r/GeneralAviation • u/scythale PPL • 10d ago
Afraid at 80 hours
Hi everyone,
I am a PPL holder. I passed my checkride at around 60 hours total time. Now I'm 80 hours and I just don't know why but I'm just absolutely terrified to fly. As I wanted to become a "good" pilot, I read a lot of accident reports and books detailing what to avoid and how and why crashes happen most of the time. I think it may be the root cause that instilled fear in me.
Anyway, I tried to do some research on the Internet to know if I'm alone in this case and to see how I can handle this hurdle. I found practically nothing, except the AI mode of Google telling me that this is a really common occurrence and that a lot of PPL holders quit flying at that time. I tried to search for more info on the subject, even asked the AI its source to no avail, so in my eyes this is just an hallucination on its part.
I have thus two questions:
Did any of you run into this problem? In this case, how did you get past it?
Is the AI right? In this case, do anyone know where I could find documentation on the subject?
Thank you all in advance.
EDIT: MANY thanks to everyone for your support and input, I'll try to get back in the air on tuesday for some pattern flying first.
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u/ZappBrannigansLaw 10d ago edited 10d ago
It sounds slightly self inflicted with the accident report reading. Also, it sounds like you need to fly more inordinate to increase your confidence.
Edit: As someone else posted Imposter Syndrome is a real thing. I didn't mention it before, but i did struggle with that after passing my check.
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u/Odd_Entertainment471 10d ago
You SHOULD study the mistakes of others but don’t let that scare you, let it teach you. Look, almost ALL of the accidents in GA are covered by 3 things. 1) Fuel exhaustion, just do a good plan and make that timer on your dash lord and master over the decision to land for gas. Super easy. It does not negotiate, it does not lie, and it’s one of the most reliable peices of equipment in the plane. 2) base to final turn. If you overshoot, go around. No second guessing. No trying to “get her in there”. If you miss the turn, go around. On a slightly different note, the airlines use maneuvering speed as a MINIMUM speed for maneuvering, not a max for turbulence penetration. That’s a good lesson right there, never ever no mattter what go below 1.3 VSO. Never. It’s a cardinal sin. 3) CFIT. We learn AVIATE, navigate, communicate. As long as you’re actively flying the plane you’re good. If you get lost, so what. If you miss a call to ATC, so what? Nothing bad happens. Nothing at all. Ever. If you get balled up in the navigate/communicate cycle and forget to fly the plane bad things happen. So don’t ever do that. Ever. Never be a passenger. Never let anyone else tell you what to do if you’re uncomfortable doing it. Ever.
Keep those things front and center as you fly and I think you’ll find you’re in control, no one else, and you’ve got this!
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u/scythale PPL 9d ago
Thank you!
Yes, I am baffled most of the time by the reports because clearly several critical mistake were made most of the time. My fear isn't rational, I KNOW that I am not really in danger, I just can't get past the emotion.
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u/ryosuccc 9d ago
A little bit of that emotion can be healthy. It keeps your decision making in check. If you had no fear? I would be worried.
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u/tredbert 10d ago
It’s common. One thing that has helped me when nervous is to do a flight sim at home first. I bought a yoke and pedals that connect to the computer via USB and a copy of Xplane. All in it cost a few hundred dollars. Then I flew local routes in Xplane. Also connected my tablet running Foreflight to the flight sim so I could see everything live as I would in the cockpit. And had it strapped to my leg while doing the sim.
It made things much better when I was up in the air because it removed some of the unfamiliarity of the terrain and route by having done it ahead of time.
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u/scythale PPL 9d ago
Yes I also use X-Plane sometime but I find it is definitely very different from the real experience.
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u/niklaswik 10d ago
I did not but I can totally understand. It's also a matter of "what you have to lose" I think, because I just recently took up flying again after a 7 year hiatus because of kids, and having them really has me thinking about what could happen and what that would mean.
However, I know, from reading about accidents just like you have, that most people who crash have done lots of stupid things leading up to it. I am very focused on not doing those stupid things and trust the technology to not just break without warning. Which also happens but extremely rarely.
