More than one discovery flight?
Posted by AMLJ144@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 47 comments
I am looking for insight from some pilots about whether or not it is worth taking more than one discovery flight.
My dad is a pilot with United Airlines. I was strongly considering the pilot route like him. I nearly even quit my current MRI program to go full force into pilot training.
I scheduled a discovery flight with an old acquaintance and we flew together. While it was certainly cool, unfortunately I did get kind of sick towards the end of it, and nearly threw up. By the end of it, I was honestly looking forward to land.
Due to this, I felt like perhaps this career path wasn’t for me. Between the inherent time and expense of the training process, the lack of guarantee of landing a job with a major airlines, as well as some personal complications with my medical record, I just was not sure if becoming a pilot was the right thing for me.
This all being said, I am wondering if there are pilots out there who did more than one discovery flight in order to truly unlock their passion for it? Might it be worth trying the Discovery flight more than once to see if it actually is for me? Or would it all just be a waste of $200..?
Let me know your thoughts, I am thankful for your insight.
Huge_Analysis_1298@reddit
Getting sick early on is completely normal. It will go away as your body adjust to the new environment. Go for another one if you want! Being a pilot is the best job ever!
MultiMillionMiler@reddit
I took 5 from 3 different schools to really milk those discounts!
Twarrior913@reddit
I’ve been thinking about doing this, running out to a new flight school and going with the “I’m a brand new student,” shtick just enough to scratch my GA itch.
MultiMillionMiler@reddit
I always thought flight school itself was more expensive than simply renting without the instructor costs? Like can't people just join a flying club and split the rental costs with the other person so that's only half and then minus the CFI fee?
Twarrior913@reddit
Oh it usually is, but the time it takes to find a good flying club, convince them to let me buy in, get insurance, etc makes calling a flight school and showing up for a quick hour of dual way more appealing.
AMLJ144@reddit (OP)
Why exactly did you take so many? Were you just trying to see if it clicked for you?
skyHawk3613@reddit
“Discovery flights” don’t really mean anything. It’s just a phraseology. They’re just shorter flights. Instead of about 2 hours, they’re 30-45 minutes.
omalley4n@reddit
They mean something to the TSA. But you can't do more than one per school/location.
skyHawk3613@reddit
Perhaps If you’re an international student, and are here on a student visa
MultiMillionMiler@reddit
At first I wasn't interested in pursuing a pilots license I just wanted to fly, but couldn't take anymore without enrolling so I said what the hell why not try it out, and am now up to 28-29 hours now. I kept saying "ok I'll really stop after 1-2 more for fun lessons" but never ended up doing so lol. Just using spending cash so don't really care and while training is going well so far, I don't know if I'll ever be good enough to make it all the way to PPL). I'm still gonna take lessons regardless.
PhilRubdiez@reddit
Why don’t you look at sport or recreational certificates? You can’t go more than 50nm and are limited to what you can fly, but if you just want to fly in the local area, it would be cheaper.
MultiMillionMiler@reddit
Aren't the knowledge and checkride exams basically the same though?
PhilRubdiez@reddit
Admittedly, I haven’t ever trained a recreational pilot, since basically it’s a private pilot minus the cross country, so I’d just tell students to do the extra 10 hours. However, looking at the regs really quick shows there is no radio knowledge on the recreational and no cross country requirements. You also can get endorsements for cross country and towered ops.
MultiMillionMiler@reddit
Well have already been dealing with the radios since early on as I'm at MacArthur airport on long island (class c airspace). Haven't done an XC yet though.
PhilRubdiez@reddit
I was just throwing it out there.
I still recommend just getting the PPL. It’s just a few extra requirements but the privileges are much better.
Prestocito@reddit
“to really milk those discounts”
2002_4Runnersr5@reddit
I have discounts Greg, could you milk me?
skyHawk3613@reddit
I could milk you all the way to the bank
goatfuckersupreme@reddit
Go on...
skyHawk3613@reddit
Err…ummm…😟
Jensdonttrustcarmax@reddit
In the 70, Cessna, Piper and Beechcraft all had $5.00 introduction flights! I was 15 and road my bike to every one I could get to!
onnob@reddit
Fly in stable air, then you won't get airsick. Besides, when you start flying bigger aircraft, unstable air doesn't affect the airplane nearly as much.
spacecadet2399@reddit
Sure, why not? This is your future; a couple hundred bucks extra is nothing to try to figure out if it's for you or not. It's a decision that's going to literally have life-changing consequences either way.
