In this guide, we will explore the many ways light aircraft flying is associated with mental and physical benefits.
If you believe that flying an aircraft is only about the thrills, then you would be very wrong! Not only is flying an excellent way to get the adrenaline pumping, but it is also for calming your mind and improving your overall senses.
Light aircraft offer a unique flying experience that can help you become mentally sharp, and it may even alleviate stress – an increasingly common mental illness in the modern world.
Almost every private and even commercial pilot would agree that flying light aircraft is perhaps one of the best ways to improve and decompress your mind and body – but why? In this guide, we will explore the many ways light aircraft flying is associated with mental and physical benefits.
The Flying Experience and the Mind
Before we get into how light aircraft flying can improve both the body and mind, let’s first discuss the three main areas that it can directly impact:
- Stress
- Mental Aptitude
- Physical Abilities
The first thing that flying has a direct effect on is stress. Stress is an integral part of life and no matter what one does, one can’t always avoid it. Stress has been linked to several mental and physical diseases, especially recurrent or chronic stress.
When you are stressed, your body releases a hormone called cortisol. In adequate quantities, cortisol is an incredibly important hormone that regulates numerous bodily functions – but the problem begins when the body starts to produce it in excess.
As the saying goes: too much of anything can make you sick. This is also true for an overabundance of cortisol in the body. A spike in cortisol which is triggered by the body when it is under mental or physical stress may interrupt various bodily and mental functions.
For example, when you are stressed, you may feel a range of symptoms like rapid heartbeat, profuse or excess sweating, a lump in your throat feeling, tremors, and a feeling of impending doom which can also lead to an anxiety attack.
For most people, irregular spikes in cortisol are well tolerated but the real problem lies in chronic stress. Some people are more inclined to overthink certain things which can lead to runaway thoughts that can ramp up the production of cortisol. Given enough time, if the body remains under stress, the elevated levels of cortisol can eventually lead to numerous health problems. This is why destressing is so important!
Many health agencies outline several coping mechanisms that can help people destress. These coping strategies can range from simple practices like going out for a walk, drinking water, or even reading a book. Another incredibly powerful way to reduce stress is to introduce distractions in your life.
Distractions can be in the form of socialising, cycling, swimming, or a range of other physical exercises – but perhaps the best form of destressing lies in flying aircraft. Let us explain why.
Flying an aircraft requires an engagement of all your senses which makes it the perfect distraction. Not only this, but the visuals that you get to experience while flying also have a profound calming effect on the mind. However, it is important to note that flying light aircraft is associated with a more calming effect than flying commercial or larger planes. The simple reason behind this is that light aircraft are usually flown for pleasure while larger aircraft are commonly used for commercial operations.
This means that pilots that fly commercial aircraft may not have the same relaxing feeling associated with flying. In fact, they might have the opposite effect since they would be subjected to a typical work environment with various expectations.
Private pilots, on the other hand, are typically free from such restrictions. Unlike commercial pilots, these pilots set their own flight plans and fly according to their convenience – and these are just some of the reasons why light aircraft pilots are likely to destress.
The training required for light aircraft pilots also has a similarly huge impact on mental aptitude which can improve significantly because a pilot is taught both theoretical and practical subjects. Piloting a light aircraft also requires a level of physical fitness, which can have a direct positive impact on both stress and general mental health too!
Psychological Effects of Flying Light Aircraft
Here are some of the most important positive psychological effects of light aircraft:
Empowering – Physically and Mentally
One of the key aspects of flying is that you get full control over how the plane operates. Many pilots develop a “feel” for an aircraft and with practice, flying can become like second nature to them.
When this happens, you will likely notice a decrease in anxiety and stress. Piloting an aircraft offers a sense of control and empowerment. Since pilots are fully responsible for the aircraft and how they fly, this can give them a huge confidence boost. This type of empowerment is incredibly important for building self-esteem as well.
Effects on Concentration
People who previously reported having concentration issues believe that flying helps with their concentration. Since flying requires the pilot to be always attentive, they are fully plugged into the flying experience. This gives them a level of hyperawareness and makes them more vigilant and attentive.
Concentration on a hobby that you enjoy can have a significant impact on stress levels. For example, when you climb up to the appropriate altitude as per your aircraft, you will get a full view of the skyline which we guarantee will put you in a sort of relaxing trance. This type of relaxation can have a powerful effect on stress levels, and once you land back, you will notice a marked improvement in your overall mood.
Anti-Anxiety
Anxiety is a common condition that many people suffer from. Anxiety has several triggers that can vary from one person to another. However, most people would agree that treating anxiety requires a sense of focus and a state of “being present”.
When you suffer from anxiety, you can have runaway negative thoughts that can cause a cascade. When anxiety reaches a certain threshold, it begins to manifest physically. This is why people suffering from chronic anxiety can have blurred vision, impaired speech, sweats, tremors, rapid heartbeat, and even stomach problems.
Since the treatment of anxiety requires you to focus on something else, flying an aircraft might just be the thing that can help alleviate your anxiety before it gets out of control.
As mentioned above, flying aircraft requires you to be plugged into all your senses – and piloting an aircraft also boosts self-esteem and confidence which can have a huge impact on stress and anxiety levels. If you suffer from general anxiety, then these positive feelings could help regulate your mental health and keep you from spiralling.