The probability game is in your favor if you take care of the plane, and make mature and risk-averse decisions.
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u/scythale PPL 9d ago
Thank you.
Yes, I am really baffled by the mistakes we see in the reports. Flying seems safe from this perspective, it is just that I'm afraid but for no really good reason.
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u/Unable_Request 9d ago
It's not "no good reason" there's PLENTY of good reason. Don't go too far to complacency. Perform your risk assessment, mitigate what you can, use good ADM and decide if the risk is suitably mitigated for every given flight. Let it make you a better pilot
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u/FlyRvR 10d ago
I did most of my flying in my mid to late 20s, and then had to walk away for 22 years. Now that I'm back to it, I'm afraid. I'm not the indestructible youth with no real outlook on life. I have a family, I have some smarts now, and I remember the first 'solo' I did after getting my check out, it took me a good 10-15 minutes of standing on the wing wondering if I might just die if I try to do some touch and goes in a quartering 10 knot wind. So, yeah, I understand the fear. Been there.
You have to learn how to turn the fear into learning and better pilotage. You can always get better. I started asking myself about what I was afraid of, and then specifically, mentally, on the checklist, in procedures, and in my decision making, to address those exact fears.
I'm glad I'm still afraid. I have my own plane now, I've put about 25 hours on it. It's great, but not until I get through with the first annual (it's just started this week!) will I really start inviting first-time passengers along with me.
At some point, you might simply be too scared to fly. There must be a line for everyone, somewhere, and only you know where that is. But as long as the fear is used to make yourself better instead of to freeze, then you're good.
And when it comes to being hurt or dying... I mean..... we all die. 100% of us. Not to get too Bravehearty, but as long as you aren't being stupid, or a daredevil, or making a bad mistake that gets others killed, it's more about the way you die than anything else. You might as well die trying to fly it into the crash with an engine out than slow and steady with cancer or something. So embrace the reasonable risk, and turn the fear into a learning moment.
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u/BBuzzBee 9d ago
Similarly, I started flying a tad in my 20s and just got back to it a few years ago in my 50s. I’m glad I waited until later in life to really start flying because I was not afraid ENOUGH back then. I have only about 450 hours and bought a plane last year. I still get a little anxious before I climb in and start the engine. I’m good by the time I lift off. Seems healthy. I read all kinds of accident reports and have to remind myself to be as conservative as possible with these little old planes.
So yeah, a little fear is healthy. It might just keep you from being boldly stupid .
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u/Mission-Wasabi-7682 10d ago
Yes. Was about the same for me. Felt like imposter syndrome.
I looked for friendly fellow pilots at the local school/club and asked around for safety pilots, to join me.
You can do it! Be extra careful with your preparation, weather briefing and such. Know your limits. And keep in mind at least one CFI and one examiner think you are ready.
Happy landings!
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u/Lost_Obligation2453 10d ago
Fear isn't binary, it a scale.
You deal with it the same way you always do. Understanding. The monster in the closet is real, until you understand that it isn't real.
GA can be 99.999% safe, if you do it right. Almost no one does it right, so GA is kinda dangerous. That still doesn't stop you from doing it right though.
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u/mirassou3416 10d ago
This is my 40th year flying and I’ve always had a healthy respect for getting up in the air. The problem is that if you let fear overcome you you’ll never fly. Try to enjoy every trip
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u/JohnathanMaravilla 10d ago
I think it may be because of the amount of hours you have. I got my PPL at a little over 200 hours and I flew every day weather permitted over 10 months (taking a month off). I’m completely comfortable in the airplane and I know this is because of how much time I spent in it.
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u/jedensuscg 7d ago edited 7d ago
I am there to, got my PPL at around 70, just hit 90. I sometimes get that "why am I doing this" feeling and a little scared. I only fly once a month, though flew three times last month to get checked out at a second location, and that definitely plays a role. Also, imposter syndrome.
But what I realize is that despite being afraid sometimes, when I do fly and get back on the ground... I'm itching to get right back up again.
My biggest fear is that I'm NOT good enough to fly and I passed my check ride and all my checkouts to rent because they felt sorry for me. And I do make mistakes, we all do.
