Finding yourself amidst the pandemic - Student Pilot

Hello everyone,

Here's a little something from me today, some may perceive it as motivation while for some, it may be just another article. Today, I write about the young aviators, including myself, who are waiting to commence their career as a commercial pilot with an airline they've either been selected in or expect to join.

I've come across and have had the privilege to interact with a lot of commercial pilots who had trained in those days when the stability from cadet programs wasn't a luxury, yet they kept their patience after obtaining their license and no matter how long the wait was, they never gave up or switched careers. Some of them even had to wait for 3-4 years before landing up with a job but they made sure to not stop growing and kept themselves occupied with personal as well as professional development. That was their struggle tale and today as we experience a similar situation, I am able to relate that the peer pressure to start earning was real and it indeed is a 'struggle' not just to start a job but also to keep yourself mentally and emotionally sane at the same time. And this doesn't quite end here specially when you're loaded with installments from your education loans.

But are we really going to allow a pandemic to pull us down is what I ask you today. Remember your training days when you were learning to fly, got your first solo, started flying cross country, cleared your CPL check-ride and did your first instrument approach. Allow those moments to inspire you again and use it to your advantage. Not always do we need a motivational video to boost us up. We're pilots who have trained over beautiful terrain and rough weather alike and not everyone gets to witness the views from above like we do. I urge you all to go through your galleries and memories and take the first step towards motivating yourself. Furthermore, I've compiled some of my ideas to keep us occupied and also keep our aviation learning curve sloping up without any discontinuities.

I hope you find this insightful and take away a few of them with you.

1. Revise your flying concepts

Most of you would think revising those wouldn't do much good but this is the basics of every aircraft you are going to fly, starting right from orientating yourself in flight to making radio calls, performing a maneuver or managing your aircraft's energy in different configurations. An A320 without fly-by-wire would behave exactly like your training aircraft would. A quick 1 hour revision every month is all that's required to keep your flying aptitude current. You'd thank these small efforts later when you pass your sim checks in the first attempt.

Watch those Captain Joe videos that you did before starting to fly and that will put a smile on your face when you realize how far you've come in life.

2. Revise your ground theory

Subjects you study for your CPL will also be required for your higher license (mostly all of them, depending on your country's regulatory requirements) Revise the very basics of Met, Law and Navigation theory since it might help you clear your ATPLs. In fact clear all your ATPL theory exams and get a fATPL so that you're done with most of your theory exams for the rest of your life.

A key advantage of studying Air Law again is that you get to go through and recall all the rules you used to follow while flying and now they'll not only start making sense but also keep you one step ahead when you're undergoing training for airline operations at different aerodromes.

3. Indulge yourself in physical fitness

I'm sure none of you would like to retire before the maximum flyable age so it is mandatory to keep your basic medical and physical fitness up to the mark. Not only is it beneficial for your Class 1 medical renewals but also prevents you from looking at yourself with a big tummy after wearing your uniform in future. Use this long period to set short term transformation goals and this is again a method to recycle some of that used motivation.

4. Study in advance about your future aircraft

It isn't a very big challenge as I say this from personal experience. Learn about your respective Airbus, Boeing and ATRs and you will be fascinated to learn their capabilities. It is important as an aviator to understand where we stand currently in this world of automation and how it helps us to perform our operations efficiently and safely. Start slow, one step at a time and you will gain pace as you gain interest.

5. Hobbies

Talent acquisition does not have an age limit. Figure out new interests or renew old and long forgotten ones, indulge in extra-curricular activities, learn new languages, enhance your public speaking skills and most importantly work on your leadership qualities. Any of this could prove to be a bonus in your professional life ahead.

6. Support your family

Some of you might belong to businessmen families and at the same time not be willing to actually put in time to read on aviation, which is absolutely fine. It is equally important to support your family in these tough times and not only will you stay occupied but you will also grow a bit more in a field other than that of your own. Being together with your family today is a blessing above all and once again a very honest motivation for you to stay positive.

7. Social Work

Not entirely restricted to stepping out of your homes, it is one of the purest and thankless jobs you could do today to make someone's life better. Unfortunate losses among many families have cost little children their possible future with no funds to continue their education. If it lies in your capacity, offer support to just one family who has lost their sole bread earner of the house. If each of us select one, it would make a huge difference and the satisfaction you'd sleep with thereafter, would be beyond words to describe.

Whatever you choose to do today, should be for yourself and with the best of intentions.

These are just my ideas from whatever depth of perspective I carry. Sometimes it's just a little push we need to start moving ahead again and if I'm able to help even one of you today, I'd count that as a success.

My concluding message to you is:

Never stop learning, never stop growing. A wonderland of infinite possibilities awaits you.

Take care of yourself, stay positive, stay safe and wish you the bluest of skies in future.