Why I (may) quit flying
 

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 :eek:

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?

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 :ok:

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.

@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.

Bye.........

Yep PP

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

Good luck

Cusco.

You've obviously never had to work with singers.

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.

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

Why I (may) quit flying
 

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.

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?

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!

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.

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 :E

Pace

What you need is one of these :)


http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviatio.../6/1551623.jpg

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

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.

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.

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......

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!

Do you rent Paul? That is an unsustainable way of flying IMHO. You need to buy a share, even if it is relatively cheap share.

I got bored renting, and could have easily given up in the mid naughties. So I bought my first share which reinvigorated flying. Eventually we sold that one and me and one of the others in that group bought our own plane between us (Commander). This was much faster and our own plane so we can do whatever we want, when we want, and we do.

When my son was born I went through all the usual guilt trips, about what would happen if I killed myself, or leaving the Mrs at home looking after kids while I go flying (which was a source of discussions, believe me ;) )....BUT now he is older (almost 3) I can take him flying with me, give her a break, and he LOVES it...After a flight he talks about it non stop for days. Now we can also go flying as a family, and so those "discussions" are largely disappearing. can't wait for the day we can jump in the family Turboprop and fly down to Switzerland for a weekend's skiiing (ha ha, yea right, but we can dream....).

yes I do think "what if I crash" with the family on-board but I have come to trust my skills so that if anything goes wrong, I believe I can handle it to the best of my ability....I also took out life insurance.......

I used to take my son flying with me when he was little in fact living next to a field we used to fly past the kitchen window waving at her (only joking)
he was right seat in a 737 at the age of 20 flying for Easy Jet so look what you might deprive your kid of :ok:

Pace

Why not take your wife & son along with you ? It can make a great family activity that you can all enjoy together . Ive taken my 2 children up aged 6 months & 3 years - no probs at all. The 3 year old loves it & the 6 month old just falls asleep.

Thanks
 

Thanks for all of the advice and tips.

I did actually go cold on my flying once before but then watched a Christmas special of "some ,others do 'av 'em" and thought 'I really need to get back to that:



I guess there is good advice here. Take a break, wait for my son to grow a bit then take him with me :ok:

Thanks guys!

I does sound as though you are at a stage in your life where you 'should' take a break from flying. We hope that break will be temporary: A lot of people don't even learn to fly until their late 40s / early 50s - once their children have left home and they have more disposable income and time.

Working on the assumption that you are likely to want to return to flying in the future then make this easier for yourself by not starting your break until you have the most up to date / longest lasting qualifications:

Licence - Make sure you have an EASA Part-FCL PPL (which is valid for life).
SEP Rating - Revalidate it before your break. Valid for 2 years, can be renewed without CAA involvement (or cost) for 3 years beyond that.
Night Rating - Valid for Life
IMC Rating - Renewable by test at any time. Not worth doing before your break.
Class 2 Medical - As you are over 40 this would only be valid for 2 years so probably not worth doing before your break.

Try aerobatics.

Paul, I actually thought that was a truly depressing post you made, but I am only an amateur phsycologist, not a qualified one.:sad:

We ALL face these issues. When my sons were born, guess what. I gave up flying at the weekend, gave up a display routine, and spent the weekend with my wife and kids, where every father should be.

Ok, I was fortunate, I took every Wednesday off, MY day I called it, and I went flying. It kept me alive, kept my family fully functional, as a pose to the rest of the dysfunctional's, nowadays, and life went on. Still built up over 1100 hours, and now I am back with a full schedule, my kids are now older.

That post echoed that something else may not be quite right, not all to do with flying. Tell you what, pour a large Gin, go outside, assuming it is not raining, and have quiet word with yourself.

Works wonders, trust me:confused:

I would keep your options open and follow the advice of Level Attitude!

It sounds like you need some new challenges in aviation. Also not ones that require an increase in funding (aeros, IR, etc.)