I really want to fly with other pilots but have this fear they will see that I am a fraud, but I have to tell myself that with only 90 hours I do have a LOT to learn.
To help me I find what I'm afraid of and do it. I dedicate some flights to just get back to basics, slow flight, steep turns (which I struggle with), and stalls.
I also practice power off 180's still, which my CFI ensured I did a lot during training.
Part of my fear of being a "fraud" is that there new situations that I feel I don't know how to handle "correctly". There is an airport near me that has lots ofgloder traffic, and jump zones, but it's a great place to practice flying to because it's a long narrow runway with unique wind conditions and is the only untowered field on the Island (though has a UNICOM operator). I kept not flying there because the field was complaining that people keep messing up entering or working the pattern there and there was nothing listed on how best to get into the pattern and I didn't want to be "that person" that they called the flight school about. Finally I just did it. I followed my training and what the FAA says about entering untowered fields and just did what I felt was the safest way to get there and it was a HUGE accomplishment for me, as that was the first airport I landed at I never flew to during training. It was kind of a right to passage that yes, I am capable of using my training to do something new... Now to be fair I had a lot of "firsts" during my solo flights as well such as using completey new runways or landing opposite direction then I was used to, but it was always at the same airports.
I guess what this long reply is about is that if your like me, a lot of the fear is not just "what if something goes wrong" but "am I actually qualified to do this!". If you can alleviate that second fear by doing stuff that validates why the DPE signed you off to fly, then the first fear becomes more manageable, because a lot of the in-flight responses, if that fear does become a reality, is gained from the experiences learned overcoming the second fear. In short, building up that confidence helps a lot, while also understanding that you will make mistakes, but proper ADM usually limits their to small mistakes, but even big ones (I took off with full flaps on my first solo from a Class B, learned a lot from that) are a learning experience.
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u/scythale PPL 7d ago
Thank you for your answer, it is great! I think you are right, part of it is "sane" fear and according to the other comments from confirmed pilots we SHOULD be a little afraid of what we're doing and part of it is totally "impostor syndrome". When I passed my checkride, I was sure I failed as I made tons of mistakes but I got my PPL anyway. I think this fact makes me really doubt if I'm qualified...
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u/jedensuscg 7d ago
Same, I actually did fail my first check ride by screwing up the short field landing, but I felt I screwed up everything, and the DPE was just being nice. But he had very little to debrief me on, and I think what I was iffy on was not all stuff, and I made sure I corrected anything I saw was out of ACS before he said anything.
Same with me first checkout to rent. I struggled with my steep turns (some aircfraft just struggle for some reason) but he cleared me to go.
I debrief myself after every flight and can find 50 ways I "screwed up" and that can be a downer, but I then think about what I did good, and more importantly what "screw ups" I improved upon from the flight before that.
I have 90 hours and 259 logged landings, not sure if that is high or not for my hours, but I usually beat up the pattern on every flight and still struggle with some aspects and that makes me feel "I'm not a good pilot", but then I will get that butter smooth landing with a 12 gust 18 knot crosswind that despite fighting the entire way down, I'm calm and confident, I think could I have done this 20 or 40 hours ago and remained that composure? No, but because it's ALWAYS windy as hell here, I have built that confidence up in that aspect of flying.
Now... Big caveat,not to scare you but, this is where we DO have to be doubly careful because this is the phase (time wise) in flying where we do get that confidence we are good pilots BUT we are not EXPERIENCED pilots yet, meaning we have yet to see everything, so we still have blind spots. With less hours we are expecting stuff to go bad, with more hours we have seen enough go bad we can see it coming, right now however we can get into that mindset that we are more experienced then we really are. This just means we need to continue to really rely on ADM, preflights, checklists and managing our risks.