I will say that getting sick is something very common that you will almost certainly get over. Try not to factor that in. If you just don't enjoy it, that's one thing... and I would say that in that case, you do really need to think long and hard about whether the profession is going to be for you. It's really hard to get to the highest levels when you don't feel much motivation to do so.
But if you're having fun and you just start to feel sick, don't worry about it. That'll go away with a few more flights.
Character-Car-2975@reddit
Aahh… this brings back memories lol. Wait until you do spins and spirals😄. After that illusions from IFR and night where you feel your body moving in one direction when in reality it’s not. Acceleration and deceleration effects as well where you feel like the plane is climbing when speeding up and descending when slowing down.
Jokes aside, I would say it’s the same as alcohol, a boat ride, or even your first time in a car with a crazy driver that likes to swerve aggressively. You can and will build up tolerance. Try sticking around and if your wallet permits, theres no harm in doing another familiarization flight.
Some helpful tips. Dont get too fixated on one thing like a tree or something thats moving, it’ll get you more dizzy. Dont move your head too much. Parts of the human stability comes from the small hair and water in your ear. So use your eyes and peripherals 🌝🌚. Stay hydrated but dont drink too much before the flight or you’ll be stuck using the can mid-flight while your acquaintance is flying the plane. Most importantly, relax… and enjoy the view😎. (Cue in danger zone)
Logical_Basis_3643@reddit
I didn’t take multiple discovery flights but I felt a lot like you after my first one. Im at around 10 hours and haven’t gotten motion sick on 4 flights in a row now that were all very bumpy. The first few flights i only made it around 10-15 mins before i got sick and had to tap out. Now I can go 1+ hour without feeling anything. Definitely don’t make a premature decision to quit already because I almost did and I’m glad I didn’t. Also if this is truly what you want to do you can’t worry about the job market and all that stuff especially this early, if you put in the work and want to make it happen it will happen. Don’t listen to all the doomers on reddit, I get that the market is tough but the only way to guarantee you will never fly at an airline is to give up and quit.
Pickles_81@reddit
Try to fly in the morning when it’s typically a little smoother out! I felt the same way on my first flight, but your body gets used to it!
haveanairforceday@reddit
I still feal a little nauseous if im doing maneuvers for an hour on a hot bumpy day. Its common to feel sick at first. For most people it gets a lot better, but not for all.
I would recommend just starting your private part 61 if thats an option to you. You will be working toward an achievable goal and you dont have to commit to a whole career. But if you do choose to commit then you will have that under your belt already. Its a lower risk way of doing it
UsedandAbused87@reddit
You could always find somebody that alias their own plane or reach out to a club and catch a ride with somebody. You'd likely have to sit in the right seat but they'd probably be happy to show you around.
KITTYONFYRE@reddit
I didn't feel some instant amazing connection with aviation after my first flight either tbh but I like it a lot now. I think if you're asking the question, it's worth a second flight!
Denim-Luckies-n-Wry@reddit
If your Dad is a UA pilot , you've been riding on airline employee passes since you were tall as a nose gear tire. You should have a few hundred hours in airliners, in all sorts of weather -- and have a pretty good idea what you can handle.
always_gone@reddit
Motion sickness is common early in training. Don’t overthink the disco flights. Take another one or just take a flight lesson, the cost difference isn’t that great.
zemelb@reddit
I very nearly threw up my first couple of flights. Someone in this sub recommended ginger root pills. I take two about 30 min before takeoff and eat a granola bar and that combination works perfectly to calm my stomach
skyHawk3613@reddit
You can take as many discovery flights as you’d like. See if you can do it with an instructor, so if you do decide to go the pilot route, you can at least log those flights
_Sixteen@reddit
Get a discovery flight with every local flight school, then pick your favorite instructor
Also more importantly, figure out your medical before actually committing anything
AMLJ144@reddit (OP)
Yeaaaa… have some mental health problems that I worry make this path even harder. :/
Paranoma@reddit
Yes definitely do more than one. Just get 10 hours of actual instruction before you decide if it isn’t for you; notwithstanding addressing a visiting an AME to decide if your medical history is disqualifying. Do that first btw. Then go get some instruction.
