Why I (may) quit flying

[PompeyPaul]

In August 2007 I completed my skills test and got my shiny new PPL. Exciting times. I wondered why anybody would be nuts enough to get rid of their PPL afterwards. I'm now at that position where I may just do that.

There are a few reasons, but after 180 hours airborne, night rating & IMC I'm thinking of quitting because:

I've seen everything you can see as a PPL

Ok, I know this isn't true. There's lots of long flights to do, you still learn forever etc etc. However I've flown to France, several times, Netherlands, Belgium and around the South East. I've crossed the Irish sea and flown around N. Ireland & The Giants Causeway. I got my IMC.

Outside of super long trips I don't know where else to go. The longer trips require a very flexible job in case things go south. Something I don't have, as I *used* to earn good money which required an exemplary performance.

Unless I start to take longer, riskier, trips then I've hit all of the local targets. Usually several times.

My financial circumstances have changed

I have started a new business and so money is tighter. Whilst it doesn't preclude flying, I could certainly cover the renewal, I just have to now really want to go flying to pay for it.

My personal circumstances have changed

I now have a 16 month old son. I feel I've pushed my luck, I've been in a couple of icky situations that weren't pleasant, but basically had my fun and survived. I am now more risk averse after his birth.

On top of that going flying, even for an hour, puts far more pressure on my wife as she is now looking after him for a much more longer period of time. Couple that with following the mighty Portsmouth FC and suddenly it's more of an ask on her.

I admit it, pilots aren't the friendliest of people

I stopped reading this forum after being disgusted with some of the comments people were prepared to post. Some of the things people wrote, about dead pilots, where absolutely revolting and made them subhuman in my eyes.

Let's face it, groups of pilots usually have a higher asshole content than any other group of people I have interacted with. Not exactly a deal breaker but with time & money now more limited I'm not sure I can really be bothered with it anymore.

It's really unreliable as a hobby

Roughly 50% of my booked slots fall through. Usually the weather, but then planes going tech, some guy getting back much later than expected etc all conspire.

Wasn't a problem when I was single, or even had a very accommodating girlfriend, but now I just don't have the flexibility in my life to take it in my stride. "Booking" time out is now just that bit more of an operation.

What's left on offer just isn't interesting to me

Aeros, meh. Maybe but I'm 41 now and my stomach, and digestion in general, is not as resilient as it used to be.

Flying more types? Just seems like hassle. I'd rather go places rather than memorise charts & flight envelopes. Then again it'd be more fun to drive through France enjoying the people, restaurants and places along the way rather than sitting in a cockpit talking to ATCOs and doing FREDA checks.

Ssssooooo overall I am thinking it may be time to hang up my headset. I had a blast doing it, I loved it, wow I spent a fortune doing it, but really it feels like the fat lady is singing.

Has anybody been in this position before? What did you do? Any other general thoughts?

[The Fenland Flyer]

Why not get a share in a simple type and have some fun flying around local short strips and working on your flying skills (get a tail dragger for added fun )

I bet there is plenty on you door step you haven't discovered yet, both great airfields and great people. At 180 hours I hadn't even seen everything and been everywhere in East Anglia, still haven't now at 400 hours, and probably still won't have visited everywhere in the area at 1000 hours.

It sounds like most of your flying has been straight and level from A to B, you don't need to get into aeros to have a lot of fun without going far or spending a fortune. No need to take risks either.

I hope you decided to keep flying and take your son up one day

[mary meagher]

Yes, Pompey, its time for you to take a break from flying.

Your family is much more important.

You can always come back to flying 20 years from now....we'll be pleased to welcome you then if you decide to try gliding; but if you do, a bit more is required than just swanning around the continent .. a gliding club can survive only if every member helps out.

Talking to other real live people is always more satisfying than pontificating on a website.

And the skill of flying will still be there, even after 20 years. Rusty, but intact.

[Jan Olieslagers]

@Mary: well said!

@Paul: yes, I recognise several of your feelings. The difference for me is that I have bought my own craft so now it sits there in its hangar so I must fly it even if my budget gets tighter and tighter. The only alternative is to sell the bird, which would loose me even more money.

But do take Mary's advice to heart: for the time being your family is obviously dearer to you. Family life is an essential value, to me at least and apparently to you too. Private flying is a luxury which you can return to any time. Like swimming or cycling, you won't have to learn anew, you'll only have to refresh what you learned, then pick up the thread where you left it.

[Lone_Ranger]

Bye.........

[Cusco]

Yep PP

With that litany of miseries it prob is time for you to go.

Good luck

Cusco.

[thing]

Let's face it, groups of pilots usually have a higher asshole content than any other group of people

You've obviously never had to work with singers.

[xrayalpha]

I could take almost every point you make and argue with it, but.....

You have obviously decided private PPL flying isn't for you.

Well done for making that decision, it was good to have you around while it lasted and welcome back should you ever decide to give it another go.

