Frustrated Student Pilot About to Quit

/On 21 Jan 2004 18:10:16 -0800, (Litwin)
wrote:

Giving up on something you truly believe in, or really want to do
is NEVER an option. You make the *other* guy give up..... grins
Sorta like the saying that goes the object of war is not to give your
life for your country, but to make the other guy give his life for
his. You're paying the bills for flight training, you get to call
the shots (within reason).

I empathize with your plight (you appear to have run into a
bad-apple), but at the same time, I'll say that I typically try to
avoid letting others dictate the success or failure of that which I
desire to do and/or achieve. There is always more than one way to
skin a cat. Be creative and adaptive. Doing so will improve the
likelyhood of achieving your goal(s).

If you truly desire to become a certificated pilot, you will do so
no matter what obstacles are put in your path (including driving
65 miles).

Anyway, it would appear your options a

1. Give up on getting your private pilot certificate (not an option
in my book).

2. "Suck it up" and put up with this particular CFI's tardy
habits for the next 20 or so hours of flight instruction until
you get that which you seek (the Pvt. cert.)

3. Fire the old Buick up and drive 65 miles to gain that which
you seek!

As a parting thought, it's been awhile since I've quoted him, but
perhaps it's time to drag it out again. Consider the following
words of wisdom from Johann Wofgang Von Goeth (this has
come true in spades for me with my endeavors in life):

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back,
always ineffectiveness, concerning all acts of initiative (and
creation). There is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills
countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely
commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur
to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream
of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favour all manner
of unforseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no
man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do or
dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.
Begin it now"

Bela P. Havasreti

I am a student pilot with 18 hours of flight time, and have been told
that I am very close to soloing. However, I have reached the point
that I am about to give it up, and not because, I cannot fly the
pattern, do landings, steep turns, etc., or even costs or medical.
This is why:

1. I have a competent, patient, and otherwise very good CFI. However,
he can never be on time, and as a busy professional, and despite many
discussions, I cannot live with this. Not 10 or 20 min late, but 1 to
2 hours late, and frequent. He is the only CFI at this airport.
Unfortunately, the next closest airport with flight instruction is 65
miles from here, so my choices are non-existent, unless I want to
spend many hours on the road. Besides, untimely and tardy CFIs are a
common disease in GA so I hear.

2. GA seems economically distressed. The aviation company that
employs him has junk equipment, 2 days in a row now two different
planes would not start. And never mind the lack of money to plow snow
or remove compacted ice on the runway. I just don't want to spend my
money in what looks to me to be a distressed industry that may not
even have a bottom line in some sectors.

3. Living in the Great Lakes area, just how practical is all of this,
with 5 to 6 months of crappy weather being typical. It is perpetual
IFR, lots of icing, and when the plane will start, crosswind 2x or
more the POH limitations, and headwinds that leave driving a car
faster. Even scheduling 2 to 3 times a week, maybe only 50% of my
lessons could go forward, and even those sometimes were marginal
conditions. I am disappointed that this is not more practical.

I learned many things, made better progress than I had envisioned, and
really enjoyed the few timely, good days that were available, and
really enjoyed the reading and learning. I had wanted to get my
private pilot certif. For business and pleasure purposes. The best of
luck to those of you who have better circumstances, I am really sorry
to have to give it up.