Is becoming a pilot difficult?

Is becoming a pilot difficult? Oh, honey, let me tell you. It’s brutal. I mean, seriously brutal. I remember one friend of mine, Mark – lovely guy, sharp as a tack – he was so close to getting his license, hundreds of hours logged, thousands spent, and then…he just burnt out. Completely. The pressure, the sheer volume of stuff you have to learn, it’s overwhelming.

They say you need hundreds of hours, and that’s not just flying, that’s studying. Think endless textbooks, grueling written exams, and then, on top of that, the actual flying, which, let’s face it, is terrifying at first. Then there’s the constant pressure to perform perfectly, because, you know, people’s lives are at stake. It’s not like learning to knit, you know? There’s a real-world consequence to messing up.

I remember once, during my training – I was practicing landings, and I completely messed up, almost bounced right off the runway. My instructor, bless his heart, just said something like, “Well, that was… interesting,” but I was mortified. My stomach was in knots for days. And that’s just one example. This is hardly a walk in the park, you’ll struggle!

Balancing it all with a “normal” life? Forget about it. Seriously. Dates? Spontaneous weekend trips? They become things of the past, at least for a good few years. So, is it difficult? Yes, absolutely. It requires immense dedication, incredible time management (more than I ever thought possible, honestly!), and a whole lot of resilience. Is it worth it? That’s a question only you can answer, but be warned, it’s a tough road.