Need some input....

KTRN

KTRN

New Member
Just wondering if any of you have ever felt like this when you started training. I feel if I don't become a professional pilot down the road, I'll be a failure. I guess I feel this partly d/t the time & cost in getting all the ratings & if I don't do anything w/ this, then I will be a failure. Is this normal to feel this way? I would love to fly for the airlines some day but who knows if & when that will ever happen. I don't know if that is a goal I can attain partly d/t my age so I might be wasting my time in this. Just want to see if this is normal to have these feelings. :(
 
Yes, I felt and feel the same way. Getting to an airline was a goal of mine. I accomplished it and when I did, I discovered that while I liked the job and the crews I worked with, $21.00 a flight hour sucks and I can't afford it. So I have moved on to other things. I still can make better money doing other things, but i don't enjoy them as much. That being said, enjoyment doesn't pay my bills either, so yeah there is a lot to think about. You are indeed NORMAL. :)
 
You'll be fine, I know I have felt this way in the past. The best advice I can give is to take it step by step and enjoy every bit of it. If you are so worried about becoming a professional pilot all the time flying just becomes more work and less fun. Of course the goal is in the back of your mind which keeps you going, but there is no need for it to burden your mind.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.
 
No. That would not be correct. You could,

Be an athlete in a sport of your choice but not turn pro,

Take drama and perform as lead in the school play but not become an actor,

Learn to play a musical instrument, but not become a musician,

Learn to SCUBA dive but not become a commercial diver,

Write a novel but never publish it,

Master painting or pottery but never sell your works,

and,

Learn to fly but not become a commercial pilot.

None of that would be a failure; no; each endeavor would add to the experience of your life.



 
I have felt this way at times also, but if you dont try, you have no chance to ever achieve the goal. I would rather have tried and failed, then to never have tried at all and regretted that decision later in life.

There are no guarantees in life. You have to follow your passions, and see where they lead to. Personally, when I look back, I never regret the things I did (even tho there were MANY stupid things that I did), but I regret the things I didnt do.

I am in a similar situation as you. I am getting a late start on this career path. But at least we started. Many will keep saying to themselves and others that 'boy I wish I would have done that' or 'one of these days...', but they never will.

I would rather be in our position than theirs.

Keep moving forward. Enjoy the ride as much as possible.
 
What you're feeling is normal. For years all I did was try to get into military flight school. I got a degree in engineering, got my PPL, scored high on the qualifying exams, everything I could do, and then I found out my vision wasn't good enough. :( I felt like a failure for so long even though it was totally out of my control. I finally let it go and then I went nuts with civilian training and here I am 2 years later with a commercial license and all the instructor ratings. While I don't actively use them because of my military job, the rush getting them was beyond incredible and I enjoyed every minute. I want to fly professionally too one day, but if I never get there, at least I can say I tried and I have no regrets. How many friends I know went to military flight school, got cut from the program, and then never picked up flying again--they're miserable because they don't avail themselves of what's out there.
 
Being a professional pilot is waaay more than just the airlines! Once you start instructing, flying freight, charter etc you are indeed a professional!:cool: And the good thing is that if you ultimately don't like aviation as a full time career, you can do it on the side!

Like n57 said, enjoy the journey...
 
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