Clipping your own wings.
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
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Clipping your own wings.
Just wondering how many out there have taken extended hiatus from flying for personal reasons? Ive done about 5 years work all over Australia doing heaps of different ops and was fortunate enough to land an international twin job with great pay, hours etc.... and then I 
it up because I was foolish and irresponsible. If I said that my world came crashing down spectacularly, it'd be an understatment. I just found it odd that i'd speant years living and working in some of the hardest conditions on this continent with un-wavering discipline, but as soon as I got the great break everyone looks for, I dropped the ball.
Alarm bells rang, I fealt very 'persona non grata' and subsequently haven't applied for another flying job, or even flown since. Just over 2 years ago now. It's strange, but I found that deviance of flight discipline gave me a sense of control I fealt i'd lost somewhere along the way. Either way it doesn't matter much. It's not easy to talk about such things of course, who would want to confide to peers about ones own weaknesses without annonymity, especially in a cut throat industry like GA. The problem is that taking the isolated personal reflective approach doesn't really solve much.
I've read a few books about rouge aviators, talked to some friends outside of the industry (strangly I found I had quite a lot in common with rev-heads) and am currently studying for another field that I hope one day to fuse with my flying career (version 2.0).
I guess the whole point of the post is two fold, firstly just to get it off my chest after such a long time, and secondly to enquire who else out there ,in the past, has had to take a step back and appreciate that they were simply not ready, mature enough, disciplined sufficently or any other reason that warranted self exclusion? How did you solve it? Who did you talk to about it? How did it turn out?...
...and importantly, how do you know when you're ready to return?
It'd be nice to know that im not the first or only pilot to go through this self-realisation process.
it up because I was foolish and irresponsible. If I said that my world came crashing down spectacularly, it'd be an understatment. I just found it odd that i'd speant years living and working in some of the hardest conditions on this continent with un-wavering discipline, but as soon as I got the great break everyone looks for, I dropped the ball.Alarm bells rang, I fealt very 'persona non grata' and subsequently haven't applied for another flying job, or even flown since. Just over 2 years ago now. It's strange, but I found that deviance of flight discipline gave me a sense of control I fealt i'd lost somewhere along the way. Either way it doesn't matter much. It's not easy to talk about such things of course, who would want to confide to peers about ones own weaknesses without annonymity, especially in a cut throat industry like GA. The problem is that taking the isolated personal reflective approach doesn't really solve much.
I've read a few books about rouge aviators, talked to some friends outside of the industry (strangly I found I had quite a lot in common with rev-heads) and am currently studying for another field that I hope one day to fuse with my flying career (version 2.0).
I guess the whole point of the post is two fold, firstly just to get it off my chest after such a long time, and secondly to enquire who else out there ,in the past, has had to take a step back and appreciate that they were simply not ready, mature enough, disciplined sufficently or any other reason that warranted self exclusion? How did you solve it? Who did you talk to about it? How did it turn out?...
...and importantly, how do you know when you're ready to return?
It'd be nice to know that im not the first or only pilot to go through this self-realisation process.
Join Date: Oct 2005
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The best thing you've done is admit that you did have a problem.
Because you are aware of exactly what you did and how you went about it; you're ready for the next step.
Now get back in the saddle and get cracking.
Because you are aware of exactly what you did and how you went about it; you're ready for the next step.
Now get back in the saddle and get cracking.
Join Date: Feb 2003
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If the truth were told, you would be surprised at the percentage of people who have put themselves in a similar situation to yourself. The ones who develop some humility go on to lead a much more satisfying life.
If what you want is to continue with flying, or if you perceive that it is your only option, the way is clear for you.
Assuming from your post that you have a modicum of experience it will not be too hard in the current GA climate to get a start. Would two or three thousand hours flying a single and establishing your 'new' reputation and work ethic be too much? Plenty have done much more than that and spent great chunks of their lives repenting for past transgressions.
A good chance that certain people or your past actions may come back to haunt you! Welcome to the real world. Everyone, and I mean everyone has to deal with this to a greater or lesser extent.
Make this your last bleat and don't go crying into your beer with anyone you think cares for the next ten years. Tomorrow is another day.
If what you want is to continue with flying, or if you perceive that it is your only option, the way is clear for you.
Assuming from your post that you have a modicum of experience it will not be too hard in the current GA climate to get a start. Would two or three thousand hours flying a single and establishing your 'new' reputation and work ethic be too much? Plenty have done much more than that and spent great chunks of their lives repenting for past transgressions.
A good chance that certain people or your past actions may come back to haunt you! Welcome to the real world. Everyone, and I mean everyone has to deal with this to a greater or lesser extent.
Make this your last bleat and don't go crying into your beer with anyone you think cares for the next ten years. Tomorrow is another day.
Join Date: Apr 2002
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Experience
If you do this well, you will probably be a better pilot than you were, because you now realise that it CAN happent to you, if you let it.
Aviation is full of pilots who think it only happens to someone else, and many have yet to learn what you have learnt.
If flying is what you want, then go for it.
Aviation is full of pilots who think it only happens to someone else, and many have yet to learn what you have learnt.
If flying is what you want, then go for it.
Join Date: Apr 2006
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I reckon every pilot should read your post , and take a reality check , as Bushy has perfectly sumed up.. All the very best and im sure you will end up where you wanna go ...
Matt
Matt
Join Date: Aug 2003
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We're all human Coitus. Take the advice given above and get back in the saddle. For one mans ispirational story have a look at post #52 http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...=256861&page=3 You can do it as well. At 64 I'm still learning lifes lessons, but then again was always a slow learner. Good luck.
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Join Date: Jun 2000
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The only pilots who haven't fouled up in some way are those who've never done anything and, as a consequence, have never learned any of the really valuable lessons. Some don't survive the experience but the rest of us do and you, Coitus are one of us. As others have already said, you've taken the most courageous step of admitting your error so, yes, you are indeed ready to get back in the saddle.
Don't dwell on the past. Use it for experience, keep the lessons fresh in your mind and you'll be a better pilot for it.
Don't dwell on the past. Use it for experience, keep the lessons fresh in your mind and you'll be a better pilot for it.
