AvSudo

Hello! I’m just looking for some advice, not necessarily aviation related but more of on a personal level.

I’m currently working as a CFI/CFII and have just hit 500 hours. I have a decent idea of what regional I want to end up with but how do I make sure I stay on track?
I’ve been reading endlessly about how tough the 121 world is (especially getting in) and eventually making it to mainline somehow yet all of my former CFI’s almost make it seem like the 121 checkride isn’t that difficult...which makes me feel like either they’re lying or I have a lot of catching up to do.

I work 6 days a week and am wrapping up my college degree but I’m finding it harder and harder to study. I try to stay active with reading FAR’s, PHAK along with all the other aeronautical books but I kind of sense myself slacking...or maybe it’s just me being hard on myself.

Am I on the right path? Should I be doing more? How do I maintain my work ethic and fight against complacency so I don’t make a mistake and stay mentally fit for when my time comes for the regional gig?

Thanks gents

TiredSoul

You’re burning out as you’ve got too much on your plate.
Step it down a notch on the stress scale.

JamesNoBrakes

The more checkrides you take, the better you understand what is fair game and what the standards are, but this stuff is not secret or a mystery, and the better you understand the standards and how they are applied, the better prepared you will be and the less anxious you will be. You will take checkrides your whole career and eventually you'll realize it's just how you are supposed to fly on any flight, and it won't be any big deal. If you really suck at the flying thing, you'll usually get weeded out pretty fast. If the checkrides are not getting easier, then you might need to take a step back and think hard about what is going on.

rickair7777

Agree that your study program sounds pretty aggressive. Stay in the books, but turn in it down a notch for now.

As James said you don't yet know what it's "in play" for checkrides and interviews, so your work ethic will actually help you in the long run but eventually you'll learn to focus your studies better. But broad knowledge is helpful... people don't fail checkrides for one discreet event as often as you think, typically it's an accumulation or errors that tip the balance. If you start out on the oral with broad knowledge and insight, you've set a good tone for the flight portion... you might get a pass on a rough-around-the-edges maneuver (I have).

Same with showing up well-groomed, banks good vibes for later.

AvSudo

Ok appreciate the insight. A good pilot is always learning so I guess I’m trying to learn as much as I can about everything.
I still have a solid year to go so there’s still time to prepare.

Thanks again

TiredSoul

I’ve never liked taking checkrides.
Nobody does.
But would you rather be sent into war having trained or bring untrained?
Doesn’t make the panic any less but even in panic there is a lining of confidence knowing you can do it.
It’s not about perfection either.
It’s about how well you deal with the mistakes that you WILL be making.

SonicFlyer

The Turbine Pilots Manual by ASA will give you a leg up before you get to ground school at a 121 operator.