Top 7 Mistakes New Student Pilots Make, And How to Avoid Them

Embarking on your journey to become a pilot is an exhilarating experience—but it’s also one full of new concepts, tight checklists, and steep learning curves. At High Tide Aviation, we’ve helped hundreds of students earn their wings from our training locations in Southport, NC, Wilmington, NC, and St. Simons Island, GA. And while every student is unique, we’ve noticed a consistent pattern of avoidable missteps that can delay progress or inflate costs.

Here are the top 7 mistakes new student pilots make—and how to steer clear of them with the support of High Tide Aviation.

1. Skipping or Underestimating Ground School

Many new students want to jump straight into the cockpit, thinking ground school is just the “boring theory.” But skipping the foundation of aviation knowledge leads to confusion during flights, especially with procedures, weather interpretation, or airspace communication.

What to do instead:
Enroll in High Tide’s structured ground school program, available at all locations. Our experienced instructors blend FAA requirements with real-world examples to prepare you for both written exams and actual flights. It’s your shortcut to smarter—and safer—training.

2. Waiting Too Long to Get an FAA Medical

Imagine getting halfway through your training only to discover a medical issue that disqualifies you from soloing. We’ve seen it happen. FAA medicals are essential, especially if you’re aiming for a commercial license.

What to do instead:
Schedule your FAA medical exam early in your training process—ideally within the first month. Need help finding an Aviation Medical Examiner near you? Contact us and our Student Support Team will assist.

3. Cancelling Lessons Too Often

Flight training requires momentum. When students frequently cancel due to weather, scheduling conflicts, or nerves, that momentum suffers. You’ll spend more time (and money) relearning skills instead of advancing.

What to do instead:
Create a consistent training schedule and treat your flight lessons like college classes or work shifts. High Tide makes this easier by assigning every student a personal Support Specialist to help with planning, rescheduling, and staying on track—especially helpful across our three training hubs.

4. Not Studying Between Lessons

Flight time is expensive. If you’re not reviewing previous lessons or previewing the next, you’ll end up using valuable hours catching up rather than moving forward.

What to do instead:
Spend at least 20–30 minutes reviewing each flight. Use your instructor’s feedback, your flight logbook, and tools like our Redbird FMX simulator in Southport to reinforce your skills before you return to the cockpit.

5. Overcontrolling the Aircraft

Many beginners grip the yoke too tightly, make abrupt control inputs, or fight the airplane’s natural tendencies. These habits can lead to poor performance during maneuvers and make it harder to pass stage checks or the checkride.

What to do instead:
Relax and let the aircraft do the work. Our CFIs are trained to help you develop smooth, coordinated control techniques—especially during landings, steep turns, and slow flight.

6. Ignoring Aviation Weather and NOTAMs

Reading weather charts or decoding NOTAMs may seem intimidating at first—but misunderstanding them can result in missed flights, canceled lessons, or worse.

What to do instead:
Make weather part of your preflight routine. Our instructors incorporate METARs, TAFs, and aviation weather briefings into every lesson. You’ll not only learn what to look for, but how to make confident go/no-go decisions—skills that separate good pilots from great ones.

7. Procrastinating the FAA Written Exam

Delaying your written exam often leads to last-minute cramming right before your checkride. This adds stress and increases the risk of failing a required step.

What to do instead:
Take your knowledge test while it’s fresh—ideally right after completing High Tide’s ground school. We’ll even help you schedule it.

Learn the Right Way—with High Tide Aviation

At High Tide Aviation, our goal isn’t just to help you get a license. It’s to help you become a safe, confident, and skilled pilot. That’s why we offer:

Personalized training support
FAA-certified instructors with extensive real-world flying experience
Helicopter and multi-engine programs at our Southport and St. Simons locations

Avoiding the most common mistakes starts with choosing the right school.

✈️ Ready to take flight?
Enroll with High Tide today.

📞 Have questions?
Contact us for a personalized consultation.

High Tide Aviation
The Southeast Shores’ Leading Pilot Training Center
Serving Southport, Wilmington, and St. Simons Island