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5 Answers

Is it the time for me to quit my flight training?

Asked by: 5589 views Private Pilot, Student Pilot

I am currently a 20-year-old student pilot. I started my PPL training in March 2015. However, due to family reasons, I have stopped a few months during this time. Up till now, I have around 30 hours in my log book. I have been doing circuit for almost 13 hours already, but I still cannot manage it, so I am not even thinking about first solo right now. I would say there is progress, but extremely slowly. Yet, the biggest problem with me is that everytime when I get something in hand, I tends  to forget things I could do from before. For example, I went up for another 1.0 hr circuit today with my instructor. I finally managed to land on the centerline and flare properly, but my approach, climb and establishing the circuit went out of my hand which I did perfectly before. Therefore, I am just wondering if I really can make it. Although avaition is what I really want to do in future, I also understands that not everything is for everybody.

I still enjoy the time up there, but knowing I am 30 hours already yet cannot do the circuit properly really bothers me. Please, I do need some advice from experienced people like you guys. What is my best bet here? Should I continue or just let it be a dream of mine. Thanks a lot!

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5 Answers



  1. Jim MacKay on May 29, 2016

    Not knowing you, but sensing a high degree of frustration about aviation I would ask “Do you really want to be a pilot?”
    Everyone learns at a different rate, and although you have 30 hours you had a break in training which does impact performance. Take the process one step at a time, speed control, flap extension, altitude all the little, but important things in the landing profile.
    I believe if you draw it out on a sheet of paper and realize what you have to do you will be successful. Another point is that CFI next to you. Tell him you want him to be quiet and only intervene if you are doing something that may cause the landing to go wrong.
    I would recommend that he lets YOU figure out the circuit. Remember that if you don’t know what is going to happen next, you SHOULD know what your next action will be.
    Don’t get hung up on hours, this is suppose to be fun. Who cares how many hours it took you to learn land properly.
    Finally, every one gets frustrated, but how much do you want to be a pilot? Only you can answer that.

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  2. Gary Moore on May 29, 2016

    Also – you might want to consider switching instructors….sometimes a fresh perspective on how to do something can be a huge difference….

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  3. Skyfox on Jun 02, 2016

    I’d say don’t give up yet. First of all, your lack of regular flying and studying is what makes you rusty. Get back in the habit of flying 2 or 3 times a week, and studying your aviation materials every day, and it’ll come back to you in no time. Second, Gary’s advice of trying out a different instructor is a good idea. Some instructors just aren’t very effective, but if that’s the only one a student ever flies with they may never realize it. Over the years I’ve had some instructors who were practically uninterested in instructing me and just wanted to build hours to move on to an airline, and I’ve had others who were so sharp and on top of things and had so much flying, it’s a shame they stopped instructing and did move on to airlines.

    If money is an issue preventing you from flying very often, you may want to simply hold off from flying for several months or a year or so to build up a flying fund at an affordable pace. Or set aside your next tax refund or bonus from work for flying. That way, when you get back into flying the money’s there and you can do it as much as you want without much concern. By the way, 30 hours without going solo isn’t that uncommon. Many people don’t solo until 30 hours or more, and the requirement of 40 hours total before checkride is just a bare minimum. I was in the range of 65 hours when I took my checkride.

    And if things are a sticking point for you, hang out at your local FBO and chat with the instructors to pick their brains. As long as it doesn’t seem like you’re looking for a free ground lesson, many are happy to talk about the intricacies and random trivia of aviation.

    Finally, if flying is something you truly want to do then don’t give up on it. But if it’s something that doesn’t really inspire you, and much of your time in the air is spent thinking about all the other things you could be doing with your time, maybe it would be a good idea to step back and reconsider things before sinking a lot more money into it.

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  4. whitebless on Jun 02, 2016

    Thank you all so much for the detailed suggestions and advices. As a new student pilot, all the information from each one of you is really valuable. I think I will continue and maybe try with a different instructor or even flight school. I guess if I want to fulfill my dream, I’ll have to work harder and hold-on tighter! Again, thank you so much!

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  5. nica on Sep 05, 2016

    dont give up no matter what you will get there ! i also started my groundschool last march of 2015 but i started flying may and still need to do my xc flight and airworks! money is my big factor that why is hard for me to finish my training

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