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Why People Quit Flight Training
Do you know why people quit flight training?
The good news is that if you are set on becoming a pilot there is an excellent chance you can be successful. Unfortunately, for every 10 people that begin flight training, only 2 or 3 complete it. Developing a love for aviation is easy. The path to becoming a pilot requires commitment, and dedication, as well as funding. There are pitfalls that generally lead people to stop training, and knowing the reasons people are not successful can help you plan to avoid them.
A fair amount of research has been done focusing on this issue which means we do have some good data. Here are the major reasons reported. Certainly, more than one reason may be applicable.
Time/Commitment
Flying requires a serious commitment of time, energy and resources. If you do it right, you’ll be out at the airport for multi-hour lessons at least twice each week. On top of that, there is home study – reading books, watching video presentations and taking practice exams.
Remedy: Before you commit, have a plan. Plan a schedule, know what days will be best to train, as well as study. It is also a good idea to plan how you will fund your training.
Finances
This pretty much speaks for itself. For most people, flying represents a serious financial commitment and can lead people to quit flight training before they even begin. A single lesson which involves paying for an instructor and an airplane can cost several hundred dollars.
Remedy: Do the math and make sure you have the available funds. Do not assume you can beat the odds and complete your training in the minimum amount of time. And remember, once you have your pilot’s license, you still have the cost of aircraft rental to consider.
Lack of Direction / No Curriculum or Syllabus
Many schools do not use a written curriculum or even a syllabus. They rely on experience to get their students properly trained and ready for their checkride and may not maintain clear records documenting student progress. For some students, this is too unstructured. They get frustrated by what they perceive to be a lack of direction, unclear goals and a meandering approach to training.
Remedy: Prior to starting your flight training, ask to see the curriculum that is used and the system for tracking student progress.
Instructor Issues
The relationship an instructor develops with a student is key to a successful training experience. If the personalities are off or the chemistry isn’t there, it can be an unsatisfying experience and lead one to quit flight training. Good instructors should adjust their teaching style to the needs of the student. Unfortunately, not all instructors can do that and have a one-size-fits-all approach. As with all professions, some instructors are just not very good at what they do.
Remedy: Spend some time talking with the prospective instructor before you begin your training. Ask lots of questions and try to gauge whether or not you feel comfortable with him/her and like the way they present material. Ask if they can do a brief ground lesson so you can get a sense of their teaching style.