Where has my passion gone?
 

Hello. Since I was less than 10 years old, I had a lot of passion for airplanes. I wanted to be a pilot for many years. When I was about 17 years old, I started taking lessons torwards the PPL license. I have around 22 flight hours, including my first solo. For some reason, lately I feel like I'm just not enjoying the experience, and it bothers me. Sure the view is nice, but I used to have a passion, a poison in me, all I wanted to do it fly. Now I stopped having feeling torwards flying, and I don't know what to do. Should I just stop flying? Should I make myself fly, and hope I'll enjoy it once I start flying by myself? It does cost a lot of money, and so I don't want to continue unless I am sure that's what I want.

What's more, I used to be sure that this is what I want to for life. Now I consider it only a fun activity, something that I don't want to make a living out of.

Any insights?

One thing is clear: to make a living out of flying, you would need to be prepared to some serious compromises. Such as going to live in Indonesia or sub-Saharan Africa, and/or live on a very modest income.

OTOH, I think every new pilot has at least one period feeling like you describe, and the weather doesn't help. Don't give up too lightly, you have invested a lot of money AND effort, don't throw that away!

Perhaps you could consider taking up an unknown aspect of (non-commercial) flying? Gliding is just one possibility, is inexpensive, and really does make you a better pilot of whatever you fly.

Also, as you seem to have recently flown your first solo, you should be aware you have had little occasion for enjoying your flights. There were so many things requiring your attention. From now on, you will get more and more relaxed with every flight (though of course you should never get TOO relax) - the time for enjoying flying is before you!

BTW what the missus (if any) thinks may have some importance, too, but I will NOT speak out on that very delicate matter!

Been flying since I was 14. Had lots of 'long dark nights of the soul' but they go - as long as you can find a reason to continue.

Just keep looking for new challenges and all will come right

I agree with what Jan says. I moved into power from gliding and there has to be a reason for me to get in a power aircraft. For me it's visiting new airfields and meeting new people. For the sheer joy of flight I would take a glider anyday.

If I can doff my old man hat and be philosophical for a moment; sometimes the dream is better than the reality. It's your job to ensure that the reality matches up to the dream. How many times when you were young (sorry you still are!) did you chase after the girl of your latest dreams and when you finally got her it wasn't what you expected? Not that it was worse but not what you expected. That's what life is like. As you get older you accept that the picture you have in your mind of something doesn't match the reality.

Have you read 'A Gift of Wings'? Richard Bach encapsulated exactly my feelings when I was learning in the C150.... "as I pushed the high winged cabin into the sky, I thought 'this isn't how I thought it would be, but if it's flying, I guess it'll have to do". That was exactly how I felt.

Then, just after qualifying, I flew the dHC1 Chipmunk. "Ah, REAL flying at last! This IS how I'd imagined it!". Bought a share. Never looked back!

I got bored with power flying fairly quickly...whereas gliding is always a real challenge - you can find out a lot about yourself when you are 100 miles from home base and down to 500' struggling to stay airborne :ok:

At the end of the day an aircraft is a form of transport like a car and has to have a practical use or it becomes an expensive indulgence.

OK if your a very wealthy guy who can afford expensive indulgences :E take weekends at European destinations or have a business which justifies the use of your aircraft!

I went through the same. What do you do with the hours flight you can afford?
After you have been round the local area a few times showing what a top gun to all your mates you are you need new challenges!

You go into shared flights to extend your range to places further afield but then after a number of flights are cancelled due weather you again question the practical utilisation of an aircraft!

You now need an instrument qualification and an aircraft capable of flying bad weather? More cost, more effort! Ok if you can justify that or are wealthy enough to indulge yourself.
How many get twin ratings just to get the notch on the gun but then have no money to fly twins?

At that point you either have a practical use for an aircraft or fly for someone who does at their expense and in machinery that you could never afford and hopefully you are actually paid to fly them.

Now it has a practical use to you as you are actually earning some money flying nice machinery for someone else.

But yes I do understand your predicament as I am sure many of us have been there before and will be there again.

Pace

We all have different aspects of what excites us in flying. You probably haven't found yours yet.

I also got bored flying around the pattern in a rented C152 every 3 weeks. In fact, I got so bored with it I let my Swedish licence lapse twice before I finally redid it 16 years later in the UK. What's exciting for me is travel, long xcountry's and seeing new stuff and visiting new places. If I can avoid going by airlines, or use it for my business trips, then even better. But for this kind of flying to work you need a decent income, your own plane and a capable plane. Renting doesn't work.

I can say one thing - owning a plane is the best thing I've ever done. That was what opened up flying for me and unlocked it. And I'm more in love with it than ever.

loss of passion

first off, tell us if you are tall or short

and what kind of plane you have been flying

I've seen so many people learn to fly in the most uncomfortable type of plane and they lose passion.

you may also be growing up to the reality of money...if you leave flying, do you have to come back? no.

but if you do, it will be with passion.

so leave. don't fly for awhile. I mean until summertime lets say.

do you get headaches from flying? maybe you have an underlying sinus problem.

pain does reduce passion.

or flying does not live up to your expectations. maybe get some money together and fly a really nice powerful plane (with an instructor).

or, just rent a good movie like "FLYING TIGERS" With john wayne and see if that's the kind of flying you really want.


and those glider guys...well, I guess they have a right to their views.

