USING A FLIGHT SIMULATOR
This one is BIG. I really messed up my brain by trying to teach myself to fly using a popular computer flight simulator. There is a golden rule when it comes to being a flight instructor. “Teach it right the first time”. Because, it’s way harder to un-learn the bad habits. A good instructor will not allow you to re-inforce bad habits. He/She would stop you, show you the right way to do it, then let you try again.
When I became a flight instructor myself I saw this same wrong learning re inforced in several students who used simulators to teach themselves.
What ends up happening is that they “stay inside” the airplane flying only by instruments rather than looking outside as a VFR pilot for other airplanes and obstacles.
GETTING WORRIED ABOUT HOW FAR I HAVE TO GO
There is a progression to being a fully qualified airline pilot. It starts with first solo, then Private Pilot, then Night Rating, then Commercial Pilot, then Multi-Engine and Instrument Ratings.
Only think of what the immediate goal is. Work really hard and complete it. Then think about the next goal. Don’t get overwhelmed by thinking too far away and feeling like you have a huge mountain to climb.
Learn to enjoy the process. This also applies after your training is completed. You work your first job, then regional First Officer, then regional Captain job, then Major Airlines. In fact, it never ends as you can always choose to go higher and be a widebody Boeing 787 Captain.
Best to enjoy the journey instead of the end goal.
HAVING BIG GAPS IN MY FLIGHT TRAINING
The problem was I didn’t have the funds. I worked, saved up some money, flew for 2 weeks, then ran out of money agin. The next time I flew wasn’t until another month.
Every time I came back to fly it felt like I was starting all over again. So, finally I learnt to train all at once. I didn’t set foot in an airplane until I had all the funds for my Private Licence.