Pursuing a career as a pilot is a challenging path that requires dedication and hardwork, as well as the support of those around them. You don’t become a pilot just by studying textbooks alone but, rather, through the wisdom of your instructors and guidance of mentors you meet along the way. As such, those who are still in pilot school are encouraged to start building up their networks so that they can have a reliable support system as they hone their aviation skills.
Here are some ways in which networking and mentorship during your training years can set you on a path of success.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
During pilot training, learning is based on a set curriculum to ensure that you build a strong foundation of aviation knowledge and skills. However, not every possible aviation scenario can be discussed through textbooks or experienced in flight simulators. Hence, to supplement your classroom learning, it’s important to gather advice and guidance from people who have been in the industry for a long time.
Having a mentor or even just a network of like-minded trainees eager to always improve themselves can help you significantly in developing both practical and theoretical aviation knowledge. Moreover, both can nurture in you a mindset of self-improvement, which is crucial for any aspiring pilot in today’s ever-changing aviation industry.
Professional and Emotional Support
Studying to be a pilot will have you face steep learning curves at times. More than just being intellectually challenging, this can also be emotionally draining at times. There will certainly be moments when you’ll feel disheartened or lacking in motivation. In these cases, the presence of a strong network who understands these challenges and can offer you encouragement and advice when needed can prove to be invaluable.
Co-trainees, teachers, and mentors can help you get back on your feet when you’re faced with setbacks. Your peers can offer emotional support and belongingness, while your teachers and mentor can provide professional guidance to pinpoint weak areas and help you overcome those learning curves. You might be surprised at how the mere reminder that you’re not alone in this journey can be a source of comfort and can give you a boost of confidence.
Open Up Opportunities
Regardless of whether you’re still in flight school or just recently got your pilot license, it’s never too early to start building connections to help you land a job. Not all job opportunities are openly advertised. For some, you may even need a referral just to be able to apply to them. By steadily building your network, even as a trainee, you increase your chances of gaining access to these job opportunities and other career development avenues.
In addition to helping you get a job referral, your network or mentor can also keep you updated on industry events, seminars, and professional organizations that you can join to further your career in aviation. Learning valuable skills and best practices can also be easily shared among your peers, ensuring that you’re up to speed with the latest innovations in the industry.
Sound Advice and Guidance
Many industry veterans or retired professionals are always eager to guide young pilots in building their careers in the aviation industry. By being under the wing of a mentor, you have someone to consult to whenever you need advice in terms of your studies or future career. Simply listening to their on-field stories can be a treasure trove of knowledge that you can use as reference to help you make more informed decisions on your current predicament.
How to Find the Right People
Networking and mentorship is all about finding the right people. You’d want to build connections with people who are able to empathize with your journey as a pilot trainee so that they can offer you advice and support based on their experience. For peers, you’ll want to cultivate a circle of people who are as dedicated to learning and self-improvement as you are. This way, you can push each other to be the best you can be and spread motivation when morale is low.
Meanwhile, choosing a mentor will depend heavily on how much you trust their experience and guidance to help you out with your own aviation journey. Be particular as well with their speciality. For example, if you want to pursue commercial aviation in particular, then you’d want the guidance of someone who had flown commercial airplanes in their career rather than that of a private pilot. Likewise, compatibility is also a big factor that can make or break a mentorship. Look for a mentor who has a teaching approach that you respond best to, as that can make learning easier on your part.
Building networks is an important part of your pilot training journey—they provide you with a solid support system and can also lead you to more opportunities during and after your studies. So don’t be afraid to reach out to others, for that friendship or mentorship could just be the key into making your aviation career a more fulfilling one.