Lack of Confidence
 

Hi, I am new to this website, I passed my PPL skills test almost 2 years ago but due to lack of funding I haven't really done much flying since then. I have now managed to come into enough money to begin my hour building, but due to not flying in almost two years I have lost a lot of confidence, has anyone else experienced this or does anyone have any ideas how I could sort this? any advice or feedback would be much appreciated.
Thanks

Couple of hours with an FI
 

Hi Greasemonkey,

Even if your rating is current, I think before you embark on concentrated flying it'd be a good idea to pay for a few hours dual with a flight instructor.

Just go over the basics, some stall recovery, PFLs, basic IF (get out of cloud if you get into trouble), bit of basic NAV and some circuits. Most schools have a good idea of what to include in a refresher course, the flying club that I did my PPL with a few moons ago does a 3 hour course which is designed to get you refamiliar with a few procedures and gets your confidence up.

When that's done I reckon you'll feel much more confident and ready to embark on some serious solo hour building. Best of luck with it! :ok:

It is totally normal to have lost some confidence. I used to fly Dash 8s on a 2 week on / 2 week off roster and always felt a bit like a fish out of water on the very first flight back, and that's just after 2 weeks.

Agree with the advice above, ease back into it with a bit of dual and you'll have the confidence back pretty quick.

Your level of confidence should always be a little below your level of skill.
Overconfidence kills pilots and their passengers.
Your lack of confidence is not only normal, but also a sound reaction to your low experience.
I had to fly almost a hundred hours before I felt confident enough to take non-pilot passengers, and to have passed my CPL to take my children with me.
Flying with an instructor at a school is certainly a good idea, but you will only do again what you did before.
When I finished my PPL, I did my first flights with a free lance instructor, we travelled here and there, doing real flights, and not pre PPL skill test flights.
I do the same with my IR as I don't feel confident enough after the skill test to travel in real IFR.

Hi folks, thanks for the advice, It is much appreciated, I will definitely do that, some more time with an instructor can't hurt, glad to hear Its normal.