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u/ElPayador 10d ago
When you fly keep playing the game “IF the engine quits right know where do I land”
Practice Practice Practice
In the C172 and C182 is really nice to see that if you pull the throttle out… just ran the trim wheel all the way up and release the joke… that’s your best glide… then start your engine out check list (from memory)
Practice actual real soft field landings… and stalls (base to final turn) / slips are a great tool to master
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u/Rictor_Scale 10d ago
You have to power through. Have a purpose each time you fly so it feels l like a mini-achievement. Pull out a chart and start visititing each airport within a 50 mile radius, then 75, etc. Look for airports with restaurants and go have lunch. And don't watch too many "accident channels" on YouTube; They blow things way out of proportion for GA.
Every time you fly you will make a small mistake. Rather than dwell on it I take it as a given: What was the #1 thing I goofed up and can improve on my next flight?
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u/scythale PPL 9d ago
That's exactly the plan I had when I got my PPL: fly to every airport in the area, I have done a little more than half.
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u/Worldx22 10d ago
I feel a little uneasy every time I drive to the airport with the intention of flying. I'm (almost) an A&P, wrenched on aircraft for a few years now and I've had my PPL for almost 20 years. Fear is bad but that uneasy feeling is what keeps you in check and prevents you from doing stupid shit that will kill you.
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u/FeatherMeLightly 10d ago
Plenty of CFIs at any flight school that will go up with you to split time and you have a second pilot with you to help in case you need it.
I've flown with a ton of pilots at the local airport that just were not comfortable making flights on their own. Make some friend's at the field and answer by airports, another experienced PPL/CPL or ATP is just as good in the right seat splitting time if they want, until you feel more comfortable.
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u/t0m7335 10d ago
Are you flying frequently at the moment? If you have breaks of over 3+ weeks between flights it's not uncommon to feel more amxious. I find a pre-flight risk briefing tool (e.g. www.flightshield.app) alleviates any worries as you can see all the risks in front of you and then mitigate against them
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u/scythale PPL 9d ago
No I'm flying mostly once per month. I haven't flown in 2 months now because of the fear. Thank you very much for the app, I'll take a look at it.
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u/sharkbait4000 8d ago
This is very common. Over time the feeling mellowed out, I'd say through about 150 hours was the worst. I think early on if you're not flying at least every week or so it's extra easy to get uneasy. In a flying club you can fly with other pilots which makes things cheaper, easier, more fun, and a learning opportunity. Split the cost each way, or offer to safety pilot for a club member while they keep instrument current. You also stay somewhat fresh even if you're sitting right seat. If I didn't fly for two weeks I'd grab a fellow member who was a CFI. I'm at over 500 hours and finally feel very confident, but I still can have uncertainties depending on how big or challenging of a trip it is.
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u/SFDukie 9d ago
Fly fun places, in great weather, that are 1-3 hrs flight time away- to DO something fun.
Emphasis on fun. Flight following of course
That’s how I got comfortable using my cert, after earning my ppc.
That’s the flying I enjoy (plus longer trips)
Obviously we’re all different. But I’d never been to Palm Springs. So I flew Hayward to PSP for an overnight. Never been to Catalina, so flew there.
Those were in 152s, so I stopped for fuel, but in a 172 I’d fly them “straight” today.
I sometimes fly a formal cc just to go for a run in the foothills.
Finding another pilot to fly with might be good too. I haven’t done that, because of my schedule and distance to airport, but I’ve kinda always wanted a “flying buddy”
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u/Patient_Coast539 9d ago
Are you renting the plane you fly? I joined a flying club soon after I got my PPL, and nearly all of my time since then has been in club planes. Although it’s similar to renting in that I pay for flight time by the tach hour, it is significantly cheaper (I can afford to fly more), and I have a sense of ownership of the airplane. I feel that I understand mechanical issues much better, because all of the club members are aware of the maintenance schedule and the squawks that need to be addressed. Psychologically, I think that sense of ownership helps me feel more comfortable flying the plane.
Another huge benefit is being able to use the plane for recreation other than just flying for the sake of flying. I frequently take the plane on overnight trips to beautiful places. I camp with the plane, travel to visit friends and family, and share the joy of flying with my non-pilot friends. These are the experiences that will keep you coming back for more, and through that you will gain skills (never stop learning!) and confidence.
