Any advice for 23yo for Pilot carreer? (With past mental episode)
Hi. I’m 23, from the EU, thinking about becoming a pilot.
It appeals to me as a career I can build a life alongside, with room for other things I care about like music and film. I did two discovery flights recently and loved them.
Background: I studied ATC degree but realized it wasn’t for me, and I’ve since been working in the drones/UAS space, mostly toward project-management roles. I’m now weighing three options.
1.grow in my current field
2.join the military as an officer
3.retake the ATC exam
All of them could help fund flight training over time. The honest downside is that none may pay enough to self-fund flying quickly.
I do regret that I did not consider my future properly, I did not give ATC a proper try, I did not try to become a fighter jet pilot, I did not make proper research or chose a field as a good backup ir stable ground.
Idk if I am lioking at miserable futute or possibily great pivot for life. I can not choose.
One thing I’m handling carefully: a past depressive episode and (possible ADHD which i wont diagnose or medicate but will look into), so I know the aeromedical process will take some work.
Is pilot training a sensible long game here?
Posted Aug 13, 2026, 4:37 PM UTC