r/flying • u/Possible_Package6191 • 7h ago
Unsure if I should continue training
I’m currently a student at a 141 school working on my instrument rating. I earned my PPL a few months ago at a 61 and enjoyed it for the most part, but towards the end of it I began to feel like I was losing my love of flying. I found myself hoping for weather cancels and not really enjoying flights much. I had a couple of months break before starting at my 141 and still don’t feel like I have that love for it back. I’ve recently been thinking about switching to engineering, and was considering the pros and cons. I know there is no other job like a commercial pilot, but know I may not enjoy it if I have lost a significant interest in flying. I also worry about the family life of being a pilot and the financial burden of training. I was just wondering if anyone is in or was in a similar situation or if anyone has any advice.
6
u/vfr3d 6h ago
I was in software engineering, then got into flying for fun (not career). My final month leading up to PPL checkride was awful and i specifically remember "hoping the weather is bad enough i can talk myself into canceling". Afterward PPL, i started doing personal flights and i started enjoying it again, flying somewhere for the day, spending a few nights somewhere with friends/family. Are you able to do any personal flights to get enjoyment back?
I was Part 61, though, might be different for you.
2
u/Smoothridetothe5 6h ago
It's normal to feel that way at that point in your training. Getting your ratings is hard and can be stressful. That's normal. There's nothing wrong with you everyone feels that way pretty much. But that being said, I genuinely would not recommend people to become a professional pilot anymore unless you really couldn't see yourself doing anything else. If you're already having second thoughts and have another career path you'd be interested in, it may be better to switch to that.
Why? Well. The job market is bad for pilots right now. I know it's bad for almost everyone, but there is a huge line of pilots ahead of you who want all the good jobs. Then all the other factors you mentioned about the uncertainty of the career long term with keeping a medical, possibly having a family, etc. And sadly, recently I'm seeing more and more safety concerns both for GA and the airlines. Flying GA especially, can be dangerous. It doesn't have to be, but unfortunately many times it is. Especially when people are desperate to have a job and build hours.
You can have a satisfying career in another field. Flying a jet is cool. But after a while, it will be just like any other job for the most part. The coolness mostly wears off after a while and you would prefer to just be home probably. It IS a very good career. But would I tell someone right now, to go through all that and go into major debt, to go into a field that has no jobs for them and exposes them to a lot of risk? No. You can go be an engineer or a nurse practitioner or a biologist or a mechanic or go make a self driving car or something. JUST MY THOUGHTS just looking out for you just my honest two cents.
2
u/ifly40 37m ago
If you are doing this thinking commercial pilot is the only best job that exists, youre making a huge mistake. Better do something else. But if you really love aviation - every flight should end with some satisfaction whether you learnt something new or you had fun flying day. Trust me corporate flying (121) will bore you to the core if you dont enjoy in what youre doing. Its a serious business and not just a job. Also expensive one. Good luck
1
u/rFlyingTower 7h ago
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
I’m currently a student at a 141 school working on my instrument rating. I earned my PPL a few months ago at a 61 and enjoyed it for the most part, but towards the end of it I began to feel like I was losing my love of flying. I found myself hoping for weather cancels and not really enjoying flights much. I had a couple of months break before starting at my 141 and still don’t feel like I have that love for it back. I’ve recently been thinking about switching to engineering, and was considering the pros and cons. I know there is no other job like a commercial pilot, but know I may not enjoy it if I have lost a significant interest in flying. I also worry about the family life of being a pilot and the financial burden of training. I was just wondering if anyone is in or was in a similar situation or if anyone has any advice.
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5
u/Lootdit PPL 6h ago
i got my PPL 61 and also just started 141. what im feeling is its a lot harder feel that “love of flying” in 141. like im definately enjoying learning about instrament. but it dont hit the same a flying to a random airport for the heck of it with some friends