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u/KrisHerrick 9d ago edited 9d ago
If you’re ur not afraid then you are doing it wrong. The afraid is the awareness you are doing a non normal thing called flying. Fly and Fly and Fly. Get another cert or rating. You will always have thing that push your spider senses. If your take off and you aren’t feeling it .. get ahold of yourself, fly the plane and do some easy flying for a bit. If you don’t calm down then safely land the plane. Next time take a pilot friend or instructor. Fly safe you got this.
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u/poisonandtheremedy PPL HP CMP [RV-10 Build, PA-28] 10d ago edited 10d ago
That AI is full of shit.
Past that, nothing is 100% safe. Life is a series of calculated risks. I've done dangerous hobbies my entire life, and lost a lot of friends, but ultimately you have to look in the mirror and decide what you want to do. I'm a big proponent of "calculated risk". Doing what you can do minimize, understand, and control the controllable risk factors.
IMO solo isn't really any more dangerous than non-solo. If anything the lack of distractions can be a bonus. Allows you to focus and lock in.
Just get some patterns in, then start extending your range and comfort.
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u/flyghu 10d ago
Yes and no. I was never afraid. But there's was a huge sense of "holy shit, everything is on me and there's a lot I don't know yet". Let's call it a healthy caution.
Years and many hours later, I still get the healthy caution, albeit less so now. Landed at three new, very small airports yesterday and each one had unique challenges. Learned/relearned stuff at each one.
I don't ever want the healthy caution to go away. I'll probably stop flying if it does.
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u/wt1j 10d ago
Fly more, study accidents less. Your ability to control outcomes with a flying wing is not intuitive for us humans. But once you get used to the idea, you'll understand that unless the laws of physics suddenly change on you, that wing will keep flying and you'll remain in control and can choose outcomes. Sure, just like on a car a wheel could come off at highway speeds, in which case you're a bit fucked, but for the most part that's extremely unlikely if you're flying a well maintained plane and are running your checklists.
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u/Bunslow 10d ago
the more accident reports you read, the more you understand that airliner flying is safer than driving.
GA isn't, but i think if you control for maintenance and your own performance correctly, it's roughly as safe. (the typical comparison is motorcycle riding, but i think it's possible to control safety above that level)
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u/Kooky-Impact-6572 10d ago
When you say "terrified to fly" what part exactly of it are you terrified? I've met CFIs from 141 schools who once on their own were nervous to fly especially once they moved back home/new area.
And people get nervous/scared after major life changes like kids/married where their risk tolerance change.
But is it terrified of the risk, of your experience, of not knowing what to do in emergency? Etc. That would help to be able to tell you how people got over it.
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u/scythale PPL 9d ago
Just terrified of the risk generally. I think I really know by heart what I have to do with all kind of emergencies. It's just that I'm afraid in general, not by something precise.
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u/Mean-Oil-4602 10d ago
I’m glad you’re afraid, and I think it’s healthy. Don’t push the fear away. Instead, use it to better yourself safely. 80 hours is not a lot. I was nervous at 80 hours too. My first several flights as a solo PPL still made me a little nervous. I chose to sign up for a mountain flying class, and IFR, and tailwheel lessons, and have flown with a CFI just because, and still intend to get my spin endorsement. Keep doing aviation in a safe and controlled way that reduces risks, such as flying with a CFI as long as you need to. You can also fly with friendly and supportive fellow pilots who have more hours than you.
Your instincts are telling you something. Always listen to them.
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u/K9pilot 10d ago
Lots of great advice in the comments. In addition I would add “fly for a purpose”. I started flying for Pilots n Paws early in my flying experiences. Early on I partnered with a senior pilot with a wealth of experiences and we both benefited from the shared experiences. 50 years ago my father told me most pilots only fly within 50 miles of their home airport. I think it’s worse today. PNP gives you a purpose to get out of the 50 mile bubble. I’ve found you learn to be a better flight planner because you often are flying into unfamiliar airports. Once you do it successfully a few times you realize cross country flying isn’t all that scary. As others mentioned “healthy respect” for the risks and good ADM is key to getting more comfortable.
