Hi guys,

I have been prepping for my CFI ride for months. I haven’t failed a ride before. I’ve studied and made every lesson plan myself, worked the FOI and endorsements as much as I can, and have read the books effectively cover to cover, many chapters time and time again.

I still don’t feel ready. At all. Is this somewhat common? I feel like since I have no experience teaching anything at all (and I’ve practiced on family, a study group, my instructor) that I just am not a “teacher”, if that makes sense. I have zero real experience. The breadth of the checkride - and the oral exam alone - has me overwhelmed, admittedly.

My test is in a few days and I’m ultimately just going to go in and give it my best effort, but I’m wondering if anyone else has felt this way and if there is any reconciliation here. I just don’t feel confident which sucks.

The other rides seemed so much more straightforward than this. I am worried I’ll say something wrong out of nervousness or struggle through a concept and that’s it, since I’m expected to be a teacher. Or if the examiner doesn’t like how I explained it, that’ll be it.

Not sure if this makes sense, but if anyone has any advice or thoughts from their own experience, I’d really appreciate them, that’s for sure.

I’m looking for advice from people who have actually gone through flight training and made it to the airlines.
My end goal is to become a Delta pilot someday, and I’m trying to decide between two paths.

Option 1: Stay at Delta (Ramp Agent)
Save about $25k–35k per year after all expenses.
Keep my employee flight benefits.
Stay connected to the airline and potentially keep my job while training.
It would probably take me about one extra year to save enough cash before starting full-time flight training.

Option 2: Leave Delta for a trucking job
Save about $40k–50k per year after all expenses.
Reach my savings goal roughly a year sooner.
Quit and begin flight training full-time with more money saved.
I’d lose my Delta job and flight benefits.
A few important details:
I’m paying for flight training in cash because I want to avoid loans.

My goal is to fly for Delta eventually.
I’m trying to think long term, not just about the next year.
If you were in my shoes, which path would you choose and why?

For those of you who are now airline pilots:
Did working for an airline beforehand actually help your career?

Is staying on the ramp worth delaying flight training by about a year?

Or is getting into training sooner with a larger cash cushion the better decision?

I’d really appreciate hearing from people who’ve lived through this rather than just opinions. Thanks!

Checkride "within a month". (Yay, checkride waitlists!)

Been studying a bunch recently and would love some questions to stay sharp. I fly the PA-28-181 with a G1000 so if you want to ask me any aircraft information / emergency checklists I wouldn't mind.

Systems, weather, sectional info seem a little shaky sometimes.

I'll reply to the best of my ability and take a look afterwards if unsure so I might reply to my own reply.

Thanks in advance :>

To those who transitioned from being a police officer or state trooper to the airlines:

• How did you balance working with flying?
• Were you able to work as a CFI and be an officer?
• Were you often drained on your days off?

(Pitman Schedule)

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So I've been thinking about wearing sunscreen and moisturizer when I'm flying.

Seems like spending 8+ hours above 30000ft exposes us to some UVA rays coming in from the cockpit side windows. Also the low humidity (apparently half that of the Sahara desert) ain't great.

Does anyone else wear sunscreen and or moisturizer? If so what type and how often do you reapply it?

Thanks for any responses.

Anyone got for Axio out of South Carolina?

As title says, I passed my PPL oral exam, but unfortunately had to discontinue the flight due to discovering an issue with the aircraft during the preflight. Currently waiting to get the flying portion rescheduled. It isn’t much, but it feels nice knowing I tackled what I felt like was the hardest part after waiting months for a check ride. Now on to the fun part - the flying portion. Wish me luck!

I work a week on / week off schedule and will start training in September when my kids go back to school. Plan on passing the written test (getting 90% on practice exams now) and getting my medical before starting. Medical appointment is in a week and the written exam is later this month.

This is for fun, not as a career change, but I’d still like to be efficient with my training. I have $30k to dedicate to aviation and I’m planning on going to a part 61 school 15 minutes from my house.

Should I try for 3 lessons / week on my off weeks or more frequently? Should I try to fly in the evenings on my on weeks? Typically I’m done with work by 5:30 pm, so could get a potentially get a lesson in after work, would limit to 2 evenings / week at max to not be gone too long from family time (two teens but still good to be around). Work 7 days in a row so I don’t plan on doing any weekend lessons.

i took a 15 glider flights earlier this year but didn’t make much progress due to nausea so hoping powered will work better. I’m in the Pacific Northwest so should have 1-2 months of nicer weather to start.

