Peer pressure and the fear of falling behind: In flight training, progress is often visible—who's soloing first, who’s acing their check rides, who’s getting instructor praise. Seeing classmates advance while struggling yourself can create a deep sense of self-doubt, leading some pilots to push themselves beyond healthy limits just to “keep up.” Students experiencing slower progress compared to their peers can have higher anxiety levels.

The psychological toll of repeated failures: Unlike peer pressure, which stems from external comparisons, repeated failures create an internalized fear of incompetence. Struggling with a particular manoever or failing a check ride can trigger what psychologists call “learned helplessness,” where repeated setbacks convince a person that further effort is pointless. This creates a vicious cycle: those, who feel that they are not able to succeed will put less effort into preparation, which will further decrease their chances to reach their goals.

Overly harsh instructors: A flight instructor plays a crucial role in a student pilot’s experience. While constructive feedback is essential for improvement, studies suggest that overly critical or intimidating instructors can lead to heightened stress responses, including increased cortisol levels and impaired learning. Pilots who experience negative instructor interactions often develop performance anxiety, making future training sessions even more stressful.

It’s important to acknowledge that anxiety in this context is not a weakness—it’s a natural response to the high demands of aviation training and the unfamiliar challenges of early adulthood. By recognizing these stressors and addressing them proactively, aspiring pilots can develop the resilience they need for long-term success.

Wait what? Yuh, YOU have full ownership of your training progress, even at a big, integrated school with a set “training timeframe”. If you need something to change, then speak up and change it! Having the self-awareness to identify it, and the confidence to ask for it, is really important and is something you will utilise again and again throughout your career because it is actually a BIG part of what being a (competent) pilot involves - spotting threats, challenges and problems and mitigating/ managing/ fixing them.

I also realised that often, the students bragging about how great their crosswind landings went, or how awesomely they could fly an engine failure, upside down, on the ILS while blindfolded and with their left hand tied behind their back were talking a load of…

Well, you get what I’m saying. Self-awareness of your weaknesses AND your strengths is really important to learn, as is accepting that we all have strengths and weaknesses and that doesn't make us rubbish pilots admitting it, it actually makes us a little better.

If you are feeling negative about something, if it just won’t go right, then put it aside and focus on something else. Think of something you did learn, which did go well, and reflect on how that felt for a moment.

How did you achieve that? What were the strengths you used, the human factors, the resources you used?

What do you need to change with the obstacle you are struggling with? You might need a different instructor who can provide a new way of looking at it.

You might also just need a break from that particular thing so you can reset and build some confidence back up. But don’t stress, don’t compare yourself to Chuck Yeager Junior, work out what YOU need and ask for the support that will help.

Most importantly (I should have put this first really), remember: we all get stuff wrong. My first crosswind landing attempt resulted in me picking pieces of grass out of the landing gear back at the flight school. On my commercial flight check ride I got lost and had to replan the entire route in the air. I’ve since flown an A380 to 6 continents (without getting lost), and can land (fairly) confidently in 40 knot crosswinds. We all mess up and you will too. It doesn’t matter. It definitely doesn’t mean you’re a failure.

You will fix it, learn from it, try again, and that is what really counts and believe me... actually no, believe in yourself... you can and will get there.

Having honest conversations with your flight instructors, mentors or peers can make a world of difference. Studies show that supportive instructors who understand what you’re going through can tailor their teaching methods to match your learning style. Not sure how to start the conversation? Just let them know what you’re struggling with—most instructors are more than happy to help you succeed.

When your mind feels like it’s going 100 miles an hour, mindfulness techniques can help you slow down and refocus. Practices like meditation, deep breathing, or even a simple five-minute body scan can reduce stress and keep you grounded. Many professionals in high-pressure careers who practice mindfulness swear by it for staying calm under stress, and research supports this—mindfulness truly helps improve focus and reduce anxiety.

Another important thing is making sure you don’t overload yourself. Give yourself time to decompress after flights, and space so you don’t always have to be “on”. Recognise in yourself when you are “burning out”.

Another effective way to combat anxiety is to remind yourself of your progress, even when faced with setbacks. Every pilot—no matter how skilled—has encountered challenges along the way. When things don’t go as planned, take a moment to reflect on how far you’ve come, from how many situations you emerged triumphant.

Whether it’s mastering a difficult maneuver, learning those seemingly endless facts and figures you need for your test, going solo for the first time or simply overcoming the initial nerves of stepping into the cockpit, each achievement is proof of your ability to grow and improve. Resilience isn’t about never failing—it’s about learning to recover, adapt, and keep moving forward.