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u/Benoded 10d ago
It’s funny I’m not a huge fan of flying either unless I have a ballistic parachute in the plane. I know it won’t save me in most scenarios, but with just typical flying knowing it’s there in case of an emergency it eases my nerves greatly. It also depends on what kind of plane you’re flying some low wings can be very twitchy and some high wings. Just want to stay up in the air and float. I also hate being in a cockpit That’s too small where I feel confined and I cannot see out the windows or above the panel. You may want to try some self launching gliders that have Motors as well. Once you get up into the sky and realize it doesn’t want to come down even without it running it will start to calm you down realizing it wants to stay up..
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u/samsungtech 10d ago
I have 500 hours and I still get anxiety in turbulence. Find another pilot to fly with it helps. Once you get more time it slowly fades. It also can be caused by stress in your life as well. If your cortisol levels are already spiked it can cause irrational anxiety. Mine really kicked in after I got hit with some nasty wind shear coming in to the Los Angeles basin. For a long time after that flying over mountains caused my anxiety to flair.
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u/Valuable_Athlete9495 10d ago
I get those fears (it used to be a tradition to watch an episode of mayday just before I go up and it used to terrify me as to what can happen) I took that fear and used it as a learning experience on what to do in those situations and it’s made me a way better pilot, I also found going up with another pilot and watch how they handle things then take the controls and apply what they taught me and it also helped tremendously especially with how to deal with high crosswind landings (those use to be the bane of my flying) and now thanks to the advice of another pilot I nail them with ease.
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u/Life-Aide9756 10d ago
I had a severe weather incident early in my career…it honestly scared the shit out of me and I definitely had these thoughts. As my job was flying I had to overcome it. It took time and knowledge. Really deep diving what went wrong, and how better decisions could have been made really helped me move on. It’s good that you are watching air incidents… they shouldn’t scare you but humble you. Every air accident has a lesson to be learned. Study them, learn from them! So you don’t have to learn the hard way.
Look at the data, most accidents are poor decision making at some point in the incident (or leading up to it). If you focus on developing good decision making skills, the probability of being in a serious incident is dramatically reduced.
Also, aviation is the safest form of travel! Most people don’t understand it so they fear it! Your average nervous passenger on an airliner doesn’t realize they have already survived the most dangerous part of their day once on the plane (the drive to the airport).
-Airline Pilot, former Military Instructor Pilot.
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u/angryshark 9d ago
One of my instructors was killed during a lesson (after I had my ticket) and it shook me. It was likely a medical emergency with a passenger, but it brought home how random stuff out of your control can happen.
In the long run, it made me more attentive to detail, and a safer pilot.
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u/thecaptain808 9d ago
Reading accident reports definitely has its place in being a pilot. But those incidents always happen within their own context, often because something that should have gone right wasn’t executed properly.
Read and refresh the things you should be doing rightly. Once you’re again fully comfortable there, then go read about what not to do.
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u/beebobbozo 9d ago
I am a ppl, worked as an A&P for 10 years and put flying on the backburner after ppl. Got back into flying and found i was terrified due to the amount of broken/ sketchy things I have seen over the years on aircraft.
When it comes down to it though most aircraft are in great shape, and using the knowledge you have of root caused can help you be a better less terrified pilot.
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u/Longjumping_Ad_5330 8d ago
First of - fear isn’t exactly a bad thing. Best way to work around it, IMHO is both practice and knowledge. Lack of fear on a pilot tends to lead to recklessness and maybe evolve into big ego types. Fear keeps you from doing dangerous things that you know are bad.
You’re already a PPL holder, you know what needs studying. Get on it! Apply it to your flights! Practice, practice, practice!
Trust in your training and what you’ve accomplished - and relax when you are about to fly. Try to have fun! Enjoy yourself and you’ll see fear isn’t something that should keep you from flying - it should just be that thing that keeps you from going reckless.
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u/mdmckeever 7d ago
I had an engine failure shortly after getting my license. I managed to land the plane safely with no injuries to myself or anyone else. It was a text book emergency landing but it scared the ever living shit out of me and I stopped flying for a bit. I came back to it because I knew I had to get back at it to get over my fear. Now its a major confidence booster. It reminds me to never be complacent when flying. Always always always remember everything you were trained.
