It’s exhausting, defeating, and expensive.
Like many rewarding things in life, waking up everyday and making the choice to pursue flying is challenging. You really, REALLY have to want it, because you’ll have to make sacrifices to get it done. You’ll go broke before you get rich, and you’ll have days where you don’t want to make the drive to the airport because the debt, the stress, and the feelings of self-doubt will be lingering in your mind. When your friends and family introduce you as a pilot, you might feel some mixed emotions about the title, because you know the community doesn’t see you as fully fledged yet. You’re working odd hours and jobs you don’t like. You’re getting support from people and maybe that makes you uncomfortable to lean on them. You’re just trying to make ends meet like a lot of people, and know you aren’t special nor entitled. You’re doing your best with what you have and working hard.
It’s empowering, validating, and solidifying.
As soon as you walk up to your plane, you feel good. You know your routines, the checklists, the weather. Even if you weren’t feeling it on the way there, suddenly all that stress melts away because you get to leave it behind on the pavement. Those wings give you freedom, give you focus, make you feel on top of the world… even if you’re only a few thousand feet in the air. You’ve got everything down to muscle memory and your landings are soft and smooth. Your instructor is just a passenger at this point, and you’re ready for check-ride. It feels real. Once the nerves pass and you hit that 50, 100, 250 hour mark, you can hardly believe it. Flying over the coast, cloud surfing, seeing the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Sharing all of it with loved ones and friends. It’s such a privilege. The community you’ve grown to know over the years is so incredibly supportive. The most unsuspecting people you’ve met along the way have helped guide you, are your mentors, are your friends. Aviation connects and inspires in a way that nothing else can, because we rally around our own. An aviator is family. You belong.
photo by Jordan Li