;-)

I'm 5'11, and fly a C-152. I'm not too uncomfortable in the Cessna, I guess. I'm also fine with a little G's (in fact, I love it - I turn very sharply on purpose). Maybe I should be a fighter jet pilot? :8

I'm not sure from your OP if you mean you thought you wanted to fly professionally (for a living) or if you are talking about flying as a leisure activity. The two are VERY different.


I notice in life that activities that some people do for pay are activities that others pay to do. Folk are very odd it seems.


There are lots of cheap and exciting ways to fly for fun. But if you've lost the drive to fly professionally then I think you should be grateful that you've learnt that about yourself this early in life, and find another career path.

Wow, feeling for you here.

+1 for gliding. I started there on a 5-day course in April 1995. Wonderful and had a brilliant instructor. But after qualifying, found it hard to maintain as family life took over. It was tricky to find a whole day on the weekend to go gliding. Gliding is not only a hobby, sport, call it what you will but you are expected to help out, drive the winch, retrieve gliders, wash them ... Not just turn up and fly.

Why not do more dual flying with instructor on-board? Do a night rating, instrument flying etc. even if you have no appetite to fly for a career you can still learn the skills - forget the exams for now, if the passion returns there will be time for that!

You could do the CPL theory exams as self study, just to learn more and keep amused. If you feel confident, go sit the exams!

I think just remove any pressure and get back to enjoying flying. For what it's worth, I had a big gap in my flying, am almost current again and plan on mixing solo flight with trips out with the instructor and slowly chipping away at further qualifications. I'm too old to fly for a living, and my 2014 promise to myself is to self study the first 4 CPL exams and pass them! :ok:

As you haven't yet got your PPL, don't worry. I've never really enjoyed being instructed - drive, sail, ski, canoe, fly. The enjoyment came once I could do them on my own. (I wish I could enjoy driving now - or not have to do it.)

Hello there :)

I myself am in the middle of PPL training (29hrs, 5.2 solo), I've always wanted to fly, just like yourself, but not for a living. Did a lot of gliding with the Air Cadets.

When I started training it was literally the best thing ever, however, about 5 or 6 hours in the pressure was gradually increasing to the point at 16 or so hours just before my first solo, I didn't even want to get out of bed in the morning! However, once I overcame that obstacle, the fun and passion has come back.

I would suggest that you carry on and complete your PPL, even if it does mean taking a break for a few weeks - it's a super thing to have on a CV no matter what you do. And then, just enjoy yourself. Instead of setting myself one massive challenge, I've set myself little ones culminating (hopefully) in a big achievement - PPL to taildragger to aerobatic to complex to hopefully displaying a t-6/Harvard one day! Hopefully that may have given you an idea or two.

Good luck!!

Where has my passion gone?
 

EASA has that effect on a man.

Over the years, I've flown, raced horses and cars, sailed, dived, shot, driven power boats, ridden to hounds, rock climbed and pot-holed, etc etc.

My one enduring passion through it all has been............Food.:)

I am curious as to how old you are? I read this as you are still quite young?

Hmmm, not sure about that. Useful in anything aviation-related, but the 'non-pilot' potential employer with no idea what a PPL entails and who knows nothing of aviation might think 'self-indulgent and over-indulged playboy' if he hears you have a PPL.

Whether to reveal it or not in an employment application needs thought.

But I'd agree you should complete it if you can. It's a great confidence-booster!

FlyingMac

Naah food makes you fat and then I pity the poor horse ; ) The aircraft will be over gross weight.you won't fit through the holes pot holing, the sailing boat will sink and if you chase anything hounds or otherwise you won't catch them:E

I have been very lucky! crossing to the USA and to South Africa., Saudi, India . Far East and into most airports in Europe in some very fast and tasty machinery. All paid and paid for! And so many sights and memories most will never see or have! So i consider myself lucky to have had those flying experiences.

Had that not been the case would I still fly ? Probably yes but some sort of low cost VLA or maybe gliders and still hanker over a Husky in a field to tinker with and take up a sunny summer morning :sad:;)

You have to put a purpose to your flying whatever that is ! If it's just goals once you achieve them and without a purpose or means to finance it all goes flat.
Even if your purpose is being around the flying environment at least you have a purpose :ok:


Pace

Never did any tuition in fixed wing GA but used to fly a lot with a mate in his PA28...never though I would get bored doing just that but I did after a while,

Had a dabble with flexwing microlights around 10 years ago...still excite me to this day...and they are very affordable to own...

I get just as much enjoyment from owning and maintaining my own a/c and feeling that I am part of the very environment I'm flying in with my wind in the face flex....no they are not sexy but....

Just a thought....