What would that be?
"Better to have a short life doing what you love doing,
than spend a long life doing what you don't like."
Alan Watts
Swayne Martin, our future pilot we met last Friday, wrote to me concerning his dream to fly andshared his concerns fromthose who have been stamping upon his dreams. Maybe we can all share with him a little advice. I know he would appreciate it.
Swayne says...
“I will begin working towards my private pilot’s license next summer which I can obtain shortly after turning 17. Its not just something I “kinda” want to do, it really has been a goal of mine for as long as I can remember. It will not be easy to get the license: including hours upon hours of training, testing, exams, and FAA check-rides. Luckily, I have the support of my friends and family and I am ready to take this challenge head on. I couldn’t be happier with how this has turned out, what the future might hold, and what I will hopefully gain from this experience.”
One thing I have gotten frequently is a lot of mixed feedback from the forums and other people online.
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The difference is, from what I have heard from many other pilots via email (and the people I know personally), it can be a completely different story depending on attitude. The people I know personally love their jobs, and would probably hate doing anything else for a living (I feel like that could be the future me) It is discouraging to hear feedback telling me to “run,” and it honestly makes me really nervous.
The best advice I have gotten so far about the above was: “DONT get too involved in the forums. Often times, it will only discourage you.” Instead, email around to pilot’s you know personally, or from blogs, youtube, websites, etc. See what they have to say. This is what I have done recently with much success. Many pilots are willing to help and want to offer advice to people who share the same passion.
Based on those points I have a few questions for you Karlene, hopefully they can help someone else who is in a similar position:
1.) What should I think when I get responses from online forums or people who tell me to "run?"
My answer is run from those people. There will always be people pulling you down because life did not live up to their expectations. If there is something you want to do… do it. This is your one and only life. Remember one thing—Happiness is a choice. Some of my best times were the most challenging. No matter what challenges we face, we can look for the good. We can find the good.
2.) After years of flying, do you still look forward to it like you did when you first began? Is it still interesting and exciting in its own respect?
Yes. I love sitting in the plane, feeling the thrust levers beneath my fingers, and the power of the jet as she rolls down the runway. I rotate and lift her into the sky, and I’m off to another adventure. While it is hard to be away from home, and I look forward to each day with my family, it is hard to wipe the smile off my face once I’m sitting in the plane. Each month I still look forward to my new schedule and the surprises it may hold. I have the greatest opportunity to visit my friends worldwide.There are many challenges, but I choose to allow the benefits to outweigh the other. Yes, it is all about Attitude.
This job is very interesting as are the wonderful people I meet along the way. The challenges are many, but challenge is nothing but another word for opportunity to learn and grow. When I stop loving it, is the day I ground myself.
3.) What do you think the future of the industry is looking like? Do you see a brighter future for people like me compared to the last 11 years?
Yes. I see a shining future for all pilots starting today. It’s hard to imagine where we will be in the next ten years with technology, but I do know that the opportunities for employment are far better than the last ten years. December 2012, was that magic year for the age 65 pilots to begin retiring. I’m watching Boeing and Airbus orders for new planes skyrocket... Somebody is going to need to fly them. That would be you! And once hired, the pilots of today will move up to Captain relatively quickly.Today is a fabulous time for a career in aviation.
I (Swayne)would like to share this motivating video:
"I really appreciate people like Karlene who have been such an inspiration to me and many other current, past, and future pilots. I can’t thank you enough. (Ahhh... Thank you!)
I decided to start a blog to go step by step through my process of becoming a private pilot and beyond. Maybe one day someone will find inspiration my blog, like Karlene has done for me: FromPrivate to Professional Pilot
My email is available via my profile on my blog, as well as with Karlene if anyone would like to contact me." Swayne Martin.
Swayne, Thank you so much for the great questions, and sharing your concerns. Swayne can also be found on Twitter @MartinsAviation
Does anyone have advice for Swayne?
What do you think the future of Aviation Holds?
Leave Swayne your advice and then click on over to
From Private to Professional Pilot
And read what people have been saying.
Leave Swayne your advice and then click on over to
From Private to Professional Pilot
And read what people have been saying.
Enjoy the Journey~
XO Karlene