One day, you’re flying the pattern and feeling pretty good about things. You’re greasing the landings, your flight instructor has finally stopped chirping on about your insufficient use of the rudder, and the crosswind is blissfully mellow.
Then, all of a sudden, your CFI says it’s time to taxi back to the ramp. What the what? I’m rocking it here! And then you realize what’s happening—today is the day you’re going to solo!
Many students are caught by surprise when the big day arrives.
Sure, it says it clearly in the training syllabus.
But with the endless practice flights and loops in the pattern, the actual timing of the thing gets muddled.
Sometimes, it seems like the stars are never going to align for you to be your own captain. Then, when they do, it’s a bit of a shock.
Here are three things your instructor wants to see before they set you free.
Keeping these tips in mind will help you get there sooner and enjoy a successful first solo flight.
Tips for Student Pilots Before Soloing
Your first solo is a monumental achievement, one of the biggest of your flying career.
It’s the first time you get to be your own boss and prove you’ve got what it takes to be a pilot. In preparation, you have a lot of responsibility to study hard and practice your maneuvers.
But your CFI also has a lot of responsibility to ensure you’re truly ready before you go. For your instructor, sending a student on a solo is a big deal from a legal standpoint.
To this end, make it easy for your instructor to see that you’ve got what it takes by following these three tips.
Study, Study, and Study a Little More
How well do you know your stuff? Have you memorized the bold emergency checklist items? Do you know your V-speeds?
How are your maneuvers—can you breeze through each one without your instructor’s help, or are you still struggling with the order in which things happen?
And how about the airspace rules, talking on the radio, and regulations?
A surprising amount of bookwork and studying must be done before you can safely solo the plane.
You will probably have to learn 80 or 90 percent of the knowledge you need to get your pilot’s license before you even solo…even though there is still plenty of flying to do. Some instructors even make completing the FAA written exam mandatory before you go solo.
So, having outstanding study habits is key to getting to your solo quickly.
You will be presented with a flood of material, and the quicker you master it, the quicker you can solo. Notice the keyword is “master.”
In flying, the bookwork must not only be memorized but also understood.
You need to be able to apply that stuff in the cockpit of a moving aircraft—and that’s not easy. In fact, it’s probably more than you’ve ever been asked to do in any other type of course or training.
Trust in the Process (And Your Flight Instructor)
Some students get extremely focused on their first solo flight and when it should happen.
When you’re at a big school, and other members of your cohort are soloing, you may wonder why you haven’t yet.
Is it your performance?
Is it your flight instructor?
If this sounds like you, you should have an honest conversation with your flight instructor.
But it’s important not to worry too much about your first solo. Every student is different, learning things at different rates and mastering things at different times.
The result is that the number of hours you have before your first solo is not an indicator of anything, really. And once the solo is complete, most people progress through the rest of their training rapidly.
Trust your instructor, and do as they tell you.
Study what you need to study, practice what you need to practice.
When swapping stories with other students, don’t worry about what other folks are doing or how far they’ve progressed. They aren’t you, and you aren’t them.
Take Command of the Aircraft
Your instructor is looking for many things from you to prove that you’re ready to solo.
But, above all else, they’re looking to see if you have what some CFIs call “command authority.”
Remember, your solo flight will be the first time you are officially PIC—the Pilot in Command. You will be the final authority for the safety of the flight; it’s up to you to make the right choices and take the right actions to get you and your bird safely back to terra firma.
Command authority does not come solely from knowing the bookwork, memorizing the important V-speeds and emergency procedures, or landing ‘like butter’ on each touchdown.
It comes from being present in the moment, being aware of your surroundings, and being comfortable enough with the plane and its environment to handle whatever might come your way.
It means you make decisions early to identify risks that might pop up later and proactively mitigate those risks.
Command authority is the ultimate test of a pilot: can you master yourself as well as the aircraft?
Like all things, building command authority takes practice and experience.
The next time you fly with your instructor, ask yourself if you’re ready to be the captain. Try to conduct the flight as if your instructor weren’t there—take command and practice.
While command authority is an important aspect of being a pilot, also keep in mind that you aren’t alone up there.
You have a lot of help, from your CFI, who’s watching carefully, to the air traffic controllers working with you—many folks out there have your back.
But on your solo flight, none of them can take the controls and get you out of a sticky situation. Only you can do that.
Ready to Solo?
When the day comes, and all your hard work and preparation pays off, it will be time to party.
Be ready for some shenanigans as you taxi back to the flight school, from shirt-tail cutting to being sprayed with the hose. It’s all part of your big day.
No matter how you shake it, your solo will be one of the biggest achievements of your piloting career and, hopefully, the first of many conquests that prove you’ve got what it takes.
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Jarrod Roberts brings a wealth of experience to the Thrust Flight team, with a flying career spanning over 15 years. His journey in aviation began with a BS in Aeronautical Science from Texas A&M Central. After working as a flight instructor, he joined SkyWest as a First Officer and then later upgraded to Captain. He now flies for a legacy airline. Jarrod also serves as the Chief Pilot here at Thrust Flight where he guides our team of flight instructors in delivering top-tier training to our many Zero Time to Airline students.