Why don't you have your PPL yet?!

gurisudenko

gurisudenko

New Member
I would appreciate some positive words. :(

I'm at Saint Cloud State University, majoring in Aviation Management (Airline Focus) and minoring in Professional Flight.

There are a great many students here who can just walk down to the bank and take out a loan for $10,000, or have parents who pay for their flight lessons, or have parents who pay for their education. And good for them, there's not really anything wrong with that...If I were a capable parent (scary thought), I would probably be interested in furthering my child's education.

But here's little ol' me, supporting myself, putting myself through college, AND paying for my flight training. My training goes a bit slower than that of my peers because I don't have streams of money flying in at me from my parents. I have nothing from my parents, and I don't expect to - we had it real tough when I was growing up and I would rather they try to build some assets if they can...

The University limits me to 20 hours of workstudy per week. That means I make about $150 a week yet STILL SOMEHOW fly sometimes. But I don't do it fast enough in the eyes of my peers.

I'm told,

"If you continue on this path, you'll never be a professional pilot",

"Why don't you have your PPL yet? It's been almost a year. Well that's too bad, I'm doing my checkride tomorrow. You really need to focus more"

As if I can help it...?! In the eyes of my peers it's an intellectual downfall on my part and an inability to fly aircraft. It makes me very very sad sometimes. People have done a good job at making me feel incompetent, scared, and hopeless at times with regard to meeting my flight training goals. And I know it shouldn't be that way...I start to feel better sometimes but then someone else walks up to me and says something about how I need to focus or I'm not going fast enough....

:(
 
Oh well, don't worry about it. In the end, you'll be more proud of your accomplishment because you did it without mom and dad's help.

Kudos to you for working hard for it, man.
 
Dude, don't let a single one of those words stick in your mind. They are all foolish. It will make you a better pilot for having to struggle. For you, there's probably no doubt that you really WANT it. Be passionate and keep working at it, you'll get there.

I'm in a similar boat. I'm making a little bit more now, but I pulled off the financials for flying through nothing less than the grace of God.

My room mate from college (2002) is flying Lear jets. I'm working on my commercial still.

But there is no doubt that it's all mine. I earned what I got. And you should be able to say the same with your head up high! :)

The Jones's are gunna die some day too, so stop trying to beat them.
 
I say screw them...and I would tell them that the next time they said anything to you! Take your time and work at your own pace.
 
I wouldnt worry about it. I can tell that you are passionate about flying and thats what matters. Keep the passion alive, fly anytime you get the opportunity and when you're not flying read a book about flying (helps prep for your checkride). It took me over a year to get my PPL and to this day, I think that Im a better pilot as a result.
 
I know how it feels not having much money. Don't worry about what everyone else says, fly at your own pace and stay focused.
 
gurisudenko said:
In the eyes of my peers it's an intellectual downfall on my part and an inability to fly aircraft. It makes me very very sad sometimes. People have done a good job at making me feel incompetent, scared, and hopeless at times with regard to meeting my flight training goals. And I know it shouldn't be that way...I start to feel better sometimes but then someone else walks up to me and says something about how I need to focus or I'm not going fast enough....
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don't worry bout your peers... they're gonna have mega loans to pay back and you won't... then, you can come back and say to them "what, no money to buy a beer with? hmmmm you sure are far behind in getting your retirement started!!" ;)

your earning your stripes, be proud of it!

I think your doing just fine.. if you have to take it a step at a time to avoid going the same loan route as everyone else, then by all means, keep at it!! :)

:nana2:
 
Yeah man, let them talk their talk. Do they know you're putting yourself through training and school? I can't say that for myself, my parents are helping me out a ton, and a lot of times I don't feel like I deserve all the progress i've made. If it's too rough going, hang up the headset for a little while, save up the money, and once your account is ready, go for it!

If they keep saying all that stuff to you, ask them how easy they think it is paying for flight training, paying for school, while working 20 hours a week. You know, you'll get there if you keep pushin, if that's what's in your heart, brotha.
 
I'm a girl! :) "Sister/sista, dudette, ooo girl no he just didn't", are more appropriate.

Thanks for the positive input though! I really needed it.

Usually my instructor is the one who gets to hear my venting - bless his heart.
 
And when you're all done, you walk away debt-free. Not many people that went the civilian route can say that...

Hang in there!
 
gurisudenko said:
I would appreciate some positive words. :(

I'm at Saint Cloud State University, majoring in Aviation Management (Airline Focus) and minoring in Professional Flight.

There are a great many students here who can just walk down to the bank and take out a loan for $10,000, or have parents who pay for their flight lessons, or have parents who pay for their education. And good for them, there's not really anything wrong with that...If I were a capable parent (scary thought), I would probably be interested in furthering my child's education.

But here's little ol' me, supporting myself, putting myself through college, AND paying for my flight training. My training goes a bit slower than that of my peers because I don't have streams of money flying in at me from my parents. I have nothing from my parents, and I don't expect to - we had it real tough when I was growing up and I would rather they try to build some assets if they can...

The University limits me to 20 hours of workstudy per week. That means I make about $150 a week yet STILL SOMEHOW fly sometimes. But I don't do it fast enough in the eyes of my peers.

