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The Frustrating Process to my Private Pilots License
This is a write-up I wrote after receiving my private pilots license last December (12/12/12!) and while it was six months ago, I recently sent the link to a friend of mine who is struggling with his own flight training. After reading it, he said that he "felt like someone actually understands" his lack of motivation when it comes to being 'stuck'. Just thinking that by sharing this, I might help someone else. (www.joeburlas.com) Ещё...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
Would you mind venting in a survey about flight training I just made? I can use some of this data to draw conclusions for a proposal I'm doing. I'll post to everyone that responded here and then I'm going to squawk it. Thank you in advance! Survey can be found here: http://form.jotform.us/form/31806722149151
As a long time CFII, over 35 years both FAA and USAf allow me to throw out one thing most of you don't mention in your flight training. ..an that is the CFI's PAY...A very touchy subject for most of us, few of you consider what it takes to become a CFII and trying to earn a living being one. Most of the instructors I know are doing it for the LOVE of flying and teaching, they most certainly can't earn a living with it. Thank goodness my retirement pay from 33 yrs in the USAF can supplement my flying costs, my wages sure won't. Many of you students think nothing about wasting your and our time with poor scheduling, late arrivals , and demands on our time you can;t imagine. We too have families , are faced with many other obstacles affecting our jobs, and have to settle for min pay , no allowances, no health care, but full dedication to impatient students unwilling to sacrifice the time needed to meet their own schedule. I have heard a lifetime of bitching students, but have tolerated them because I truly love flying and love to teach. Meet us at least half way dear people and you will receive more than just the " Book work" of flying. We have knowledge you can't find in Books, tempered by many years of experience, even the newer CFI's have an excellent knowledge of their trade, NONE are paid their worth though. So, if you truly desire the rating, work at it, and contribute to your learning, accept it's erratic scheduling, wx can't be scheduled dear people, and keep at it, well worth it in the long run. Good luck and Safe flying.
Would you mind completing a survey about flight training I just made? I can use some of this data to draw conclusions for a proposal I'm doing. I'll post to everyone that responded here and then I'm going to squawk it. Thank you in advance! http://form.jotform.us/form/31806722149151
Considering my GI bill paid for my flight training, I can honestly say I have yet to complain about how much I am billed. In fact, most flight schools are in charge of giving the 'portion' of the $45 an hour to the instructor and then using the rest for their own flight department costs. I'm not saying that this is the case at my school but I will say that often times the student has little to do with how much an instructor gets paid. If you read my article, you'll see that it was more frustrating in terms of staying motivated when an instructor did not want to fly than anything else. This was not a bitching session but a chronicle into what I had to overcome to get my ticket punched. We've all been there, and I was just sharing. Please let me know if I inadvertently blamed the cost of training on my frustrations and I will fix it. Thanks.
I think many pilots have similar frustrations in achieving their initial goal of a private certificate--which, by the way, is only the beginning, or as I like to say, a license to learn. But sticking with it is not only a valuable personal decision, but it opens the door to a world that only a very small percentage of people ever get to experience.
A little more than 40 1/2 years ago, as I was about to turn 29, I called the manager of the Elmendorf AFB Aero Club, told him I was getting out of the USAF in 6 months, and asked if it was possible for me to get my private license before then. "Sure, Cap--come on over, and we'll talk about it." I started ground school that week, I was paired with a truly excellent instructor, and I began my lessons in the dark in late November 1972. Flying through an Alaskan winter could be daunting, but early in February after some 64 flight hours, I took my check ride and received my own license to learn.
Now I fly strictly for pleasure, but I've instructed, flown single engine charter, and with some exceptions, thoroughly enjoyed being one of that small percentage.
So congratulations on a job well done, which is really only beginning. If you get as much joy out of flying as I've gotten all these years and hours, by the time you get to be my age, you'll look back and say, "I'm so glad that I did that!"
Cary
A little more than 40 1/2 years ago, as I was about to turn 29, I called the manager of the Elmendorf AFB Aero Club, told him I was getting out of the USAF in 6 months, and asked if it was possible for me to get my private license before then. "Sure, Cap--come on over, and we'll talk about it." I started ground school that week, I was paired with a truly excellent instructor, and I began my lessons in the dark in late November 1972. Flying through an Alaskan winter could be daunting, but early in February after some 64 flight hours, I took my check ride and received my own license to learn.
Now I fly strictly for pleasure, but I've instructed, flown single engine charter, and with some exceptions, thoroughly enjoyed being one of that small percentage.
So congratulations on a job well done, which is really only beginning. If you get as much joy out of flying as I've gotten all these years and hours, by the time you get to be my age, you'll look back and say, "I'm so glad that I did that!"
Cary
What the industry really needs but will probably never do is recruit a core of professional CFIs who really want to teach and are paid accordingly. The current career path of a CFI only is simply a shortcut to poverty.