[A and C]

Singers ? Try glider pilots ! ( not all of them but the bad ones are bad at Olympic level)

[ec155mech]

I would quit the soccer thing, I know I'm gonna get loads of bullocking for this, but it's just a bunch of overpaid blokes in shorts kicking around a piece of dead cow on a grass field.

But it sounds like you made up your mind. And well done for that, one shouldn't fly when you're not focused on it.

And I'm sure your family would rather have you in one piece.

[Heston]

Its a leisure activity - its not compulsory - and its your life to live as you think fit.


But why post on here unless you want to be convinced not to stop?

[tecman]

In my observation PPLs come with lots of different motivations. Some are into flying just as a way of transport and, after a while, realize that that works well for only a small handful. Some are in it just for the image (you know the type). Others are homebuilders and experimenters, enjoying the flying just long enough to have a break before starting a new project. Still others have their own individual reasons. But some of us just like to fly, and we mix in a bit of everything else to provide the outward justification that we don't actually need.

A few years ago, when I thought of giving up flying due mainly to time pressures from my profession, I realized I was lucky to be one of the pilots who enjoyed flying just for its own sake. With that in mind, I bought a second hand VLA with a nice panel, and based it a country field relatively near to where I live. The result is a simple flying life, with minimal time overheads. Plenty of endurance for the longer trips on the rare occasions I can get away. No apologies needed if I can only make an hour on a Sunday. And the aeroplane is safely tucked up for the many weeks I'm away.

I occasionally miss a bit of 'heavy iron' but I don't miss the hassles of rental bookings, or group maintenance coordination. And if the pangs for a C182 or Bonanza get too sharp, there are plenty of rental opportunities.

Having been through the decision process, I'd encourage the OP to reflect a bit on motivation. If his interest is really just sightseeing, the advice to go and do something different might be correct. However, with all that activity packed into 180 hours, maybe he's not ranking the flying experience itself highly enough. I guess the only thing that gives me pause for thought is the comment about not wanting to try new aircraft types - that's a new one to me. But how about giving some of the low-key recreational flying opportunities a go? Very little to lose!

[BroomstickPilot]

Hanging up your headset

Hi Paul,

I agree with Mary; it's time to go.

However, remember one thing, FLYING IS A NARCOTIC and like booze or tobacco you can never ever be sure you are free of it.

I gave up flying in 1969 but throughout all the succeeding years found myself looking skywards whenever something flew past.

Then in 2002 I felt an overwhelming need to come back.

I flew from 2005 to 2008 when the financial effects of the 'Credit Crunch' damaged my finances and put paid to it.

So I haven't flown for six years - but still read Pprune daily.

Now I find myself once again looking, with longing eyes, this time at the three axis microlight category which looks like cheaper flying.

Should I? Who knows - perhaps...

Good luck Paul,

BP.

[Pace]

PP

I am sorry to hear that! I think if most of us are honest we have all been there! I know with myself several times in 30 years of flying.

Situations, circumstances change! We change.

In my case when I took up flying all I wanted to do was get to solo then I would chuck it all in but somehow over the years situations change back and new challenges come along.

for me it was going commercial and getting the chance to fly some tasty machinery.

I have had the privalage of some jet ferry work which has taken me all over the world and i would be far poorer without those fabulous memories and experiences.

Sometimes I think it is better to tread water rather than make the bold statement
what you feel today you won't feel tomorrow and you have put a lot into achieving those licences so why not for now just do the minimum and see how you feel in a years time or whenever?

As for pilots and forums? Text is a faceless medium anonymous forums are places where people hide, pretend to be what they are not and places where text can be misunderstood. On top of that we are egos and it is so easy to make a mistake and get those egos damaged.

So in reality probably no different to people in forums from any other occupation.
I know of a friend in the local golf club and I have never heard of so much backbiting and self importance as there. So do not take up golf

Pace

[Heston]

What you need is one of these

[FantomZorbin]

Years down the road, if you do you'll regret it ... I know I do

[Echo Romeo]

Sounds like you've crammed a hell of a lot into 180 hrs! Does that include initial training?

If you feel that way you're best out of it I'd say.

[thing]

Why does it have to be a permanent decision? Do you have a favourite restaurant? Would you go every night? Same with hobbies/pastimes. You do them as the desire takes you.

What's wrong with packing up flying? You don't want to do it anymore so it would seem to be a no brainer. You can always come back to it. I've jacked in and restarted gliding several times. Same with fishing and golf.

[Camargue]

Sounds like you enjoyed the adventure but not flying for flyings sake. So take a break and wait for your son to be old enough to come with you.

Try aeros, tolerance builds quickly. If you don't like them, fair enough and awful lot of pilots don't. If you do you practice for competions etc, you only need to fly in the summer months and trips are short. Also the nature of the beast means that there is always room for improvement, more accurate flying, more figures etc. can't do anything about the weather though......

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

I almost gave up flying when my first daughter was born in 1986, so I know where you're coming from. I'm so glad I didn't. 20 years later she was loving flights in the Chippy and flying it very well herself!