A Pilot/Dispatcher Who Needs Advice
Hey guys.
I started flying about a year ago, and made it all the way up until right before my commercial checkride this April before I stopped flying full time. I got a great job offer for a 121 dispatch job that has paid me well, but I want to finish commercial & multi. The reason I stopped flying was due to some personal things that I was going through that started impacting my flying and my focus. It had gone on for a while, and ultimately led in part to me slipping up in my instrument oral and I busted. I passed my private first attempt, and was on par for a successful commercial checkride after passing my instrument recheck, but for some reason I could not shake off that instrument oral bust. It seemed like my flying was the best in the beginning of the commercial stage, and as we got closer to the checkride, my anxieties went up and my flying started to get impacted due to the checkride anxiety and the aspects of my personal life that I could not shake at the time.
I feel like I am at a better place now, and I have a great paying dispatch job with ample time off so I can get back into flying part time and finish up my certs. The only thing holding me back is my nerves about a potential bust again. I don't want to harm my chances for hiring in the future. It seems so dumb to type because yes I know failures can happen in dispatch with a comp check each year, but I am genuinely curious for some input into how checkrides/recurrent are conducted and how you handle the nerves that come with them! I know that I am a good pilot, who happened to mess up, and is now having trouble shaking it. I appreciate any advice you can throw my way. I am trying to find the motivation and hunger to go out and finish again! I have not flown since April, and I think it might be beneficial for me to rent a plane for several hours with a CFI to just go fly around to light that fire again? I feel like I need a better taste in my mouth when it comes to flying and not let those 2 months capture my overall opinion of myself as a pilot. Thanks for your advice!