How Would I Know If I’d Make a Good Pilot?

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Have you ever imagined yourself soaring across the skies at the controls of a plane or helicopter? That awesome dream could become a reality if you possess the right combination of natural abilities, pilot training and a determination to succeed. But it all starts with whether or not you have the right stuff. Here are the 7 skills you’ll need if you want to take control in the air:

Physical and mental stamina: As a pilot, you’ll need to be physically and mentally healthy. You need to stay in good shape and be able to handle stress. When something goes wrong up in the air, you’re the one who will need to stay level-headed and in control.

Confidence: Your aviation training and pilot’s license should be a boost to the confidence you’ve always had. You need to be fully confident in your own abilities and able to assure others that you know what you’re doing and that their lives are safe in your hands.

Command: Do people consider you a natural leader? As a pilot, you’ll need to command respect and authority. Whether you’re explaining the safety procedures in the event of an emergency or are in the middle of an actual crisis situation, when you speak people need to listen.

Respect: You’ll need a healthy respect for nature and the regulations that govern your industry. Even the best pilot can have problems in bad weather. And the Federal Aviation Administration is the agency responsible for all aspects of aviation in the United States. You will be tested and licensed through the FAA and you must abide by all its statutes and regulations.

Self-awareness: Although you will be evaluated by your classroom teachers and flight instructors during your aviation training, the ability to understand your own abilities, strengths and limitations is vital to your success as a pilot. When you’re first learning how to fly, you’ll want to know what you need to work on. And once you’ve attained your license and are flying solo, you’ll need to know when you’re at peak performance and when you may need to stay off the controls.

Attention to detail: You need to be detail-oriented and precise to make certain that all systems are go as you prepare and take flight. There is no room for error when you’re 30,000 feet in the air at the controls of an airplane or helicopter.

Lifelong learner: You’ll need to submit to a flight review every two years and keep up with technology and regulations that might impact your pilot’s license. And won’t you also want to know just what other pilots are talking and learning about? That natural sense of awe, wonder and curiosity are a few more attributes of a good pilot.

If you think you have what it takes to become a pilot, check out the Charter College Aviation program. We could help you prepare for takeoff!