Originally Posted by
skylover
Haven't started training yet. In fact, in a few weeks I'm doing one of those "introductory flights" at my local flight school, so that will be very exciting!
(forgive me for sounding like one of those "SJS" people)
Good for you, enjoy it! That should be exciting, and I hope you enjoy the heck out of it. FWIW - that doesn't sound like SJS, that sounds normal.
I have, on the other hand, flown in a computer flight simulator. Obviously not the same, but it's nice to at least become a little familiar with a cockpit. I remember my first time in an actual cockpit was on a KLM 747 when I was something like 6 years old.
Computer sims are a great training tool - it can definitely help you with various aspects of training - particularly instrument navigation. On the other hand, when you get in the actual aircraft and start working on your private rating, don't fixate on the instruments. Learn to control the aircraft using outside visual references. Trying to use the instruments excessively is a VERY common problem for new students (and I suspect flight sim programs tend to negatively reinforce that), but they are still great tools.
I think the fact that despite union troubles, pay complaints, contract negotiations, etc. etc., something really neat about this industry in particular is that (almost) everybody truly loves what they do. That's something that is VERY rare to find in careers today.
As USMC has correctly pointed out, most of us still like flying - we just don't like the industry. I'm actually one of the sick people who always enjoyed going to training - what can I learn today or do better than last session? It's tremendously personally satisfying.
The difference comes when you realize that loving what you do isn't paying the bills, or watching your pay and quality of life decrease year after year as you become more qualified, due to forces beyond your control.
I can't fault you too much in all of this - I was in your place once. I distinctly remember a HS-125-700 pilot I was talking to at my local airport trying to explain some of these same things to me. I didn't really get it either, but as I look back I see the accuracy of his advice.
And I'm sorry to the people who think that people like me "ruin the profession" for that.
Love of flying is not what ruins the profession, and no one has made that claim.
I don't want to turn this post into another downer - so I'll let that go at that.
Great quote. Structured or not, I don't think the magic of flight will ever go away for me. If you can't tell, I really do love it.
I can tell you are very passionate about it, very much like I was at your age. Flying an aircraft IS a lot of fun, I still enjoy the heck out of operating the machine. Again, it's very ego satisfying to do shoot an approach well, or make a crosswind landing on the centerline, with no drift, on speed, at your intended touchdown point. It's a great view, whether you're over the patchwork of the midwest, near the mountains, or along the coast. You will see things from a different perspective, and develop a deepened appreciation for many natural phenomena. It's a wonderful thing, I hope you don't lose sight of that as the years go by.
For now, go out - explore, discover, learn, and enjoy.
Please post on here and let us know how it goes.