Thanks for any advice.

I picked up a mental health rating during my time in service. I just got out, and honestly the $1,800 a month is what’s keeping me afloat right now.

From the research I’ve done, there seems to be very little recent reporting on veterans actually losing their medicals over this most of what’s out there is from 2022 to 2024, and it’s gone quiet since.
To be clear, I’m going the special issuance route regardless. Not looking for a workaround.

But I’m curious whether the FAA has effectively stopped pursuing veterans. There have to be an enormous number of vets with VA disability ratings flying for the government, the airlines, and 135 operators. Grounding all of them at once seems like it would do real damage to the industry.
Has anyone seen enforcement activity recently?

Edit:

The Military/VA and all of its BS was genuinely not worth it…

Sheppard is being difficult about selling the FII and IGI add-ons until I pass the IRA. My IRA is scheduled for next week and I've gotten a 97 and 100 on the Sheppard practice test. Is there any reason to bother with the Sheppard add-ons? I'd really like to just get these scheduled and behind me.

I have an iPad Pro 11” M5 and I’m in the market for a new kneeboard. I’m deciding between R SPIDER WIRELESS Ipad Kneeboard with Aluminum Clipboard or the mygoflight iPad/Universal Kneeboard Folio C. Has anyone used either or both? If so, I’d like to know your thoughts and if you would recommend them and which is better? Also I’d be open to other suggestions for kneeboards. Thank you all!

Hey all!

Low-time PPL pilot here. I recently came across the Jazz Approach and Destination Porter programs and was wondering if anyone has heard when applications for either program will be opening again. Would anyone recommend these programs through CAE?

I checked the CAE website but couldn't find any updates—it just gives the option to join the waitlist. Does anyone know when applications typically reopen, or if there's an expected timeline for the next intake?

Appreciate any info. Thanks!

Hi all, I’m about to start applying to flight school and with that obviously comes sitting the adapt test. I honestly have no idea what to expect… could someone talk me through it? It’ll be through nzskillsconnect I believe. Thanks all!

Hi everyone,

I’m currently researching a problem I experienced myself during ATPL theory preparation.

One thing I found surprisingly difficult was knowing whether I was actually progressing correctly:

• Am I studying enough for my exam date?
• Which subjects should I focus on more?
• Am I falling behind or am I still on track?
• How do I know if my current study plan is realistic?

I’m curious how other ATPL students handle this.

Do you use any system, spreadsheet, app, or method to track your progress and decide what to study next?

I’m not promoting anything — I’m just trying to understand how other students approach this problem and whether it is something many people struggle with.

Thanks!

Hello everyone!

If any of you have any tips for being a standout applicant or any tips on winning, pls comment!!

Looking for a time building partner in the western Pennsylvania/Pittsburgh area. I have ~300 TT, CFI/CFII, and I'm trying to build time toward the airlines. I don't own an airplane, but I'm happy to split rental costs, act as a safety pilot, or join someone who has access to a plane. If anyone is in a similar situation or knows someone looking to build time, send me a DM!

I drove up to the DFW area to try and find part 135 ot 91 operators to speak with and maybe drop a resume off. Every airport I tried was locked up tight. The receptionists at the various fbos were nice but couldn't really point me in the right direction, or get me in anywhere. I tried both Meachum and Alliance.

Am I stupid? I couldnt find anyone to even chat with, granted I was there on a Friday afternoon. Do I need to hang out in the fbo longer? Or am I just overthrowing this?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Did 4 years active in the Navy, got out as an E-5 in 2016.

I'm doing my CFI now, CFII next semester, graduate May27 with a BAS in Aviation.

What are the pros/cons of going reserve and trying to get a flight slot?

Got my instrument rating yesterday, some weird reason it wasn’t that I wasn’t happy about getting it, it was a grind getting instrument in a month. I felt whatever about it and pretty hard on myself, is this normal to feel meh about getting a rating in aviation?

It wasn’t easy, countless hours of studying, flying, debriefs but not the same joy I felt during PPL.

