| As we at the beginning of a new year again a lot of | | | | realize their own lack of ability or whatever reason |
| people will want to do their private pilot license. | | | | they base their decision on. Your personal motive for |
| Obviously there are many reasons for wanting to fly | | | | wanting to fly plays a very important roll. So I |
| varying from achieving a long term goal, a life long | | | | personally think that it's not a simple black and white |
| dream, the start of a new career or maybe simply to | | | | answer to be made by an instructor but rather a |
| be able to say:"I can fly". Whatever the reasons are I | | | | combined decision. |
| often get asked by a new student "do you think I'll be | | | | I think that in the beginning students base their abilities |
| able to fly". | | | | solely on the "stick and throttle" aspects of flying, rightly |
| Maybe firstly we must ask ourselves what does it | | | | so because that's all they know but I often tell students |
| take from an individual in order to fly an airplane or | | | | that a good stick and throttle pilot is not necessarily the |
| helicopter for that matter? A certain amount of | | | | best pilot and that they must consider their other |
| co-ordination comes to mind. In my opinion most people | | | | strengths as well when they make a decision whether |
| has what it takes although some has to practice and | | | | to continue flying or not. In a lot of cases all it takes is a |
| exercise this particular skill. Discipline I think plays an | | | | bit of a mindset change. |
| important roll as flying involves quite a bit of | | | | I personally think that almost any person can be taught |
| responsibility in some way or the other. My personal | | | | to fly but I think the real question should be whether |
| favorite is of course a person's attitude. The willingness | | | | any person can be a safe pilot not necessarily the |
| to study, the way an individual handles criticism and the | | | | world's greatest pilot, and that's maybe where the |
| ability to handle stress but to name a few. These are | | | | instructor or flight school for that matter plays a very |
| just some qualities amongst hundreds. | | | | important role. |
| I think every student should and can answer the | | | | If ever you face the decision to quite flying or not |
| question: "will I be able to fly?" for themselves. For | | | | maybe think what is your motive for flying, ask |
| some it might take longer than the minimum | | | | yourself whether you enjoy it or not, can you financially |
| requirement but determination and will pull them through. | | | | afford it to carry on longer if need be, do you need to |
| Many a time students has told me that flying is not for | | | | change your attitude? |
| them and I take my hat off to a person that can | | | | |