The top 7 mistakes I Made From Student Pilot to CFI

Looking back on my journey from student pilot to Certified Flight Instructor, there are several things I wish I had done differently. Hindsight is 20/20, and these are the top 7 mistakes I made along the way. If you're in the middle of your training or just starting out, hopefully these insights can help you avoid some of the same pitfalls.

1. Not Changing Flight Instructors When Training Wasn't Going Well

I eventually got an instructor that was awesome and I had no idea what I was missing out on. When my training wasn't going quite the way I wanted, I should have made a change sooner. The right instructor can make all the difference in your learning experience and progress.

The antidote: speak up and be honest with your instructor or your flight school. There is too much at stake to just "get by"

2. Using Commercial Time Building to Fly on Auto-Pilot

I could have been doing so much skill development such as flying into new or complicated airspace or practicing maneuvers. Instead, I spent a lot of time just flying around the state on auto-pilot, missing valuable opportunities to grow as a pilot.

The antidote: take every flying opportunity as a chance to challenge yourself, try to nail landings better or try a new route or airport

3. Starting Part 141 Twice Only to Back Out

There was no way I was going to be ok with paying $60/hour for all of the required ground instruction when I could use Sporty's courses and get the endorsements for the written tests on my own. I should have done more research upfront about the costs and requirements before committing to Part 141 training.

The antidote: talk to others who have trained ahead of you, don't be afraid to learn from the mistakes or successes of others

4. Not Using Cancelled Lesson Time Productively

I should have been taking all the time for lessons missed for weather, maintenance, and scheduling conflicts to force myself to study or chair fly. I had already set that time aside and I should have used it when it was there. Those cancelled lessons were wasted opportunities to continue learning and preparing.

The antidote: keeping knowledge fresh is important, don't allow lost flight time to equal lost training opportunity

5. Listening to Scare-Reviews of Training

I almost never went on to become a CFI because every YouTube video I found was so negative about how difficult it would be. I let random people in random videos convince me I wasn't going to be good enough for way too long. Don't let fear-based content deter you from pursuing your goals.

The antidote: take advice with a grain of salt and surround yourself with people who increase your confidence

6. Not Learning More Than Required

I often wanted to know what was required to pass a test, and missed out on going far in-depth on topics that would make me a better pilot and for sure eventually a better instructor. Going beyond the minimum requirements would have served me well in the long run.

The antidote: always strive to be more prepared than necessary for the safety of yourself and others

7. Not Flying with Enough Different Pilots

I had a few instructors, I did a little safety pilot training, however it would have been super helpful to find people to fly with, and to watch other people and learn from their methods. Flying with different pilots with different tricks would have exposed me to more techniques and perspectives.

The antidote: take risks with networking and giving yourself the chance to learn from new people, even if they could be a little intimidating

Summary

These mistakes taught me valuable lessons about being proactive in my training, seeking out the right resources and people, and not letting fear or complacency hold me back. Every pilot's journey is different, but hopefully sharing these experiences can help others avoid some of the same pitfalls.