7 Tips to Getting Over Your Fears Before Getting Your Private Pilot License

We all have fears. Some of us won't even admit tostomach, focus on it. That'll get you over your fear of
them, but we have them. Embarking on anything new,failure.
while being very exciting, can also be very scary. The3. Put The Worst Case Scenario Into Perspective
reason, the main reason...fear of failure. You need toLet's say you fail your PPL exam? What's the worst
get over your fears not only of flying, if you have one.thing that can happen? They can't tell you that you
but of failing as well before you can be the proudcan't take it again. You can still take another shot at it.
owner of a private pilot license.It's not like this is a one time offer. If that were the
If you've taken a driver's test and didn't pass the firstcase, there would be a ton of people not driving or
time, you remember what that was like when theflying planes. It's not the end of the world if you fail. At
instructor turned to you and said, "Sorry, you failed." Ifworse, you have to wait a little longer to get your PPL.
you looked up the word "down" in the dictionary, you4. Understand The Benefits Of Failure
would have seen a photo of yourself right next to theBelieve it or not, you learn something from failure. You
definition.learn what it is you did wrong and get a chance to
Nobody likes to fail, and fear of failure is one of theimprove it. Would you rather that you didn't fail your
worst fears in the world.exam only because some instructor took pity on you
Okay, great... now that we've established that... how doand ended up getting yourself killed because you really
we deal with it?weren't ready to fly? I think you know the answer to
Here are a few great ways of overcoming the fearthat.
of failure.5. Make A Contingency Plan
1. Consider The Missed Opportunity.If you do fail, have a plan. You should already be
Imagine that you decide that you're too afraid to goplanning in advance on taking more lessons, getting
through with learning how to fly and taking your exam.more flight time and rescheduling. Failing doesn't mean
Now imagine what life is going to be like without beingthat you give up.
able to do this very thing that you love so much. I'm6. Take Action
assuming that if you want to learn how to fly, there isThe best way to get rid of that fear is to just go
a big reason for it. Focus on that instead of the fearahead and do it. The more you procrastinate, the more
and this will go a long way to alleviating that fear.afraid you're going to become until you reach a point
2. Research The Alternativeswhere you're unable to take your exam at all.
Imagine what you will have to do without your PPL.7. Burn Your Boats
You'll have to rely on commercial airlines. You won't beIn ancient times, Greeks would burn their boats so that
able to go where you want to go WHEN you want tothey had no choice but to move forward. They
go there. You'll be at the mercy of others. Thecouldn't turn back. I don't know what you have to do in
alternatives to flying your own plane, if you don't wantorder to burn YOUR boat but do it. If that means
to rely on commercial airlines, are driving, train, bus andpicking up the phone and scheduling your exam, do it.
even boat. If that thought makes you sick to yourDon't look back.