As a airline pilot, I still find my day job has the odd interesting bits, sometimes too interesting(!) but after more than thirty years I still get up early in the morning in anticipation of a good soaring day. I can launch, stay up, go cross-country and think of nothing else but the task in hand for 5-10hrs. I’m still improving (I think) and there are always more challenges when you think you’ve hacked it: thermal, anabatic, ridge, wave, shear, mountains, deserts, different countries, different hemispheres, the list is endless.

The soaring disciplines reward concentration and pilot input (and also punish inattention and sloppiness) like no other. You get to a point flying power where you’re just sitting there waiting for something to fail to get the arousal level up, while spending several £s a minute. Motorless flight is not at all like that: fairly constant thought is required just to stay airborne and if you own your kit, the cost per hour goes down the more you fly it!

I can understand that increasing commitments with family and finance can make you question the whole affair, especially if you feel the magic has gone out of flying and you’re only doing it because you have invested large amounts of time and money in the process. Taking a break for some time might be the answer if the motivation to carry on as you are is no longer there. I hope you find a solution...

Soaring is real flying. I miss it.

Like others have said, if you give up you will likely get to the stage where you really want to fly again (usually about two weeks for me!), so, pack it in until you reach the stage where you NEED to come back - may be shorter than you think!:ok:

Full Wings says it all!

Here is an airline pilot. The pinnacle of his profession. And what does he find most interesting and challenging in aviation?

Soaring!

Go back and read his post again, he says it all.

Apart from fighter pilots, test pilots, SAR pilots and various other people whose jobs require a far higher level of skill than operating an airliner.

Of course he'd find soaring more fun!

G

Paul: Good advice being given here to keep your options open for the future. I flew with my little boy when he wasn't very old and he's now earning his living in the front seat of a GR4.

Whilst gliding does give the new set of challenges that the OP seems to need, a reality check is needed if you think a weekend at a gliding club is the place to be when you have a 16 month old child at home. Going gliding at weekends whilst the mother gets left with the baby again after a week of it, sounds like a recipe for divorce. Gliding clubs expect all pilots to assist with running operations when they are not flying, so unless it is known and agreed that the OP is only there for a little longer than his flights, there is either going to be friction at the club or at home.

A mid-week evening gliding course may be the answer as it will leave the weekends free and the time commitment is less. Mum may even be willing to come along with the child to get some fresh air.

When it is Dad's turn with the sprog, flying and gliding clubs can be a good place to take the child (on a suitable restraint) to have something to look at and wear him/her out whilst giving Dad at least a partial fix as a spectator. Lasham & Popham were both regular destinations when my two were small.

Yes, Ghengis, fighter pilots, test pilots, S&R, North Sea helicopter pilots, trouble is most of these forms of flying, while immensely satisfying and challenging, are not open to ordinary mortals!

When I think of an airline pilot, as at the top of his profession, I think of the 360 people sitting behind him who place their lives in his hands. Respect for that responsibility is due.

Though of course, it all began when an airmail pilot in the State of Washington was offered an incentive to fly a man to a very important meeting in California.....(the only seat available was on top of the mail bags)

The pilot said "Well, I guess if my ass gets there, yours will too....."

Paul, I'm reminded of the following from Hamlet:

"there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so"

Unlike some others I didn't find your post depressing or negative, or that you were just looking for confirmation of a decision already made. Rather it was a call for some discussion that might assist you in where you are on flying at this time...

FWIW my view is that there are times in life when priorities change, where previously enjoyable activities pall, and where new directions call for some reflection on life past and life going on.

I sympathise on the situation you're in and from your post perhaps it could be a time to put the flying aside for a bit. It's not an irrevocable decision, it's neither good nor bad, it's just a decision you make and move on. Later you can return if you wish to, and take up some of the suggestions people have put forward, or perhaps never grace the skys again. Either way it's not the 'wrong' (or right!) path to take.

