I want to become a pilot i am sixteen years old right now ready to start training but i have a problem.?

Question

you see i love to become a pilot but i have fear of flying. I already told my parents about the traning and they are ready to pay for it. Many things are entering my head about this career. Sometimes i am like i am going to make my parents waste all this money for nothing because the career doesnt even pay a lot. the next thing is death. can someone please tell me what to do.,

Answer 1

Do some flying and see if you can overcome or at least control the fear. If you can be afraid and still function properly, it will probably make you a better pilot. If the fear adversely affects your functioning, look for another carreer.

Some fear is healthy, but don't let it control your life. We're all going to die anyway. Always be prepared to meet your Maker and live life to its fullest until you do.

Answer 2

Many civil aviation airports have flying clubs. They love attracting new members. If you ask, you can probably get them to give you an orientation flight, so you can see what it's all about before you lay down big bucks for flight lessons. Provided the pilot is experienced and decent, don't be afraid to discuss your qualms with him. After-all, you don't know much about flying yet, and being apprehensive is normal.

If you decided to go for it, get a great flight instructor. That's critical. And study hard.

My airman's rating is only for commercial hot-air balloon, but when I fly I am always way too busy to deal with the concept of fear or emotions. If situations change, which they do, the most I feel is "Concern." I then deal with the situation based on training, knowledge and experience, and make adjustments. Piloting is primarily an intellectual discipline, and pilots are trained and taught how to keep emotions out of the thought-process.

The most fear I have ever felt in my flying experience was driving too and from the launch field. If DMV's had the training requirements that the FAA demands of its pilot, the roads would be vastly safer.

Give it a taste, and go from there. Just realize that knowledge, training and experience lead to confidence, and confidence banishes illrational fear. And that statement is good for any goal you wish to achieve, not just flying.

As far as the answers regarding therapists and counselors, at your age, and any age you become, you will always be your best own pilot.

"Soft landings and gentle breezes...."

Answer 3

I have a suggestion that will cost you fifty dollars. Sign up for an indoctrination flight at your local flight training school. Most Cessna and Piper dealers offer this deal. They will take you up for half an hour in a small single engined plane and let you take the controls for a few minutes. By the time you have landed you will know if this is for you or not. I did it forty years ago and never looked back. It changed everything. I lost the trepidation that the plane was going to crash, and couldn't wait to get back up in the air. I spent the next thirty years as an military aviator and still fly to keep my license current. Fear is the factor that keeps good pilots sensible. If you have no fear you start overlooking the details and flying is all about the details.

Answer 4

I'm a pilot (small aircraft) and I had the same problem. You are safer in the air than on the ground. Take your training in a 150 Cessna. At 3,000 feet, even if the engine completely stopped in mid air. You still have 10 miles to find a place to land. It will act like a glider when you set up your decent speed. This should help you get over the fear of flying. It's a fantastic feeling to fly.

Answer 5

Take my advice, I'm an instructor that has had students with fear. Most of the time, its hard to shake off the fear so first give it a shot by going to your local airport school and take a discovery flight. Also, remember that flying with the instructor might not give you the fear of flying that you might get when your by yourself. In your training you will have to solo and do several flights by yourself. If your fear goes to the extent of death, you might want to choose a career in aviation that does not involve hopping on a plane. Fear & flying are a bad mix especially during an emergency situation which will make the person freeze.
Good luck!

Answer 6

I'm a private pilot of seven years, hate tall buildings, don't like to fly commercially and own my own plane. I wouldn't say that I fear flying but I don't like commercial flights because I'm not in control of whatever potential problem that may show up. However, when I am the pilot of my own craft I know what I'm doing, what I shouldn't be doing and how to get myself out of trouble. A good portion of your initial pilot training will be spent handling emergencies - engine outs and stalls - as well as general control over the craft. You'll learn that an engine out at 6500 feet means you're in a glider (not a rock) and that you can walk away when you calm down and find a place to land.

I recommend that you start your training. You'll know within 15 hours whether you want to continue. Piloting is demanding work. It's not really hard but requires a lot of concentration in critical areas (landing, take off, busy airspace). I suspect that what you'll find in your first 15 hours is that you'll be so busy flying an airplane that you won't have time to be afraid of crashing it. As you fly and study you'll start to understand the mechanics of flying and you'll be less afraid of it in general.

Getting a pilots license will give you an incredible sense of accomplishment. It's hard work, requires lots of time in an airplane and lots of study time. Not many people do it, which means that you'll do something that most of your friends will only talk about.

Oh, by the way, my dad offered to pay for my pilot lessons when I was in high school. I didn't take him up on it. It took me until I was 30 to finally do it. Not only did I end up having to pay some $4,000 to get my ticket I missed out on years of flying and had to squeeze time between that and my family and my career. Take your parent's offer. If it works out you'll be glad you did. If it doesn't... no sweat - you'll be able to cross this off your list and find something else to try.

GO FLY. YOU'LL LOVE IT!

Answer 7

I never followed up on my dream to be a pilot, and when I travel by air, I often think about the missed opportunity to be in control of my own aircraft. If you are thinking about it, then do it. Take it from someone who knows: A well paying job doesn't bring the enjoyment of doing what interests you.
As far as the fear of flying goes- don't fear. It's an unnatural thing to fly. We weren't born with wings. But with experience comes understanding, and when you can be a calm passenger in a commercial jet landing in the wildest thunderstorm at night you can understand just how overbuilt airplanes are and just how safe they really are.

Answer 8

You should go get a discovery flight. Go up with a Flight Instructor and fly aound for about an hour. When you get back down you should know if you like it or not. For most people I know that became pilots, when they took that first flight, they were hooked for life.

As far as pay goes, it starts of very low but you can make a good living as a pilot. It just takes lots of time to get there.

Good luck on your decision.

Answer 9

If you have this much doubt in yourself you alone must find the answer to your question. Becoming a pilot is not just your responsibility but for all those who would be in the skies with you, both pilot's and passengers. Sounds like you must do some deep searching of your self first before any thoughts of beginning such a long and lifetime committment as flight training

Answer 10

I think you are still young enough to overcome your fear and go on to become a pilot, if that's what you'd like. You'd need to work on overcome that fear, and utlilizing the technique of desensitization might be useful.

You'd want to start by visualizing the airplane. See yourself in it, on the ground. Slowly move to imagining it taxiing the runway. When you become comfortable with the visualizations, spend some time at one of the smaller airports in your area. See if there's anyone who might just allow you to sit in a small plane. See how this feels. If you can work up to being in a plane, on the runway, just to taxi around a bit, that might be helpful. Lastly, see how it feels to have someone take you up for a BRIEF flight.

Hope this helps. Best of luck. :)