Do you ever land after a flight lesson and think, “man, I really sucked today…”?
Do you ever wonder how your instructor can remember all the little steps required for a maneuver?
Do you ever wish you could prepare more on the ground so you can save money in the air?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you NEED to get this FREE kit.
For FREE instant access, enter your name and email address below:
Why am I giving this away?
Because I know how frustrating it feels to spend so much money and make such slow progress. I don’t wan’t to see even one more student pilot get frustrated or overwhelmed when they’re learning to fly. Flight training is supposed to be FUN!
Download this FREE Flight Lesson Kick Ass Kit now and see the difference on your very next flight lesson!
Have you ever started shying away from your flight lessons because you didn’t feel prepared enough?
It’s time to say good bye to those days where you just aren’t “one with the airplane”.
Learning to fly can easily overwhelm you due to the vast amount of information that you must digest. But, how do you eat an elephant? Yes, one bite at a time, but where do you start biting???
Learn how to prepare, what to read, what to study, and more importantly HOW to study for a flight lesson so that you can kick butt the very next time you’re in the pilot seat. And you can do this in under an hour, if you just know exactly where to look. The best part – most of the tools you need are absolutely FREE!
Watch this video to learn how one student pilot went from “shying away from flight lessons” to kicking butt on her next flight lesson (see the testimonial below). Then download the Flight Lesson Kick Ass Kit for FREE (below the video).
After putting these tips into action, here is what she said:
“Thank you Ruth! I am glad I contacted you, I just finished my circuit flight and performed a lot better thanks to your tips! I truly appreciate all your help and guidance, I will for sure let you know when I get my license! ”
Get all the free info mentioned in the video in the FREE Flight Lesson Kick Ass Kit? Get instant Access Now!
So many times we are comparing ourselves to others, that is how our brains are wired. But, in the case of flight training, we are especially prone to feel bad when we are not progressing as fast as other student pilots.
I used to wonder whether I was progressing at an appropriate pace in my flight lessons. I would worry that I wasn’t going as fast as all the other flight students and I didn’t want to spend more time or money than absolutely necessary to get my private pilot certificate.
Then, as a flight instructor, I realized that even though different people learn at different rates, there are still things that EVERY student pilot should realize. Techniques on learning to fly should be accessible to all students, not just to those privy to personal sources of information, such as a family member who is a pilot.
So, before moving on to the meat of this post…..stop comparing yourself. Everyone progresses at different rates, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t take advantage of techniques that has helped others get significant results in their flight training.
This FREE Kit includes the following to get you going in the right direction:
Cost of Flight Training Worksheet: Figure out what it will cost YOU to get your Private Pilot’s Certificate based on your unique situation. Don’t be fooled by the estimates flight schools give you – they are loaded with hidden fees.
FAA’s Student Pilot Guide: Explains the role of the Student, Instructor, and FAA. Overall view of the Private Pilot process.
Learn To Fly, How to get your Pilot’s License with Flying Colors eBook: Good general information for the student pilot. Includes information on Canada, Australia, and UK flying.
FAA’s Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge: In depth information on the theory of flight, the airplane and systems, flight instruments, and other information you will need to know to pass the written exam.
FAA’s Airplane Flying Handbook: In-depth information about the mechanics of HOW to actually fly an airplane. Valuable information to help you pass the practical exam.
Matt Waugh’s Private Pilot Flight Training Syllabus: Easy to use syllabus to take you from 0 hours to Private Pilot. Includes pre-flight briefing topics.
As someone who is always either flying or thinking about flying, it never occurred to me that there are tons of people out there who will avoid it at all costs. I knew about certain people with phobias, but I thought it was only a handful of them. Now I realize that there are many people afflicted with this fear and it can really wreak havoc on their lives.
Imagine not being able to go on vacations unless you can drive or take the train. Imagine planning a vacation, but your focus is on the anxiety you’ll feel getting there and getting back rather than looking forward to relaxation and fun. It’s sad, so I decided to do research on this matter and here’s what I found out.
