying
(c)getting the cash to pay for it all
(b)exams

Cheers

Whirls

[BigGrecian]

Unfortunately for some students I would say that it's realising that it's a profession which they're going to have to work hard for and not just pay your money fly a bit and get your licence. :ugh:

[pilotmike]

Someone who is rich, clever, and personable but a bad pilot will find the flying the hardest.

A poor, clever, personable pilot with good piloting skills will find funding the hardest.

A rich, stupid, personable pilot with good skills will find the exams the hardest.

A rich, clever, bore with good piloting skills will have most trouble finding the first job.

[pushback22]

PilotMike, that is the best post I've seen on pprune. U have summed it up in 4 sentances perfectly.

[luvly jubbly]

The pay cut when you qualify...............:ok:

[Jumbo744]

finding the money is the hardest, also, all those lessons cancellations are driving me crazy. I wasted so much money and I'm not PPL yet, only 33h of flight. I couldn't sleep for the last 2 days, i'm completely desperate. Now I think my only solution is to find a job and save money again. I'm 25, I'm affraid to be ready when I'll be too old to get a airline job.

[Jumbo744]

Hello Pilotmike, thanks. I didn't say that lesson cancellations were making me waste money, they may do indirectly as when I don't fly, then I spend one more day living here.
What happened is, the weather has been horrible here in eastern Canada this summer, I came and settled, took an appartment, furnished it, appliances, electricity, tv, internet, etc....then I brought my girlfriend with me. Then I decided to switch school because there wasn't too much availability where I was because I wasn't flying even when the weather was excellent. So I Sold everything cheap, and settled in somewhere else. All of this is a lot of money. I came all the way from Africa.

I could ask my family to lend me 60.000k euros right now, and it would make everything a lot easier and faster, but I don't want to.

Of course flying and studying is a pleasure and is so easy.

[pilotmike]

It seems like you've had an unlucky bad start. But don't let it put you off. Determination should see you through even the hardest times, provided you put the upsets behind you and keep on chipping away at the work to be done.

Good luck!

[Jumbo744]

hello pilotmike, thanks again.

Yeah I really had a unlucky start, but I'm going to do whatever I can to make it. My goal is to have all the licences before next summer and have my first job as a first officer anywhere in the world when I turn 26.

I just got back from a solo flight. It was beautiful, for an hour I forgot all my problems! but It's going to be ok. I'm now 10h from my flight test for the PPL, I already passed the theory exam.

Thanks again :ok:

[BigGrecian]

Remember you can take the test for the PPL once you have the 25 hours dual and 10 hours solo i/e at 35 hours and use the test to count towards the 45 hours for licence issue.

[Jumbo744]

yeah but what remains for me is 3h Xcountry dual, then solo, and I'll be doing my 5h instrument this week, also practice forced landings and precautionaries. Hopefull I'll do it within 2 weeks.

Thanks

[Francie81]

Am 27, employed and have switched my attention to flying and I've €15,000 saved, can someone tell me if am in a good position to kick start a flying career?

Thanks

[Doodlebug]

Oh jeez, EVERYBODY found the exams a walk in the park?
Whilst possessing the most radiant personality?
Living as a romantic pauper in a garret?

Riiiiiight.... :}

[Shlarm47]

Francie,

I'm in a similar position. Aged 33, have a good job and £15k saved. I'm thinking of completing my training over the next 3 years (modular) and staying employed until CPL/IR.

I think you're in a great position, go for it!

[Francie81]

Hello Schlarm,

Ya see I was planning in going to OBA FL next year to do my PPL but am just wondering would it matter if I didn't ahve any knowledge/study prior to actually flying. Well its great your in the same boat as myself so have you done anything yet and what way are you going about it?

Thanks

[BigGrecian]

To bring this back on track one of the other biggest problem of CPL students is the fact they waste their hour building.

Hour building is there to improve and practise skills.


Make sure you practise all the different landing, normal, flapless, short field, glide.
Practise your PFLs
Practise your Dead reckoning Navigation
Practise your stalls, steep turns, slow flight etc
Use a radar service every time so your familiar with the procedures
Practise your VOR/NDB tracking and position fixing.


Your paying for these hours so flying the same route without improving your skills is a huge waste of money.