A quick tip for flying students or those aspiring to become a commercial pilot is this: Just don’t rush your training. Rushing and the pressure to get lessons, skills tests, and exams done more quickly will almost certainly lead to losing more time and money in the process.
I made this mistake several times during my flight training days and will explain how you can avoid the same in the following areas.
Theoretical ATPL exams
Start your first set of exams when you feel ready and be prepared for as many subjects as you can before starting your ATPL exams, whether that be EASA or UK CAA. I failed an exam because I thought I was ready when I really wasn’t. I wasted so many more hours and days studying for that exam again. Get as much of a head start as you can.
Flying Lessons and Simulator Sessions
Study and prepare for lessons as if they were skills tests. I’ve declined lessons without shame, on days following a late finish for instance. Simply because I could see I had no time to prepare or study for the following day.
The times I regretted doing a lesson was when I impulsively booked one. This almost always didn’t turn out that well. For example, I’ve done 5 days in a row of IR training in the simulator and on my 5th day I was so mentally drained that I would’ve definitely failed on several counts had it been an exam.
Remember, you’re training to become a commercial pilot. It’s a serious job where you can be responsible for hundreds of lives and multi-million dollar aircraft.
The self-study and reflection time is super valuable. The sooner you build strong foundations and practical knowledge, the better. You can burn through hundreds of pounds/euros/dollars/ [insert your currency here] in a single lesson flying a multi-engine aircraft, because you were unprepared or tired.
When it’s your money on the line, use it well. You will likely be pressured by instructors, or your school to fly or book the next training session. Be firm and trust your instincts.
Time Building
Time building is a great opportunity to hone your skills, and by rushing to finish the required PIC hours as soon as possible, you may be missing out on the benefits of recency later on.
Let’s say you get your PPL and then decide to rent a cheap aircraft and get the required 100 hours PIC time in a month, which is possible. For the next phases of your training like the IR and CPL modules, if you only do the lessons since you already have all the required PIC time, you’ll be missing out on the benefits of renting an aircraft to fly and keep your flying skills sharp in between gaps.
Skill Tests
The same thing goes for skill tests. I had a partial pass on my first CPL skill test for not choosing the best day in terms of weather. Long story short, had the day been clear skies, I would have almost surely passed. I made a mistake in judgement and as the pilot being tested I should have told the examiner I’d prefer to fly on another day. Things like adverse weather, or aircraft issues can really affect your flying, and if you’re the pilot paying, then definitely don’t rush into an exam without feeling fully ready.
Often, this sense of needing to do things quickly comes down to the opposite problem: a lack of aircraft or instructor availability, which causes you to rush.
Sometimes these factors can’t be avoided and my best recommendation is to speak to someone responsible about your concerns and to also use the longer breaks to prepare yourself better.
You can use your free time to read books, use computer applications like simulation software and watch relevant videos online. Another great and almost free way to get advice is to speak to current or previous students to learn as much as you can from their experiences. Some tiny tips or tricks here or there can go a long way.
So to summarise, avoid rushing, haste can lead to waste and expensive mistakes, prepare well and you’ll enjoy the experience whilst becoming a far better pilot in the process.