It’s a complex problem
You can overcome it
Problems = Opportunities
There are several reasons people develop the fear of flying. For example, your fear could be caused by one or more of the following:
Being a control freak – when you’re in the passenger seat, you’re not the one calling the shots
Having your personal space bubble penetrated
Thinking about how high you actually are
Not understanding how airplanes fly
Dislike of turbulence
Feeling like you’re breathing gross, stale air
A bad experience or trauma associated with flying
Deep psychological issues that are manifesting themselves as a fear of flying
etc.
If you want to overcome your fear of flying, you’ll have a much better chance if you figure out WHY you’re afraid and/or WHEN you became afraid.
Try to think back and figure out when you started avoiding the airlines, what has happening in your life at the time?
Did you experience particularly bad turbulence during a flight?
Were you changing jobs or careers?
Were you about to become a parent?
Were you going through a difficult breakup or divorce?
Did you go through a huge financial setback?
Situations that have made you feel helpless or out of control might manifest themselves into some type of phobia if you don’t deal with them directly.
It could also be as simple as not understanding what’s going on around you with the machine you’re in or the environment the machine flies through.
Whenever you face a challenge, if you choose to see it as an opportunity to grow, you can face it head on with a much more positive perspective. The best part is, the success you reap will extend beyond that problem into other areas of your life.
So, to overcome your fear…a multi-faceted approach will give you the best chances at success.
Take control of your life and banish your fears
According to the research I have done, here are some steps you can take to banish your fear of flying forever:
Step 1. Understand your fear
As explained above, try to figure out WHY and WHEN you became afraid of flying. Try to remember, not just specific events or incidents, but rather, what was happening in your life at the time. Your fear could have developed over years, try to remember what else has going on during that time.
Step 2. Understand your airplane
Your don’t have to become a pilot, like some people choose to do (Read Bill’s Story Here), but there are several ways that you can learn and understand the basics of flying. My suggestion is to go through some type of basic course, specifically for those with a fear of flying. The course should cover:
Basic principles of flight – “How does this big tin can fly, anyway?”
Basic airplane components and how they work – “What the heck is that noise?”
Basic weather theory – “OMG, I just saw lightening!”
Basic flight maneuvers – “Why is the pilot rolling us upside down!”
Basic navigation – “Where is the pilot going, the airport is over there!”
Basic emergency procedures – “What if this…that…and the other?”
I’m developing a course that will cover all these elements, plus go over some techniques that have helped others conquer their fear of flying. To be notified and pre-enrolled in the course, sign up at the bottom of this page.
Step 3. Tame your control freak
The answer to changing your state of anxiety at times when you feel out of control (or any other time) is to realize that the only thing you can control is yourself – that means you can control the way you feel in any situation. But, this takes a lot of practice and effort.
I like to think of our brains as having two parts – the “conscious” part and a more “primitive” part. The two parts communicate with each other and have an effect on each other, but unfortunately for us, the primitive part of our brain is very powerful. So if it thinks you’re in danger, you’re going to feel, in every fiber of your being, that you’re in danger.
Fortunately, we can change our primitive part of our brain to do what we want it to do – through conditioning. Have you ever heard of Pavlov’s dogs. Essentially, the dog’s primitive part of the brain got wired to think that the sound of a bell meant food was coming, so it sent a signal to the dog’s body to start preparing for a meal by salivating. This is not something that the dog’s were born knowing, this was taught to them.
You can do the same thing to your brain. Right now, your brain, for some reason, has been wired (or conditioned) to send your body “fight-or-flight” signals in association with flying. But you can also wire your brain to send your “relaxation” signals by associating relaxation with flying.