Personally I no longer fly much because there's no reason to. I was never really in it for 'fun' and since the work I did has mostly dried up I've moved on to other things. I still have a circle of friends from aviation, occasionally do things on the odd 'craft, and of course there's still the 'Prune so I don't feel like I'm bereft, or have lost anything in not flying - rather I'm grateful for the good times and the people I've come to know.

In closing I would say that I'm sorry to hear the comments regarding personalities here. While aviation is probably no different from other walks of life in terms of the mix of people, I've found some enduring friendships from the group of decent people I've been involved with over the time.

FP.

Paul,

I think maybe you are a considerate chap thinking of Family, and your comments about others in this field fairly sensitive to others. Thats fine because many are not. Flying to some is their whole life, they need it, some can dip in and out. On the whole most I have met are good people willing to help you, some are numpties, some schools are full of them, share groups are usually less ego lead.

I learned at 20, gave up by 23 due to money. Had the chance of sponsorship but turned that down could n't see me doing flying for career. So went into financial services.

Got the bug again at 35, did CPL FI NIGHT IR(R)+IRI(R) + GRE carried on in FS but instructed for 10 years with some good schools, all part time, gained 1500 hrs, Re did ATPL exams due to employment propects in flying looked good, the place I instructed at had offered me the chance to fly their company ac but had no IR, still dont.

Then the recession came, and a requirement for me to gain further financial services exams at a high level which kinda put pay to aviation. Couldn't juggle both easily anymore.

So there I am in FS for good I guess, am now a company director, and was offered the chance recently to fly and interview for a job instructing again having not flown for along while, flight went well after I realised I was trying to land downwind on the PFL ha ha. Offered job instructing again and doing ground school, but turned them down as some how just didn't feel right, because I'm so busy with my new company.

During this time I have had the same wife and bought up 2 kids and have always put my Family first, and given them a good life.

Moral of my story is I have dipped in and out of flying all my life, but sometimes other things are more important, I have a career now where I could afford to fly for pleasure which I may do, finish my IR and go touring, but despite all my exams, training flying, my head is still looking out the window on nice days when Im sat in the office and as now a company director a rather nice lifestlye, so you are unlikely to get this totally out of your head I'm afraid, if you had the will power for getting the ratings, all that work time and money is not easily let go.

Take a break, make sure as the advice says above get an EASA licence, and yes maybe simplfy things, gliding etc, Ive been looking at ac shares again and getting rather excited, I'm now 50 and not ready to be totally earth bound, but as everything in life who knows what will happen, but to give up totally on it never felt great to me, but always considered it a hobby really, a break is better. And some days I miss the flying a lot, others I could take it or leave it, strange old game this.

One thing thats make me think about this game is , Ive kept in contact with lots of my students, and when they call me most complain about their jobs in aviation, not many seem overly happy and are always trying to get to that perfect job, bigger ac more exciting company etc etc, and all say keep it as a hobby for Gods sake, but the students who did the flying as a hobby and have bought ac shares seem much happier on the whole and keep going with it far longer than those who use schools.

Lost his job.

Starting a new business, presumably because jobs are scarce

Major life change circumstance

No surprise here, worse than yachties...

Major issue when time constrained

I don't think PP likes it anymore


Soooo, for all of those who obviously did not read the OP, a trait on Pprune, Pompey has a lot more going on than just wondering about gliding. Several major life changes in there, all of which an Internet forum may not resolve. As stated, we all face life changes, some more frequently than others, and unfortunately, you just have to sit still,and work out your priorities and where you want to go, simples really:uhoh:

Well, exactly. The 'responsibility for hundreds of pax' can be overstated - the pilot wants to get there in piece too! I'm reminded of my mate, retired BA captain who, when asked what it's like to fly that awfully big jumbo jet with hundreds of pax in it says "I just fly this little bit at the front, and the rest of it sort of follows along".