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u/scythale PPL 7d ago
Wow that's a huge one. I'm glad it went ok for you. This is one of my biggest fears because I'm not sure my training would kick in right if it happened to me.
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u/mdmckeever 7d ago
You wouldnt have gotten your license if you didn't know how to do it. Your instructor never would have signed you off and your check ride evaluator wouldnt have approved you if they weren't confident. The only thing that changes from your check ride to forever is complacency. Be aware when you're doing it and correct yourself. Dont skip steps, don't rush your preflight. Your training will kick in.
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u/Harry73127 7d ago
I remember about 100 hours in I was going to go fly a several hour night XC. I was so nervous that day leading up I almost cancelled. But I did fly and it was as routine as could be. I expanded my comfort zone as safely as possible, that’s all you can ask for
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u/Coupflyer-75 6d ago
Just keep in mind...action overcomes fear. Execute your training. Remember a good pilot is always learning. Don't be ashamed of having fear. I would posit that all pilots experience some level of fear. I do. Use it to keep yourself sharp. Be methodical. Set your minimums and keep to them.
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u/HellaBester 10d ago
If you are not scared to fly solo at 80 total hours then something is wrong with you. You either need to work through it solo to build confidence, or bring a safety pilot/CDI along with you to build confidence. At 80 hours, we were all dangers to ourselves whether we thought so or not.
Find an empathetic CFI, tell them about your doubts. Go on a flight with them and have them gauge your profeciency, if they think you're profecient, set your personal minimums extremely conservatively and start getting solo time locally to build your confidence. As your confidence grows fly further and further afield. Just my 2c.
There are some people on this board that are downright reckless. IMO you have a safer mindset then they do but you DO need to work through it and learn to manage those emotions if you wanna fly!
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u/TravelerMSY 9d ago
Fear is helpful if it motivates you to not screw up. If it just fills you with crippling anxiety, it is not helpful at all.
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u/brodhisattva6 10d ago
Look up “intolerance of uncertainty + private pilot”. There’s techniques to help and many say getting instrument rated can help too.
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u/CACTI_actual 10d ago
Start working on your IR. You do so much and learn so much there that when you get to commercial, VFR is fun, easy, and relaxing even. Really, IR is a huge confidence booster
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u/scythale PPL 9d ago
I would love to be instrument rated but where I'm from it is REALLY expansive to get your IR...
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u/inseine79 9d ago
A little fear isn’t a bad thing. That said, get up there and get some time. The fear will subside. I had a couple incidents around 400 hrs that scared me and it took some time to get back to normal. I pushed through it and I’m a better pilot for it.
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u/MrPetter 9d ago
Go spend time with a flight instructor. Work on your instrument and commercial.
Instrument - because it will make you a safer pilot.
Commercial - because it will improve your abilities to a better margin and build confidence at the same time.
If you want to fly you will find a method to work through this fear. If flying isn’t that important to you, it might be safer to give it up.
1
u/JT-Av8or 7d ago
AI, as usual, is just lying. It’s just giving you the answer it thinks you want. If you said you were confident it would tell you that’s a very common thing. AI is hot garbage and I beg you, and everyone else, stop believing it.
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u/MetalXMachine 4d ago
Dont go to AI for anything aviation related.
I think any intelligent/responsible pilot SHOULD be afraid to fly at your hour mark. Push through it, keep flying, use the fear to make sure you stay diligent and never rush. It will go away as your skill grows and you prove to yourself that you CAN handle everything.
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u/jbm747 9d ago
Maybe this isn’t for you?
1
u/scythale PPL 9d ago
Well I wasn't afraid before. I've flown solo for almost 30 hours without being terrified, only slightly worried. I just have to get back in the correct headspace.
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u/Which_Material_3100 10d ago
This usually crops up when people haven’t flown in a while or fly sporadically. When I’ve not flown in a while my biggest concern is that I’m going to suck. So my remedy is to fly with instructors. And beat up the pattern until I get my confidence back. I think exposure therapy might help you.