The specific techniques for doing this are beyond the scope of this blog, but here is a great resource I recommend checking out:
Psychology of Fear Of Flying Guide
Step 4. Psychoanalyze yourself
If, after following the steps above you still have not been able to overcome your fear, and if seeking professional help is not something you want to pursue just yet, you can try to solve the problem on your own. You can start by asking yourself the following questions:
What was going on in your life during the time or flight that you developed a fear of flying?
Why were you flying?
What happened within the preceding 2 or 3 days before the flight? How did you feel about it?
What happened during the flight? How were you feeling emotionally, physically, mentally?
What happened during the 2 or 3 days after the flight? How did you feel about it?
What benefit am I deriving from my fear?
This might seem like a strange question, but maybe your fear of flying is keeping you from facing bigger issues. For instance, have you avoided a family member or friend for a while and are using your fear as an excuse to not visit? Are you procrastinating on something that you know you should be doing in your life?
Your fear might be offering an easy escape route to something that you perceive as having a lot of pain.
What is my fear costing me?
Make a list of all the things that your fear is costing you. Vacations? Visits to loved ones? Career progression? Once you realize that your fear is costing you MORE than it’s benefiting you, you’ll have more strength to conquer it.
Once you realize the deep-rooted issue that has shown up in a fear of flying, this alone might help you overcome the problem.
Step 5. Stay busy
Once you’re ready to test newfound courage and techniques, make sure you have a plan for your next flight. Visualize yourself going to the airport in calm and collected manner. See yourself boarding the flight in a relaxed way and enjoying the time that flying affords you: less time traveling, more time enjoying your life.
Find calming music or books and let yourself look forward to listening or reading this material on the flight.
Step 6. Buy an App
There are many apps out there now that will guide you through your next flight with relaxation techniques, hypnotic music, and other tools. They range in price from $1.99 to $54.00, but the reviews look very promising.
I hope that helps some of you and if you haven’t read about Bill’s story, it’s very entertaining. Bill had a flying phobia that kept him grounded and unable to even visit family for over 15 years. To overcome his fear, he decided to take some flight lessons. Read his story by clicking the link below.
I’m collecting data about how much time it takes people to get their Private Pilot certificate based on what type of school they went to and how long ago they finished flight training.
If you would like to receive a notification for when the results are posted, enter your name and email address at the bottom of the page after you’re done with the survey.
Don’t worry, I won’t share your email address with anyone and you won’t be subscribed to my newsletter – for that you can go HERE.
Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world’s leading questionnaire tool.
80% of student pilots, NEVER finish flight training. Don’t be one of them….
If you’re serious about becoming a private pilot, make sure you know the pitfalls that other student pilots fall into so that you can steer clear of them. There are countless sources of information out there on the inter webs and it can get overwhelming very easily. Try to find 2 or 3 quality sources and stick to those for guidance.
If you’re having doubts or are struggling in your flight training, you’ve come to the right place.
Watch this video to learn about the 3 things you MUST do to finish your flight training, then use the links below the video to get started!
For those of you who don’t know about this, it’s a very cool deal. If you’re a new student pilot, you get a FREE AOPA membership for 6 months! This includes the following benefits (as stated in AOPA website), FREE for 6 months:
Flight Training magazine – FREE
Flight Training magazine is a monthly, full–color magazine, known throughout the aviation industry as the single best resource for new and student pilots. Each article within Flight Training contains usable, real–world information from experienced pilots, offering guidance, training techniques and tips, and practical insights to help you reach your aviation goals.
All of our writers and editors were once in your shoes. They understand the challenges of becoming a certificated pilot and are able to provide the information you need to achieve your aviation goals – information you won’t find anywhere else!
AOPA’s Internet Flight Planner – FREE
AOPA Internet Flight Planner (AIFP) enables pilots to spend less time on the ground and more time in the air. Plan routes, view real–time weather maps, obtain FAA–certified weather briefings, check for temporary flight restrictions, and quickly file flight plans.
