Considering quitting - A bit of talking and advice
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: London
Posts: 85
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Maybe a bit late to the party here, but thought I'd just throw in my 2 pennies since I can definitely relate.
Four years ago I was in pretty much the same position except on a modular course at a tiny flying school where, for most of the time I was the only student.
I was slogging through the CPL/IR in what little spare time I had around working full time, with an instructor whose standards were borderline unobtainable, living in crappy apartment, flat broke, haemorrhaging money and completely miserable.
Eventually I made it through, and in fairness to my instructor, him being as harsh as he was made the CPL/IR tests and airline sim check seem a walk in the park.
I sit here now with a shade under 3000 hours awaiting the start date of my command upgrade on the 737. I just finished paying off the training loan and now feel like I'm finally reaping the benefits, and the job day to day could not be much better for me. It's fair to say that I'm very happy with my decision to push through and complete the training despite at many points every fibre of me wanting to give up.
I hope this can be a little inspiration to you. In terms of practical points to help you:
I wouldn't worry too much about the social aspect (what are you there for?). Get your head down at home and armchair fly every lesson, every procedure, every takeoff, landing, whatever. Fly it all at home in your head at least 10 times. And then do it all again. And again if you need. I really cannot over emphasize how much this helped me (and continues to for my recurrent sim checks). Hassle your instructors if there's something you're not understanding. Discuss with your class mates and 'jump seat' on their lessons if you can. Do whatever it takes but getting your knowledge up at home will increase your confidence no end.
If you're stressed before your lessons and you feel like it's affecting your performance (this was me), try a little meditation. You might roll your eyes at this one but this actually helped a lot to clear my mind, relax, and get 'in the zone'. I'm not going to explain any more about it here as there is plenty of information online, but 5 quiet minutes of meditation before a flight really helped me.
Keep the end goal in mind. Watch videos, seek out line pilots to speak to, hang around at the airport, whatever you want. But remember why you're putting yourself through this crap.
And finally, this is maybe not quite an encouraging point but it's at least the truth from my perspective - every stage of training will be the most difficult. It doesn't get easier. The requirement to give 100% effort at all times is relentless until you've been on the line a good six months.
Oh and one more. KEEP SCANNING!
Best of luck.
Four years ago I was in pretty much the same position except on a modular course at a tiny flying school where, for most of the time I was the only student.
I was slogging through the CPL/IR in what little spare time I had around working full time, with an instructor whose standards were borderline unobtainable, living in crappy apartment, flat broke, haemorrhaging money and completely miserable.
Eventually I made it through, and in fairness to my instructor, him being as harsh as he was made the CPL/IR tests and airline sim check seem a walk in the park.
I sit here now with a shade under 3000 hours awaiting the start date of my command upgrade on the 737. I just finished paying off the training loan and now feel like I'm finally reaping the benefits, and the job day to day could not be much better for me. It's fair to say that I'm very happy with my decision to push through and complete the training despite at many points every fibre of me wanting to give up.
I hope this can be a little inspiration to you. In terms of practical points to help you:
I wouldn't worry too much about the social aspect (what are you there for?). Get your head down at home and armchair fly every lesson, every procedure, every takeoff, landing, whatever. Fly it all at home in your head at least 10 times. And then do it all again. And again if you need. I really cannot over emphasize how much this helped me (and continues to for my recurrent sim checks). Hassle your instructors if there's something you're not understanding. Discuss with your class mates and 'jump seat' on their lessons if you can. Do whatever it takes but getting your knowledge up at home will increase your confidence no end.
If you're stressed before your lessons and you feel like it's affecting your performance (this was me), try a little meditation. You might roll your eyes at this one but this actually helped a lot to clear my mind, relax, and get 'in the zone'. I'm not going to explain any more about it here as there is plenty of information online, but 5 quiet minutes of meditation before a flight really helped me.
Keep the end goal in mind. Watch videos, seek out line pilots to speak to, hang around at the airport, whatever you want. But remember why you're putting yourself through this crap.
And finally, this is maybe not quite an encouraging point but it's at least the truth from my perspective - every stage of training will be the most difficult. It doesn't get easier. The requirement to give 100% effort at all times is relentless until you've been on the line a good six months.
Oh and one more. KEEP SCANNING!
Best of luck.