miianwilson@reddit
I had a friend a couple years behind me in flight school who got sick every single flight through his commercial rating. I went to the regionals while he was still in school. Shortly before I left I went flying with him, cavok, not a single bump the whole flight. He threw up about an hour into the flight, into one of his ever ready puke bags. He didn’t do the CFI route, went down to the Grand Canyon to do tours for a while before going to his regional.
He’s been a captain at SkyWest for 7 years now, has an interview with a legacy next month. I’m not entirely sure he got over the air sickness, but I assume he must have lol.
ltcterry@reddit
No feed for “full force.” Last year was the third consecutive record setting year for new pilots. Over 20,000 new Commercial Pilots but fewer than 8,000 new ATPs like your dad. That’s just 2025. 23 and 24 weee almost that bad.
Massive over supply. No need to rush.
Work. Save. Reduce expenses. Save even more. Once you have $18-20k saved go do Private. 80% will drop out.
No radical changes to your life except to work more, save more, and spend less while you do.
Schedule a consultation with an AME to discuss your medical issues. Do not do for a medical unless you know for sure you will have it in hand when you walk out the door.
johnisom@reddit
I did 3 discovery/intro flights at 3 different schools before deciding. One of them was free and the other 2 discounted. All loggable dual received time
StageMajestic613@reddit
Try one of the electronic relief bands for motion sickness. I’m very prone it yet have had little sickness 20 hours into my PPL. They really do work, at least for me.
https://www.sportys.com/reliefband-sport.html
makgross@reddit
Discovery flights are essentially interviews for hiring a flight instructor. Yes, you can do more than one.
Skeknir@reddit
fun = True # yep affordable = True # allegedly
if fun and affordable: do_the_thing() # might as well else: reconsider_life() # :(
Anyone hiring you later will not check or care how many discovery flights you took or why.
Also as others say, motion sickness often improves with time, another flight or two might give you more data to work with.
ApoTHICCary@reddit
Getting airsick is very, VERY common. If you enjoy flying, I’d not waste time with additional discovery flights. That’s not the purpose. Plus, many pilots report getting a bit nauseous for at least a good portion of their PPL, so a second discovery flight isn’t going to change that. A friend of mine threw up almost every flight during her PPL and again during instrument, yet now flies for a legacy.
It’s only as restricting for a career as you make it. Fly more and the vast majority of pilots report they have less issue with airsickness.
Ok-Motor1883@reddit
If you don’t think it is for you another discovery flight won’t change that. In terms of the motion sickness that is something that goes away after a few flights for most people.
x4457@reddit
Totally normal to both do multiple discovery flights (usually with different schools) and for you to feel sick at the beginning of flight training.
doom_pizza@reddit
It’s up to you to decide if it’s worth it. Nothing wrong with doing more than one.
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
I am looking for insight from some pilots about whether or not it is worth taking more than one discovery flight.
My dad is a pilot with United Airlines. I was strongly considering the pilot route like him. I nearly even quit my current MRI program to go full force into pilot training.
I scheduled a discovery flight with an old acquaintance and we flew together. While it was certainly cool, unfortunately I did get kind of sick towards the end of it, and nearly threw up. By the end of it, I was honestly looking forward to land.
Due to this, I felt like perhaps this career path wasn’t for me. Between the inherent time and expense of the training process, the lack of guarantee of landing a job with a major airlines, as well as some personal complications with my medical record, I just was not sure if becoming a pilot was the right thing for me.
This all being said, I am wondering if there are pilots out there who did more than one discovery flight in order to truly unlock their passion for it? Might it be worth trying the Discovery flight more than once to see if it actually is for me? Or would it all just be a waste of $200..?
Let me know your thoughts, I am thankful for your insight.
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