How to Pace Your Flight Training Like a Pro

Friday, August 04, 2023 at 10:40 AM ET

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When discussing the ideal pace of flight training, find a way that works for you, without leaving you exhausted and dreading the days you have to go fly. [Credit: Kenny Eliason/ Unsplash]

Key Takeaways:

Many aspiring pilots feel pressured to rush through training due to the perceived "pilot shortage" and tales of rapid airline hiring, often leading to severe burnout in demanding accelerated programs.
While seniority matters, the major airline hiring boom for senior roles may be cresting, and the aviation industry is inherently cyclical and unpredictable, meaning new entrants might face stagnation in traditional airline careers.
Valuable and stable career opportunities exist beyond major airlines in sectors like corporate, fractional, and general aviation, where success hinges more on qualifications and networking than an early seniority number.
Choosing a sustainable training pace that prevents burnout is crucial for long-term success and enjoyment in aviation, recognizing that there are many different valid career paths and no single "boat" to miss.

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Over the last few months, I’ve seen a lot of chatter online about the pace of flight training—both from students who feel theirs is excessive and those bemoaning their perceived slow progress.

I’ve also seen a lot of pilots in accelerated training programs complain about getting severely burned out on flying, often about the time they hit 200 hours (as little as three months in). The major theme underlying both discussions is haste, an almost universal sense that the clock is ticking on the pilot shortage and, if you don’t want to miss out, you’d better grind your butt off and get your chair before the music stops.