AOPA Airports Online – FREE
AOPA Airports Online which is updated daily and includes current fuel prices for more than 3,000 FBOs, sectional chart views with METAR overlays, instrument approach plates, and taxiway diagrams.
Access to AOPA Online – FREE
Log on to AOPA Online, you have a world of information right at your fingertips. Connect to our searchable aviation databases, find a flight instructor, browse through our extensive aviation library, acquire information on a specific airport, create and edit flight plans online, post and respond to classified ads, link to other aviation web sites, and much more.
Access to Flight Training Online – FREE
Unlimited online access to a wealth of flight training information, conveniently arranged by phase of training. As you move through each phase, questions inevitably arise about everything from airsickness to opening and closing VFR flight plans. The good news is that you’re not alone in this endeavor to become a certificated pilot. AOPA delivers the information you need at every stage of training through its website, ft.aopa.org. Downloadable reference materials, student resource center, a virtual library, quizzes and course – it’s all there at your fingertips.
AOPA’s Pilot Information Center – FREE
Talk one–on–one to an aviation specialist for advice and support on flight training, assistance with flight planning, buying and maintaining aircraft, or any other aviation–related question. You’ll enjoy free unlimited access to the expertise of CFIs and other experienced pilots who can answer questions and provide advice on all aspects of flying, Monday—Friday, 8:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m., EST.
AOPA Air Safety Institute – FREE
Take advantage of a variety of free online safety courses or live in–person seminars and more – all sponsored by the AOPA Air Safety Institute. The ASI has been recognized for over four decades for its ground breaking work promoting “Safe Pilots, Safe Skies.”
Plus…
Legislative Support
AOPA is continuously fighting for your rights as a pilot at the local, state, and federal levels. As the leading voice of general aviation, AOPA has been instrumental in protecting the rights of pilots everywhere. We continue to fight airspace restrictions, fuel taxes, airport closings, and any issues that threaten your right to fly.
AOPA Member Products
Enjoy generous discounts on AOPA products and services including insurance coverage for renters and owners, AOPA’s Pilot Protection Services that offers both legal and medical services to help you avoid problems with the FAA and more.
To get the 6 months of FREE membership for new student pilots, go to the AOPA Website and enroll.
Are you a low-time pilot trying to build up your flight time?
Try these tips and get those hours in your logbook!
It’s the age-old question – how to get experience when no one is willing to give you a chance in order to build your experience.
When I was struggling to put hours in my logbook, I had to really get creative since I already had a full time, non-flying job.
The trick was to be willing to do a little bit of leg work – getting out there and putting myself in front of opportunities.
Be prepared to see the cheesy setting of my hotel room as I talk about how I, and other pilots I know, got those first 1000 or so hours under our belts.
Spring showers and thunderstorms prevented Melissa from flying last week and then there was an unfortunate event with the airplane’s propeller. This will keep Melissa grounded for a while, but stay tuned and we’ll have new progress reports from her soon.
Thanks to everyone who has and is supporting her and the GOF Scholarship!
If you want to be notified when Melissa starts flying again, enter your name and email below.
Last week, Melissa had two flight lessons and encountered what every pilot encounters sooner or later – gusty winds and some windshear to boot.
Melissa recounts her story:
“This week we focused on take-off’s and landings to get me closer to solo-ing. Yesterday’s lesson we had winds at 20kt gusts and coming in on runway 24. We had wind shear that caught our left wing and threw us towards the tree’s on final. So I hadn’t had that much experience, I told my Instructor Tony, to take over and he corrected it and we went around and tried again. Very good experience and I am studying up on that more so I can be more prepared for next time.”
Flying during gusty conditions is essential during pilot training, it not only helps you gain skills to be safe, but it also boosts your confidence.
Any time that you’re able to get some experience in gusty or windy conditions, as long as your CFI is comfortable with it, get out there and try it. It’s better to experience it now, then later when you might not have the security of an experienced pilot beside you.
