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:

The intense pressure to accelerate flight training, often fueled by pilot shortage narratives and aspirations for quick airline seniority, is causing widespread student burnout and is based on an often unrealistic view of the cyclical aviation industry.
The author suggests that the major airline hiring boom for new entrants may be cresting, meaning the benefits of early seniority will be less significant for those just starting their training.
Aspiring pilots are advised to consider diverse aviation career paths beyond major airlines (e.g., corporate, general aviation) where skills and networking are more crucial than seniority, and to prioritize a sustainable training pace to avoid burnout and maintain passion for flying.

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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.