Uploaded August 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
"Are pilots just glorified bus drivers?" This is a question that gets asked so often but I think it's under-addressed. I wanted to share my take on this question and where I've ultimately landed on the matter (pardon the pun). Choosing a career or hobby in flying is a big decision and I don't want anyone to talk you out of it for poor reasoning. Instead, I think we should be focused on the nature of the work we want to do and how we want to spend our time, and then layer on an interest in the subject matter on top of that. If we only chase careers or hobbies for the subject matter but we fail to realize we'd dislike the nature of them, that's a quick recipe for burnout and dissatisfaction. I hope this video serves you in your aviation journey!
As mentioned in the video, you can pick up a copy of one of my favorite books, Work Energy, here: amzn.to/3dbOX37
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Looking to start your aviation journey but not sure where to begin? Get the 23 resources I wish I had at the start of my aviation journey in an easy-to-reference PDF. You'll get the short answers along with links to expanded resources on every single topic. This 25-page PDF is jam-packed with value and addresses nearly all of the topics I most commonly get asked about flight training, all in one place, for free. Grab it here: airplaneacademy.com/start
Want to avoid the mistakes I've made and learn from the things that have gone right? Below you can sign up below for my free five-day email series that covers the most impactful lessons I've had as an aviator, from flying to airplane ownership:
airplaneacademy.com/join
If you want to know more about me (Charlie), here's my bio and aviation bucket list: airplaneacademy.com/charlie-gasmire
More aviation tips, tricks, and FAQ's over at airplaneacademy.com
"Are pilots just glorified bus drivers?" This is a question that gets asked so often but I think it's under-addressed. I wanted to share my take on this question and where I've ultimately landed on the matter (pardon the pun). Choosing a career or hobby in flying is a big decision and I don't want anyone to talk you out of it for poor reasoning. Instead, I think we should be focused on the nature of the work we want to do and how we want to spend our time, and then layer on an interest in the subject matter on top of that. If we only chase careers or hobbies for the subject matter but we fail to realize we'd dislike the nature of them, that's a quick recipe for burnout and dissatisfaction. I hope this video serves you in your aviation journey!
As mentioned in the video, you can pick up a copy of one of my favorite books, Work Energy, here: amzn.to/3dbOX37
--
Looking to start your aviation journey but not sure where to begin? Get the 23 resources I wish I had at the start of my aviation journey in an easy-to-reference PDF. You'll get the short answers along with links to expanded resources on every single topic. This 25-page PDF is jam-packed with value and addresses nearly all of the topics I most commonly get asked about flight training, all in one place, for free. Grab it here: airplaneacademy.com/start
Want to avoid the mistakes I've made and learn from the things that have gone right? Below you can sign up below for my free five-day email series that covers the most impactful lessons I've had as an aviator, from flying to airplane ownership:
airplaneacademy.com/join
If you want to know more about me (Charlie), here's my bio and aviation bucket list: airplaneacademy.com/charlie-gasmire
More aviation tips, tricks, and FAQ's over at airplaneacademy.com
