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Everyone hits a plateau during flight training. Here are 7 of the most common reasons, and how to solve them...
Transitioning from flying with an instructor to those first few solo flights is a huge obstacle that student pilots face. A number of things can go wrong: students don't feel ready, instructors become hesitant, or the weather just isn't cooperating. If you're about to solo for the first time, relax by remembering that your instructor is signing you off because they have total confidence in you.
Crosswinds are tough to master, at least initially. They require complex aileron, rudder, and elevator coordination very close to the ground. It's one of the hardest maneuvers for students to learn, but with practice, anyone can learn to master it.
Whether you're flying standard 45-degree steep turns, or 50-degree commercial turns, this is a challenging maneuver to perfect. Learning how to stay coordinated throughout the turn, time your rollout, all within ACS standards is a big task for a new pilot.
Not being able to fully fund training is a top cause of dropouts. If you're not able to adequately fund most (or all) of your training before you begin, you should consider waiting to start. Save up beforehand and apply for as many scholarships as you can find, so you won't get stuck halfway through training by running out of funds.
Power-on and power-off stalls are one of the most important maneuvers learned during training. Recovering incorrectly can lead to a spin. Many students have anxiety about this maneuver because of the perceived instability/risk associated with flying stalls.
If you learned how to fly out of an uncontrolled field, transitioning to flying while communicating with ATC can feel a bit intimidating. The phraseology is like a new language and the procedures are quite different.
As you finish a flight course, some students tend to hit a plateau around the time their checkride is due. Fear of failure is a big reason for this.
What are some other reasons why students plateau during training? Tell us in the comments below.
Thinking about becoming a pilot? Get started with ATP Flight School, and find out how to start your aviation career here.