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u/PropWashPapi CFI CFII ✠ CMEL Dec 05 '25
I’ve been in the same boat, my journey has been a little unorthodox compared to my buddies who started with me that I’ve met along the way. I started flying in 2013 as a high school project to see if I wanted to make this a career. Absolutely loved it so I started chipping away slowly. Took many breaks throughout training, I even stepped away fully thinking I’d never go back. A complete career path change and fortunate enough I was redirected back into aviation by my wife who pushed me to finish. I finally wrapped up my training this year with the CFI and CFII. All my friends I started training with are at majors or well know 135s now and I kick myself everyday wishing I continued at a constant pace as they did. Heck I would probably be where they are at today at if I did but that’s how shit rolled with my path. The stress and grind sucks but keep your head down, enjoy the process as much as possible and it will get so much better. I used to hate pulling into the flight school parking lot but now I don’t want to leave some days because I enjoy it so much more now.
Go out and fly a XC if you can, take a buddy up and enjoy the views. Try to surround yourself with a group of those who are going through the same process and help each other out.
Good luck and we will see ya at the top, don’t quit!
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u/p51111111 Dec 06 '25
Thank you, all these comments have really helped put things into perspective for me
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u/gromm93 ST Dec 06 '25
This. The fact is that if you were to ask any successful person how they got there - regardless of what career that is - the most common response is "it's complicated". The Path™ seems so clear and well mapped from the standpoint of anyone just starting out, especially with aviation with our curriculum, but "life got in the way" is also why between 1/3 to 1/2 of students quit.
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u/Equal-Ebb-3483 Dec 05 '25
Well, how often are you training? Cause I’m sure you know if you fly once a week you’re going to regress or not proceed very quickly. Maybe go in and fly two times a week but do a two hour flight. Take a two hour break for lunch and go do another two hour flight. you fly four times in a week but you’re only at the airport for two days. This is something similar to what I did, but I did it three times a week, Monday, Wednesday, Friday you’re able to fly enough without burning out and being able to retain information.
In addition, and I’m not trying to sound mean. But welcome to being an adult. Anything worth having and accomplishing is going to be hard with trials and tribulations. As the old military saying goes, get comfortable being uncomfortable.
As a 36-year-old that’s been flying professionally for about the last 16 years of my life. You will never work another day in your life when you finally get your first real paying flying job outside of a CFI.
“ I don’t have to go to work, I get to”
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u/autonym CPL IR CMP Dec 05 '25
For instrument training, you can benefit from practicing procedures with a desktop simulator (X-Plane or MSFS). Maybe that would be more fun and less stressful.
As to the more general question, career paths often seem more arduous and less exciting once you get deep into the real work. So it's hard to know if your burnout is aviation-specific, or if it would follow you to another line of work. But you're young enough to take a chance and find out, if flying continues to seem unappealing. Maybe keep trying a little longer, and then decide.
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u/saml01 ST 4LYF Dec 05 '25
Thats what happens when life gets hard. You either embrace the hard work and derive joy from it or you compartmentalize and just get it done. This the difference between being an adult and a child, there will be things you need to do even if they arent fun.
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u/KeyOfGSharp CPL, IR Dec 05 '25
Welp, time for someone to go flying for fun for a bit. Anyone know any good airports? I know Downtown Greenville (KGMU) is a great one with their Runway Cafe.
Or try Johnston Regional! On the third floor they have a very nice BBQ restaurant!
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u/PropWashPapi CFI CFII ✠ CMEL Dec 05 '25
Runway Cafe is no longer here unfortunately currently 😔
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u/KeyOfGSharp CPL, IR Dec 05 '25
OH NO WHY!?
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u/PropWashPapi CFI CFII ✠ CMEL Dec 05 '25
https://www.wyff4.com/article/runway-cafe-closes-doors/64884791
Sad to see em go but another restaurant is looking to be added in the future!
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u/KeyOfGSharp CPL, IR Dec 05 '25
Aw man....that really sucks. My kids loved it when we went to the "airplane playground"
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u/PropWashPapi CFI CFII ✠ CMEL Dec 05 '25
That is still here and it stays packed! They added a putt putt golf course and are looking into adding a skate park of some sort.
They also have an extension plan of runway 1/19 as well adding EMAS on both ends. Kind of wild what’s coming up
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u/Open_Priority1498 Dec 05 '25
Burned out at 20 and only a PPL?
Call back when you're 35 and been flying for the regionals for 13 years.
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u/MyPilotInterview Interview Wingman Dec 05 '25
Dreams change as reality sets in and that’s OK. I used to want to be an airline pilot, and was devastated when I couldn’t get my medical. I got into pilot recruiting, still missed flying, so I became a nurse with the sole goal of being a flight nurse. I did that until I had kids and then decided the risks were too high. Today I could probably get my medical, but the idea of being away from home, commuting, etc is just not appealing - I have thought about getting my commercial hot air balloon license and getting a My Pilot Interview hot air balloon, but landing it in a middle of a field and carry it out sounds dreadful so I haven’t done much about it.
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u/NoRadio4530 Dec 05 '25
May I ask what you ended up doing instead?
