How to Stay Motivated During Your Flight Training
1 September 2022 | Updated on February 05, 2024
Learning to fly can be a long and difficult process, and being a student pilot is a lot of work. It takes time, patience, and a lot of hard work. There will be days when you feel like you’re making no progress at all.
In addition to your normal schoolwork, you also have to juggle flying lessons, staying current on your required ground school subjects, and perhaps working a part-time job to help pay for it all. It’s no wonder that motivation can sometimes be hard to come by! On those days, it’s important to remember why you’re doing this in the first place. Here are a few tips on how to stay motivated during your flight training.
Find a mentor
One of the best ways to stay motivated during your flight training is to find a mentor. A mentor is someone who has already been through the process and can offer guidance, advice, and support. Having someone to look up to will help keep you motivated when times are tough. If you don’t know anyone who is a pilot, try reaching out to your local flying club or airport. Chances are, someone there will be more than happy to help you out.
Set small goals
Another great way to stay motivated during your flight training is to set small goals. Learning to fly is a big undertaking, so it’s important to break it down into manageable pieces. For example, rather than saying “I want to get my private pilot’s license,” say “I want to solo by the end of the month.” By setting smaller goals, you can track your progress and feel a sense of accomplishment along the way. This will keep you motivated and hungry for more.
Set realistic goals
We mentioned goal setting above, but it’s important to also set goals that are achievable. If you set your sights too high, you’re likely to get discouraged when you don’t meet your expectations. Similarly, if your goals are too low, you may not push yourself enough to reach your full potential. Talk to your flight instructor and come up with a training plan that sets you up for success.
Find an instructor who believes in you
It’s also important to find an instructor who believes in you. Your instructor will be with you every step of the way, so it’s important that you find someone who is supportive and motivating. If you don’t feel like your instructor is a good fit, don’t be afraid to look for someone else. The right instructor can make all the difference in the world.
Get organized
Nothing kills motivation faster than feeling disorganized and behind schedule. Keep track of your flight hours, lessons and progress so you can see how much closer you are to reaching your goals.
Celebrate your accomplishments
While it’s easy to focus on what you haven’t accomplished yet, it’s important to take a step back and celebrate your successes along the way. Whether it’s your first solo flight or finally getting your first license or rating, every accomplishment is something to be proud of. So savor each accomplishment and let it propel you forward towards your ultimate goal!
Look for motivation online
This may sound like a strange place to look for motivation, but the internet can actually be a great resource. There are tons of flying-related blogs, forums, and social media groups out there. Reading about other people’s experiences can help you stay motivated and inspired.
Our Hangar.Flights website has an entire section focused on inspiration and motivation, with articles about flying quotes, inspirational books, aviation movies, and more.
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Remember why you’re doing this
Of course, one of the best ways to stay motivated is to simply remember why you’re doing this in the first place. Learning to fly is an amazing accomplishment that will open up a whole new world of possibilities. It’s something you’ll never regret, so keep that in mind on those tough days when you feel like giving up.
Find an Accountability Partner
It’s human nature to be more likely to stick with something when someone else is counting on you. That’s why finding an accountability partner can be such a helpful motivator when completing flight training. An accountability partner is someone who will check in on your progress and hold you accountable for sticking with it — kind of like a personal cheerleader. If you don’t have anyone in mind, again, try reaching out to your local flight school or airport. There are sure to be other students in the same boat as you who would love to have an accountability partner (or two).
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Join a flying club
Flying clubs are a great way to meet other pilots and learn from their experiences. Most clubs have regular meetings where members can share tips and advice with each other. There’s also a sense of camaraderie that comes from being around others who share your passion for aviation, which can not always be found at your larger flying schools or airports.
Don’t be afraid to take a step back
Finally, remember that everyone has good days and bad days. On the bad days, it’s okay to take a step back and focus on taking care of yourself – both mentally and physically. Get some rest, eat healthy foods, and spend time doing things that make you happy. These activities will help refuel your energy so that you can tackle your flight training with fresh motivation.
Conclusion
Learning to fly is a long and difficult process, but it’s also an incredibly rewarding one. There will be days when you feel like giving up, but if you keep pushing forward, you’ll eventually reach your goal. It may take longer than you thought, but it will be worth it in the end. So keep your head up, stay positive and never give up. With hard work and dedication, you will reach your goal of becoming a pilot!