If I can't pass my PPL should I give up?

[badstudent]

I was hoping to one day have a flying career, but I've been failing at getting my PPL for 3 years now and fail all my mock rides. Everyone says the PPL standards are a joke and I think it's a bad idea to keep going because CPL/IFR etc are going to be way more difficult to pass.

[dialdriver]

I was hoping to one day have a flying career, but I've been failing at getting my PPL for 3 years now and fail all my mock rides. Everyone says the PPL standards are a joke and I think it's a bad idea to keep going because CPL/IFR etc are going to be way more difficult to pass.

The PPL is probably the most difficult, followed by the instrument rating. The CPL is relatively easy. If you can pass a private you can pass a commercial.

I suggest you find another reputable school, tell them what's going on and see if you can get a second opinion. The problem might be your current school or instructor.

[badstudent]

I was hoping to one day have a flying career, but I've been failing at getting my PPL for 3 years now and fail all my mock rides. Everyone says the PPL standards are a joke and I think it's a bad idea to keep going because CPL/IFR etc are going to be way more difficult to pass.

The PPL is probably the most difficult, followed by the instrument rating. The CPL is relatively easy. If you can pass a private you can pass a commercial.

I suggest you find another reputable school, tell them what's going on and see if you can get a second opinion. The problem might be your current school or instructor.

I've actually switched once, and had multiple instructors. The problem seems to be me since I've plateaud years ago in terms of air work

[CpnCrunch]

I've actually switched once, and had multiple instructors. The problem seems to be me since I've plateaud years ago in terms of air work

What are you failing on?

[badstudent]

I've actually switched once, and had multiple instructors. The problem seems to be me since I've plateaud years ago in terms of air work

What are you failing on?

Basically everything, if I’m weak at some thing I’ll practice it for a few flights then some thing I was strong at earlier I’ll be very bad at.

Also I end up making mistakes during the mock rides that I normally wouldn’t such as forgetting I have to go behind traffic and I’m not 1st to land, Fucking dangerous :/

[hithere]

Pretty sure this is a troll

[pitottubey]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but real advice, flying probably isn't for you. Assuming like you've said that you had these issues with multiple instructors and schools. You may not be applying yourself enough, flying frequently enough, or have the natural ability, or have multiple of those issues. If you're struggling this much with the PPL you'll probably struggle at every level of training, (CPL, IFR ect.) which will make it prohibitively expensive. (And lengthy in time, were taking another 3 years at least) Most students who start their training never get their PPL so you aren't alone. Theres plenty of other cool aviation jobs though! Like in management or dispatching. Good luck!

[badstudent]

have the natural ability, or have multiple of those issues. If you're struggling this much with the PPL you'll probably struggle at every level of training, (CPL, IFR ect.) which will make it prohibitively expensive.

Thanks for an honest take, this is what I was afraid of.

Pretty sure this is a troll

Not sure why it's so hard to believe there are some students who are bad at flying but here is a screenshot of my account from the TC site

[Bede]

There's no shame in not being any good at something and honest about it. I'm pretty sure I'd get fired as an apprentice cabinet maker.

[badstudent]

There's no shame in not being any good at something and honest about it. I'm pretty sure I'd get fired as an apprentice cabinet maker.

The problem is do I keep going if there's a good chance I won't finish or will come across an impossible task if I continue my training or call it quits now.

I think I've proven this isn't for me but maybe some other people have been in this spot or have a different opinion

[Bede]

In what region of the country are you? How many hours do you have? How much time has it taken you to get your last 10 hours?

[badstudent]

In what region of the country are you? How many hours do you have? How much time has it taken you to get your last 10 hours?

fly about 3 hours a week, east coast, and 150+ hours

[Flight94]

Flying isn't for everyone, there is no shame in it. After multiple instructors and 150hrs, I think the answer is probably clear. Sorry.

Plenty of other far better paying/lifestyle out there, and as someone said, can still be within aviation. Good luck.

[Bede]

I'm sorry to tell you but I think that you should cut your losses. No one like hearing that and no one likes telling it.

[CpnCrunch]

Are you stressing yourself out so much during the mock flight tests that you're panicking and forgetting stuff? What other things have you failed on other than forgetting you're #2 to land?

[badstudent]

Are you stressing yourself out so much during the mock flight tests that you're panicking and forgetting stuff? What other things have you failed on other than forgetting you're #2 to land?

Naw I managed to remember basically everything but I was just out of standard with everything such as landing way down on the forced or height being way off and end of manouvers

[Roar]

I was hoping to one day have a flying career, but I've been failing at getting my PPL for 3 years now and fail all my mock rides. Everyone says the PPL standards are a joke and I think it's a bad idea to keep going because CPL/IFR etc are going to be way more difficult to pass.

As others have said it may not be for you. And there is nothing to be ashamed of. 80% of those that start a PPL never obtain it, and even less get commercial and ATPL’s.
In Canada there are about 16600 private pilots and 7400 professional pilots (commercial and ATPL). If we take that 80% washout, that means 120,000 have started flight training which works out to 6% that start make it to a professional level. Granted not all that start a PPL are after a commercial but you can see that it’s a low percentage that make it. So don’t beat yourself up.

[DanWEC]

At 150+ hours without a PPL a flying career for you probably just isn't in the cards, but it's not the end of the world my friend, quite the opposite. I've seen plenty of struggling students succeed fantastically in other careers once the burden of trying to fight an uphill battle in the wrong vocation is put behind them.