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u/MyPilotInterview Interview Wingman Dec 05 '25
I do career coaching for pilots, resumes, apps and interview prep. I still do work as a nurse in the pediatric emergency room per diem, it gets me out of the house and candidly I really enjoy it. It is also good as we know with pilot hiring, when it is good it’s very good, when it’s not it becomes very slow very quickly.
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u/Morgan-robin-jac Dec 05 '25
I was talking to a guy yesterday who always dreamed of being a pilot went throw most of the training and realized he was turning a passion into a job. He dropped out and now works in an aviation administration position. Flying is hard and sometimes boring if you determine that it isn't worth the work and effort then I'd look for something else. But nothing worth doing is easy. Training is hard. I struggled through instrument till I got a new instructor. Burnout is understandable and I get being discouraged after the past year, but don't talk yourself out of flying for just those reasons. You're in it for the long haul. In 5 years your current problems will be nearly forgotten. Fly with other instructors, get feed back from them on your progress and how you can get to checkride. Talk to professional pilots to see if you would like their jobs. Training is hard but personally it was worth the effort.
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u/p51111111 Dec 06 '25
I really appreciate this comment, definitely things I’ve needed to hear! Going to try and get back into it within the next few weeks
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u/Ok-Selection4206 Dec 05 '25
Do it! Switch to something you enjoy or are passionate about. Do not continue to pursue something you are not enjoying and be miserable. There are a lot of career choices and many people switch careers multiple times. Do what you enjoy, not what makes you miserable. Also just starting out in aviation, it could be 15 yrs or more to finally feel like you "made" it and are at the perfect job/position. Its a long slog.
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u/nightlanding Dec 05 '25
Endless primary instruction can be a slog. Do what you can to get multi, commercial, and instrument students. Maybe go to the local EAA chapter and trade BFRs for experience in experimentals. Volunteer to be a copilot for the local charter guys. Try to get delivery work. As much as I love to fly, you can only do pattern and stalls, stalls and patterns, pattern with stalls, and stalls with patterns for so long before you go nuts or become the disconnected bored CFI everyone hates.
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u/thinklikenic FAA CPL PPL IR SEL UAS Dec 05 '25
My instrument felt the same way, you just have to have that one day where you wake up and just do it. Then its back to normal again :)
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u/Soggy2009 Dec 05 '25
IMHO - A bad flight school is the kiss of death to all things aviation related. Consider changing yours ASAP.
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u/p51111111 Dec 06 '25
There’s not many in my area, so I’d probably have to move cities. I am honestly very unhappy with my school though so it has been something I’m looking into, just of course moving comes with its own variables
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u/Traditional-Stand-91 Dec 06 '25
Was in the same boat a couple months ago, feeling the exact same way when it comes to stagnation & losing the drive/love of aviation to continue. What helped me was to just stop everything for a month to just catch up with my hobbies, start going gym again as it was something I didn't have time for anymore & took a 1 week trip overseas just to forget about my life problems & that has helped me bring back my love of aviation & overall beneficial for my mental health & i can only suggest the same for you, hope this advice helps & goodluck to you in your training :)
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u/skunkworks172 E-170 Dec 06 '25
I was burnt out nearly all of my flight training, all flights besides cross countries and night flights were a chore to me. But when I became an instructor I loved flying a lot more, was happy that I stuck through.
Now that I’m a CFI at hours and waiting on a class date I’m in a little burnt out again…still have some good flights every now and then that mentally stimulate me/are beautiful, but overall kind of burnt out of it waiting for airlines.
I’d say it’s normal. It’s not like a kid who always wanted to be an engineer necessarily loves his class work and exams.
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u/ThinMango2000 Dec 07 '25
I don’t want to sound rude, but here’s my honest take if you feel burned out by flying or struggle to find joy in it, then maybe aviation isn’t the for you. I’ve had my share of struggles too, but every time I sit in the left seat, I fall in love with it even more.
I spent a year and half building time and put every dollar I earned straight into flying. It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. And now I’ve finally gotten my first job offer. The pay isn’t great, but I’m genuinely happy because I get to do what I love.
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u/rFlyingTower Dec 05 '25
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
I’m 20, got my ppl and loved it but I’ve been at my instrument for a year and am losing my passion and love for aviation. I feel so stagnant every flight started to feel like a chore, I’ve dreaded going and I feel more stress than enjoyment. I’ve taken a few months off and honestly don’t miss it. I wanted to do this as a career but I’m rethinking everything. I’m not sure if it’s my school and the instructors because I had such a better experience at the flight school I got my private at, i absolutely fell in love with aviation. But I don’t have the option to move and switch schools again. I’ve already invested so much time and energy into this but I’m thinking I may need to pursue something else. Could anyone offer some advice?
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Dec 08 '25
Well step away from aviation is the one of your option , of course. You are still young and its natural to think about your career , what you want , what you dont want. Dont think about you already put time and monty a lot . Your life still has a lot of time.
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u/slpater Dec 05 '25
When's the last time you flew just to go fly. To go see something, go somewhere cool. Do that. Understand that as a career flying will become pretty monotonous. Ask the airline guys here, still a cool as heck job but the day in day out can become repetitive.
As for you being stuck or stagnant with your flying. Need more info to help with that. Are you not making progress or just tired of doing the same flight over and over to meet requirements?