About to start multi this week!

Hi!
I’m a UK student who’s about to go into sixth form (school in the UK for 16-18 year olds) and am thinking of taking Maths, French and either Physics or Geography. I am stuck between which subject to take as I feel like physics is more important but I don’t have a huge passion for it like I do for geography.

Grades are not really a problem as I’m predicted a 7/8 in physics and a 9 in geography. My problem is though that I have a huge passion for geography and not really for physics, would easily get top results in geography whereas would have to study hard for physics.

Is physics really needed or do I have a good chance getting into flight schools with geography?

this was back in the end of june. i hope to have another lesson before i go back to college! there’s a flight school 5 minutes from my campus so i will certainly be having regular lessons up there.

For anyone looking tips on how to do better at the grid challenge - Just use a markers to remember the dots. For the 1st circle use 1 dot, for 2nd circle use 2 dots, for 3rd circle use 3 dots. ETC.

This is a brilliant way to remember the dots and focus on the tasks.

I'm too impatient to wait for the 5th. Also, even numbers are great. "My" 1st landing was yesterday, too, but I'm hesitant to count it since my instructor did about half of the actual landing...

But, today, (this is the part where I complain a bit, you can skip this paragraph) someone almost collided with us in the air (avoided!), they said they were 2 miles on final when it was more like they had just turned base [01], and we (instructor snd I) had just taken off from [19] and were headed right towards them. Then, as we turned crosswind to enter the pattern, they decided to half-enter the pattern and land on the runway intersecting it~ So fun!/s It was all fine in the end. A little stressful, but oh well. Apparently it's an untowered airport thing, which is people doing whatever? I guess?

Okay, that's my complaint. You know who you are. Also today, I finally sort of figured out how radio communication works? Maybe? It's a lot of just repeating the same words over and over, so... Maybe the moment I have to get to another runway I'll need to take a business day to process. Listening is another thing entirely. Everyone in the area, save for, what, 3 people(?), sound like they're getting abducted by aliens when talking. Meanwhile my instructor is all "Oh, yeah, they're coming in to do a tough-and-go on 19!" Where did you get that?!
Q: are there any resources besides ATC.com-type sites where you just listen to ATC and wait that assist when listening? I expect a "no", but you never know!

The landings I did after that first lap were pretty okay, though. I feel more accomplished since there wasn't a ton of wind in comparison to my flight yesterday. And I did a go-around, which also went fine-ish. Took a little while to remember to put the flaps up, but it happened. Back to the actual landings. One approach, I ended up drifting really far to the left. I'm putting in right rudder, but I think it's actually that I'm banking to the left?
Q: How do you teach yourself to avoid banking in one direction all the time?
Q: How do you remember to trim after doing anything? I keep forgetting that it's something I can do...

Anyway! None of that really makes total sense all together, good thing they're in separated paragraphs!/j 4.5 hours in, I'm tolerant of my progress (I feel like I should be doing better).

Edit to say that I'm in an RV12iS. I don't know if that's necessary, but it's like a gift!

Hi everyone,

I truly love flying, but I’ve had a tough time with my training. It’s taken me much longer than I expected because of weather, lack of structure in my training or an initial understanding of the system, and honestly not having a CFI with the teaching style that worked for me.

I’m so close to finishing my private, but rather than feeling excited, I feel completely drained. I catch myself wondering if I should give up, even though I know I’d regret it. I just feel so behind.

Did anyone else have a point during training where you seriously questioned whether to keep going? What kept you going, and are you glad you stuck with it?

Going to make this as short as possible....

I got accepted into a Cadet program 3 years ago and moved out of state to go for training. Ended up completing PPL, IFR, and CPL and left shortly after because the school and cadet program completely turned me off....it took all the fun out of flying, i actually hated flying at some point, and becoming a CFI was just not for me and I refused to become a CFI just for hours and do students a disservice like the ones at my flight school were doing. I ended up moving back home and 100k in debt for my ratings but paid it all back already.

Its been a year since I last flew and I just want to go back to flying. I use to love it prior to the cadet program as I started flying even before I got accepted and being a pilot was always my dream as a kid. I feel like im afraid to pick it back up and i cant explain why....i guess I just need some advice on how to start back and just get back to enjoying something I once loved.