When you have a goal, it’s better to take small steps towards it regularly, ideally every day.
As you may already know, my goal is to become a pilot. Currently, I have a private pilot license, but I don’t have the opportunity to fly due to my day job, but I am using my free time to study the EASA ATPL subjects.
Currently, I am focusing on Principles of Flight. This subject requires both critical thinking and memorization. I must admit that I struggle a bit with subjects that involve extensive memorization, so I decided to tackle them before moving on to subjects that require more calculations, which I enjoy some more.
In my personal ranking of the most challenging subjects, Air Law, Operational Procedures, and Meteorology top the list, with Principles of Flight following closely behind.
To evaluate my progress, I use question banks. When I start a new subject, my results are around 60-70%. I read the books, take tests, and review all the wrong answers using the books. Soon enough, my results improve to 90% and above, and when it happens consistently, it’s time to switch to the next subject.
I must admit that I am progressing slower than I initially planned. My original goal was to take the exams this summer, but currently, I feel confident in only four out of the fourteen subjects. However, I believe it’s not too bad considering that some subjects are relatively easy, such as VFR/IFR Communications. Nonetheless, it’s still behind my initial schedule.
On the bright side, I am still working full-time, I hold a valid FAA IR with flight experience in the US, and I have a total of 150 flight hours. I am also prepared for the FAA CPL written test.
Making progress can still be challenging. I’ve heard that the EASA ATPL theory is the most difficult part of the EASA Commercial Pilot study path, and I tend to agree with that statement. Nevertheless, my motivation remains strong, and I have always excelled in subjects I find interesting. Though progress may be slow, it is still progress, and it is absolutely worth it. The reward of achieving my goal will be one of the most exciting moments in my life!
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