I'm told,

"If you continue on this path, you'll never be a professional pilot",

"Why don't you have your PPL yet? It's been almost a year. Well that's too bad, I'm doing my checkride tomorrow. You really need to focus more"

As if I can help it...?! In the eyes of my peers it's an intellectual downfall on my part and an inability to fly aircraft. It makes me very very sad sometimes. People have done a good job at making me feel incompetent, scared, and hopeless at times with regard to meeting my flight training goals. And I know it shouldn't be that way...I start to feel better sometimes but then someone else walks up to me and says something about how I need to focus or I'm not going fast enough....

:(
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I am in the same situation that you are in. I work full-time and attend school online part-time. I started out training for my PPL about three years ago and have only accumulated 30 hours. I stopped for awhile due to money issues. I have been flying off and on as my piggy bank permits. I am really able to fly only once or twice per week due to work and school. To tell you the truth, I felt frustrated at times of the lack of progress that I was making on my training. I live in NY and the flight schools here in the New York area are not cheap at all. I was looking at those flight academies which guarantee you an interivew with a regional carrier after completion. The truth is that I dont see myself being drowned out in debt for about ten or twenty years down the road. I dont know how the airline industry is going to be a few years down the road, either. I just joined a flying club at a nearby naval base whose prices are reasonable for the NY/NJ area.

Don't let anybody else get to you. Just be yourself and have faith in yourself and think positive. At least you will not be in massive debt when you get done with all your ratings. Take your time and understand everything you need to know to get your ratings. Flight training is not a race to see who can obtain their certificates in the shortest amount of time. Chances are those people will not have a broad understanding of flying.
 
I'm a CFI for a University flight school in New York, and I wish half my students have the motivation you have. Most of them get Mommy to pay for their training (which there is nothing wrong with, if you have the money to blow I suppose) yet couldnt give a f--- what happened with them or their training, because well... Mommy and Daddy would just pay for it. Good for you, and if they don't like what your doing, screw 'em.
 
Let me tell you the story of my dad.

My dad came here with $1,000 in his pocket, speaking very rudimentary English. He managed to get into a juco, transferred to Caltech, and then got his masters and PhD.

And because of his hard work, he was able to put three kids through college, and one through med school and one through law school.

So, if he can do that, you can get those ratings done. And don't let anyone disrespect you for not having the cash they do. What that tells me is that they may have cash, but they have no class.

Keep at it. You are someone to be admired.

It was easy for me, because of my dad's hard work. I will never know how hard it was for him, nor will I know what it's like for you.

But I can say that as someone who didn't have to worry about my education being paid for, I am in awe of those who do it themselves.
 
It took me a friggin' year to get my private, for the same reasons. I was going to school full time to finish my degree and working the night shift at a hotel to pay for my training. I would fly for a while, then run out of money and have to stop. When I had saved up enough cash to start flying again, it seemed that no matter how much I practiced, studied, or "chair-flew," I would still be a little rusty when I started up again. I watched people that started after me and didn't study nearly as much as I did pass their checkrides and go on to new ratings and it was really frustrating...but I just kept going and I finally got the ticket.
Don't be discouraged; there are lots of people in your same boat. The thing that makes the difference is what you do with your situation. There's a lot to be said for a person who, despite all circumstnces, REFUSES to give up. I think by working and dealing with crappy circumstances to achieve your goals, you learn a lot about life and become a stronger, more mature person. I know it's a cliche, but the only person who fails is the one who ives up. If you stay focused on your goal and never quit, I guarantee you'll earn your ticket, and it will feel really good knowing you did it without any help.
Also, I am a little worried about your school or the people therein. If people at your school are making you feel incompetent, then you should maybe find a school with a more positive learning environment. You're going to learn a lot more easily if you're at a school that makes you enjoy being there and maakes you feel good about your training.
 
I am still working on my PPL, this August will be one year that I have started. I can go ahead and take out loans but i don't want to have a burden like that on my shoulders in future.
I work full time go to school full time and very close to get my BS degree. Just hang in there, focus on your school work and finish the bachelors degree ASAP. You can always learn to fly at your pace.
Just imagine that you will be tougher than the others at the end point. Don't ever give up if you are passionate about this, just push and push ahead. You'll eventually get there. There is a very famous saying in Farsi: "If you really want it you'll definately get it".

For support just come to us on JC, that's what we are here for, RIGHT?

Armen
 
Just enjoy the journey. It has taken me three years to come close to my comm checkride. No one cares how long it takes you to get there as long as you get there.
 
I have been in the same boat. Specially when I tried my Intrument for the first time. Beeing only able to fly once a week I felt like i was going to be doing BAI for the rest of my life. So I just stoped because I didnt feel like I was getting anywere. I finally sucked it up an took out a loan to just blow through my ratings.

I wonder what would happen to the Industry if all the rich kids and rich mommy and daddys stoped paying for flying or didnt want to be pilots anymore. With the way rates are going up I cant see people beeing able to just work there way through a rating for much longer. A repeat of the earyl 90s may be close.
 
scottyboy75 said:
Just enjoy the journey. It has taken me three years to come close to my comm checkride. No one cares how long it takes you to get there as long as you get there.
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How do you have any money left over flying them things?:sarcasm:
 
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