Flying Builds Mental Tolerance
The brain and subconscious are fascinating elements of the human body. When you suffer from trauma or any negative emotion, the body quickly reacts and then adapts to the experience so that the same negative experience doesn’t bother you that much.
Imagine a kid watching a horror movie for the first time. You can expect a young person to be scared in this scenario, but if the same person continues watching horror movies, they will eventually build up a mental tolerance for the genre. In simple words, jump scares will become less scary and the person may not even exhibit the same physical reactions to this type of stimulus.
In the same way, when you fly an aircraft, you are subjected to a range of emotions. The truth is that learning to fly an aircraft is not a stress-free experience. It requires quite a lot of decision-making, quick thinking, and problem-solving.
If a person regularly trains to become a pilot, then they will be exposed to a healthy dose of stress which means that they will also develop a level of mental tolerance for it. So, the next time a pilot is under a stressful experience in life, they might not spiral in the same way as they did before thanks to their pilot training!
Flying Sharpens the Mind and Reflexes
Pilots are trained in a variety of subjects ranging from meteorology to the various mechanics of flight. These fields of study don’t just train pilots, but they also help sharpen their mental aptitude.
As mentioned above, piloting requires multitasking. A pilot must be able to make quick risk assessments and decisions. Continually practising these skills can help pilots improve their mental aptitude tenfold compared to regular people. The physical fitness and muscle memory required for piloting aircraft can also have a huge impact on the reflexes of individuals.
Flying light aircraft can also give you a greater sense of situational awareness than regular folks. Situational awareness has a direct link to mental factors such as concentration, and recognition, and is also linked to physical benefits like improved reflexes and sharper senses.
Flying Gives You a Sense of Adventure
A big part of flying is the thrill and sense of adventure that you get from it. Many aviation enthusiasts enjoy flying not just for the range of mental benefits, but also because it is truly one of the best ways to fulfil your need for adventure. Private pilots can plan their own flights and travel to anywhere in their vicinity – this type of freedom truly elevates the entire flying experience as it gives you full control of your actions.
Flying light aircraft can also provide a sense of purpose to people. This is incredibly important for not just mental health but physical well-being too. As we have established above, mental illness can manifest physically; and one of the biggest reasons why people fall into the habit of negative thoughts is that they may lack purpose in life. Not knowing what you want to do with your life can be quite draining which is why so many people with anxiety and stress are recommended to pick up a hobby.
Training for Pilot Programmes – Start Here!
If you decide on taking up flying as a hobby, then we guarantee that you will not be disappointed with the results. Learning to fly an aircraft is truly a rewarding experience that can potentially change your life. The first step in learning how to pilot an aircraft is to enrol in a flight programme.
High-ranking flight schools, like Sherburn Aero Club, are specifically designed to cater to the needs of both newcomers and veteran pilots. Please keep in mind that the key to becoming successful pilots and reaping all the psychological benefits that we have discussed above is to train at the right flight school!
While many flight schools offer flight training, you will often require a combination of highly trained and experienced instructors along with all the necessary facilities/amenities to progress in your training. This is why we recommend that you go with a flight school that offers a comprehensive training experience that includes pilot medicals, pilot training, license-related guidance, and more.
Flight schools specialise in training pilots on a variety of light aircraft. When you enrol, you will have the choice to focus your training on a certain type of aircraft. We recommend going with flex-wing light aircraft which can truly provide a thrilling and captivating flying experience. You can also consult with flight instructors or other experienced pilots to talk about the right type of aircraft for your needs.
We also encourage young candidates to talk to their instructors to learn the various psychological benefits of flying too. In fact, this type of discussion is recommended because it can keep you motivated throughout your training.
WHY CHOOSE SHERBURN AERO CLUB
Sherburn Aero Club, which has been operational since 1964, is the ideal place for most of your training and flying needs. It is one of the largest flying clubs in the North of England and also one of the largest in the country.
For those who wish to experience the thrill of a flight for fun or to help fuel their aviation dreams, Sherburn offers experience flights for the newbie, as well as the veteran in various types of light aircraft.
The flight experience option is also available for people who wish to take to the skies for special occasions, even if they aren’t into aviation in the long run.
If you wish to begin your career in aviation or wish to take to the skies as a hobby, Sherburn’s flight training school offers private and commercial licences, along with pilot medicals to ensure a smooth journey going forward.
With a large fleet of new aircraft and an airfield refurbishment with new runways, hangars, and an extended clubhouse, we cater to brand-new flyers who have just started their journey to the skies, as well as seasoned flyers who have been operating aircraft for decades.
Sherburn offers a dedicated day-long Flight Radiotelephony Operator’s Licence (FRTOL) course for those wishing to get the certification, running the first Sunday of every month.
In addition to that, if you are looking for a hangarage for your own aircraft, need servicing or repairs, want to buy a new aircraft or aviation equipment, or are just looking to enjoy and watch the aircraft, Sherburn Aero Club is the place to be.
Call us at 01977 682 674, email us at flightdesk@sherburnaeroclub.com, or message us via our online contact form for more information on light aircraft, training requirements, licencing procedures, as well as experience flights and pilot training at Sherburn.
Photo by Hal Gatewood on Unsplash
