ON A STUDENT’S FIRST SOLO AVIATION FLY?

By: DavidPage

The first solo flight of a student in aviation is something they will always remember. It’s a proud accomplishment, a confidence-builder, and just plain fun. The student will learn to fly solo aviation and become confident in their own flying abilities, without the assistance of an instructor. This is a time to make mistakes. Student pilots learn best when they are flying by themselves.

Solo aviation flights are only allowed when you and your instructor feel that you are ready. This happens after a lot of preparation. Your instructor will teach you specific maneuvers and you need to learn specific topics on the ground before you can fly your own aircraft.

Federal Aviation Administration sets minimum requirements for student pilots before they can fly solo. Depending on the institution, there might be additional or more stringent requirements. FAR Part 61 states that a student pilot must comply with the following requirements.

REQUIRED GROUND TRAINING

An aeronautical knowledge test must be passed by a student pilot. It is based on topics from Part 61 and Part 9 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. The test must include the rules and procedures of the student’s home onslow bay boats airfield, as well as the characteristics and limitations of the aircraft being flown. Before solo aviation flights can be made, the instructor will review the test with the student and correct any mistakes.

REQUIRED FLIGHT TRAINING

Solo flight is possible for students with no flight hours. However, the student must learn certain maneuvers and become proficient in them before they can solo. A student may solo aviation for 10 to 15 hours on occasion. However, it is not common for them to have 20 or 30 hours of instruction before they can solo. FAR 61.87(d) states that a student pilot must be trained in multiple maneuvers. This includes takeoffs and landings as well as traffic patterns, stall entry and recovery, emergency procedures, and go-arounds.

FLYING SOLO AVIATION

After you are ready to solo aviation, and have completed all the tasks required by the FARs your instructor will pick a fair-weather day for you to fly a few landings. Your instructor will first take you up to check your tuffy boats landings and make sure you are performing well in the conditions. Then, after you have performed three to four solid landings, your instructor will instruct you to return to the ramp and drop you off at the flight school.

You’ll take off without your instructor and notice that your climb and takeoff performance have increased. You will probably reach your pattern altitude sooner than you are used to. Without your instructor talking, it will be quieter than usual.