How are the near future CFI/Captains feeling?

Posted by Striyd@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 15 comments

I started college + training before 2020 right when Covid happened, and by the looks of it, it feels like we aren’t heading anywhere normal as a collective society at least here in the US. Looking at the economy and how Spirit was handled.

I lost my medical 3 years back due to false diagnosis by a dumbass doctor- have been grounded since sadly; and have been painfully enduring testing and doctors visits with the goal of finishing commercial and starting CFI by the end of this year when things wrap up… basically Im 6 years deep, just pure hurdles and problems.

Now looking at things without my nieve young brain- Im feeling emotionally checked out of it ever coming true again or there being hope. Its really painful because I worked hard and spent my hard earned money on my future which seems to no longer exist if you get what I mean, I’m talking $90k+. $20k which is loans, while I watch my country get looted and exploited. I want to be realistic and make money but betting that there will seats in the airline for a pilot like me?

Im not complaining as Im still perusing, but I wanna be realistic and make money. Like hella money and NOW. I told myself I would be somewhere better at 25 but I feel like I have been f*ed, and also a big failure.

I can handle the emotions now as it’s been the same feeling for years, nothing phases anymore. But Its slowly taking a toll mentally with my confidence

(im happy FAA and love my life wooo)
*pic is when i finished my instrument checkride at 22*
Times flying man…

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rFlyingTower@reddit

This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:

I can handle the emotions now as it’s been the same feeling for years, nothing phases anymore. But Its slowly taking a toll mentally with my confidence

(im happy FAA and love my life wooo)
*pic is when i finished my instrument checkride at 22*
Times flying man…

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zoro____x@reddit

Aviation's still worth it, but man this career path has become a brutal test of patience, money, and blind faith.

Striyd@reddit (OP)

Big facts. Just when you think its not you, something happens.

Lower-Pace-2089@reddit

Hey, jumping in as a Latin American here, so take this with that context, because the market dynamics are pretty different, but I think some of it still applies.

I'm starting my PPL training at 35, after spending years building a completely unrelated career. And honestly? I feel weirdly good about that timeline. Not because late is better, but because I'm going in with financial stability, emotional maturity, and, maybe most importantly, I already know who I am outside of aviation. That identity buffer is underrated when the industry inevitably throws curveballs.

Here's the thing about the "pilot career is hard to differentiate" problem: it's true at the line level. But the people who wash out or burn out aren't usually the ones who lacked stick-and-rudder skills. They're the ones who had nothing else to stand on when it got hard. You've already proven you're not that person. 6 years of hurdles including a grounded medical and you're still here. That's not nothing. That's actually a filter most people don't survive.

The Spirit situation sucks and the US market is genuinely rough right now. But cycles move. The medical clears, CFI hours stack, and the guy who kept going through the ugly part tends to be a different animal than the one who had smooth skies the whole way.

You're not a failure. You're just mid-story, and mid-story always looks terrible.

Stay strong brother!

Thanks, needed to hear a different perspective. Blue skys ahead my friend!

KCPilot17@reddit

Go outside and touch some grass man.

the_devils_advocates@reddit

Yea OP. Respectfully, you have no idea to be talking anything about Spirits bankruptcy.

What?

Im outside everyday