If you like flying you're fully within your rights to pursue it as a hobby, but you should think realistically about it as a career given the level of responsibility involved.
There are plenty of things individuals aren't good at. Your skillset needs to match the job. Aviation is funny- generally after year or so into any regular university program that isn't jiving with a person, they simply switch programs, or drop out to start a business, etc. Yet aviation is so passion-fueled that sometime people forget that just like anything else, it just might not be a great fit for them.
It's just one field... There are hundreds of others out there. Get an MBA then you can tell pilots what to do.

[PilotDAR]

I Agree with those who have said that with 150 hours and no PPL, flying is not your strong skill. And it's true, flying is just not for some people, no shame in that. I've met a few very natural pilots, many who have the skills, but work at it, and yes, a few pilots who though having a PPL, in my opinion could not safely handle difficult, though possible abnormal situation.

If you truly enjoy flying, lower your expectations, and just do it for fun as a student. I knew one pilot in this situation, who had over 250 hours, and just flew with his instructor (usually out for lunch somewhere) or solo as a student.

Though the CPL is more or less the same overall flying as the PPL, the standards of precision are higher. So if you're challenged by the PPL standards, the CPL is over your horizon right now.

Enjoy any hobby which pleases you, focus on a career which lies within your personal strengths....

[Redneck_pilot86]

I think everyone here is being far too gentle. Stop now, before you kill yourself or someone else.

[atc_is_god]

Yes, you should give up. The PPL does not require a high standard and if you are having trouble meeting it, you are not meant to fly.

[co-joe]

You need to sit down with a high time instructor who isn't motivated by hours or money and lay it all out for them. You need a detailed list of all of your training, and a realistic list of your aviation goals. A place like the Calgary Flying Club, book a few hours with the CFI, and ask this exact question. No class 4's looking for time. I flew with lots of 100+ hour student pilots, and it always came down to life getting in the way. Marriage, kids, work, money, etc. Somebody who is an expert, career instructor, needs to audit your history and make a professional assessment. Be prepared for hard truths. I never met anyone who was un-teachable, but I certainly met people who had no business mixing flying with the other stuff they had going on in their lives.

[Bede]

I never met anyone who was un-teachable,

I don't think that's the point. (Almost) everyone can "learn" how to fly. The issue is that the weak student, although they passed a flight test is now a weak student who does not have the physical flying skills or judgment to deal with a novel situation. The second issue is that a weak PPL candidate may pass the flight test and with enough time may pass a CPL flight test. Then they get working for a company and either they flunk out because they can't get to standard in the minimum time (which, BTW, is all any company will give you) or they endlessly work the ramp because no one will let them touch an airplane.

I really respect the OP's self assessment, but the modern theory of "you can do anything you put your mind to" is simply false.

[co-joe]

I never met anyone who was un-teachable,

I don't think that's the point. (Almost) everyone can "learn" how to fly. The issue is that the weak student, although they passed a flight test is now a weak student who does not have the physical flying skills or judgment to deal with a novel situation. The second issue is that a weak PPL candidate may pass the flight test and with enough time may pass a CPL flight test. Then they get working for a company and either they flunk out because they can't get to standard in the minimum time (which, BTW, is all any company will give you) or they endlessly work the ramp because no one will let them touch an airplane.

I really respect the OP's self assessment, but the modern theory of "you can do anything you put your mind to" is simply false.

I'm with you there. And that's why I suggested OP sits down with a chief flying instructor to talk about not only their experience so far, but what their goals are. If their goal is airline pilot then testing is an ever present stressor as you know. Is it test anxiety, or a learning disability, or are we talking traumatic brain injury? If you gave up because some dude on Avcanada said you should they how would any of us ever succeed?

[Conflicting Traffic]

Several folks here have recommended that you quit. It's entirely possible that they're right. But you really haven't provided enough information to fully defend that conclusion.

It's also possible (dare I say plausible) that you're a victim of garbage teaching. Has your instructor sat you down and had "the talk"? I.E - have they openly suggested to you that this may not be for you, that maybe you should be spending your money on something else? If you're at 150 hours and failing as badly as you say, this conversation is long overdue (by at least 90 hours, maybe quite a bit more). If it hasn't happened, then it's possible (likely?) that your instructor(s) is/are providing crap instruction and milking you for hours. Now that's a pretty serious accusation, and I can't conclusively say that's it's correct. But given the limited information we have to work with here, it fits on our list of possibilities -- along with the possibility that this just isn't for you.

So your possibilities are:
1) you have received terrible instruction,
2) you have received (at best) mediocre instruction, and your life includes a lot of distractions, or
3) you really aren't cut out for this.

Each of these will probably call for a different course of action moving forward. So how do you figure out which of these you're dealing with? Take co-joe's advice:

You need to sit down with a high time instructor who isn't motivated by hours or money and lay it all out for them. You need a detailed list of all of your training, and a realistic list of your aviation goals. No class 4's looking for time. Somebody who is an expert, career instructor, needs to audit your history and make a professional assessment. Be prepared for hard truths.

This. Do this.

Edited and emphasis added. Not to slag Class IV's, but you really need someone whose knowledge is tempered by experience, and who isn't motivated by anything other than giving you useful feedback.