My Journey From Flight Phobia to Private Pilot

I used to have a huge fear of flying. In fact, that fear is exactly what pushed me to start learning to fly back in 2013. It wasn’t a quick or easy path — it took me until 2020 to finally pass my UK PPL Skill Test — but I got there. I’m now a qualified Private Pilot with my Night Rating, and I began working toward my UK Instrument Rating (Restricted). I’ve currently put the IR(R) on hold due to the cost and I’m exploring more affordable ways to keep flying and developing my skills.

I’m living proof that you can overcome a fear of flying, no matter how overwhelming it feels.

For the first 10 hours of my training, I was absolutely petrified. I barely dared move in my seat, I gripped the yoke so tightly my hands hurt for days, and I sweated through every lesson. People say fears are irrational, but mine felt very real.

Why did it take so long?

I completed my first solo flight after just seven months of training, but then my instructor left to become an airline pilot. My next instructor did the same. I kept stopping and restarting, moving between five instructors, three flight schools, and two airports.

Eventually, I found my way to Bristol Aero Club, based at my home airport in Gloucester (EGBJ). They invested the time, patience, and support I needed to break through the fear and finally pass my PPL Skill Test. I still remember being terrified while planning my first solo cross‑country (QXC) in August 2020 — and that was on top of the disruption caused by the COVID lockdowns.

Adding Drones Into the Mix

Alongside my journey as a pilot, I’ve also been a commercial drone pilot since 2016. Every now and then I’ll spot something interesting from 1,000 feet while flying, then revisit the same location a few hours later and capture it again from 400 feet with the drone. It’s a brilliant way to combine perspectives — the pilot’s view from above and the drone’s precision closer to the ground.

What I’m Doing Now?

I launched my social media channels and website in December 2021. My goal is to share regular flying videos, document my progress, and explore a range of aviation topics — from training and aircraft to overcoming fear and building confidence in the air.

If my journey helps even one person realise that fear doesn’t have to define them, then it’s all been worth it.