Private Pilot License , Pre Solo Flight Training Requirements

The pre solo maneuvers are the first required for your Private Pilot License. There are a number of Requirements needed before you can do your first solo. Now in many cases I will move on to the post solo requirements if someone is not quite ready to solo yet. I do this because I am not going to sit in the traffic pattern with someone for 5 extra flights to get their landings down. The lightbulb will come on and my goal is to have you licensed and a safe / proficient pilot by the time of your flight test. Also I want you to be in your budget.

Many instructors and schools will not move forward until you have solo'ed I think this is a complete waste of money. For this reason some people may say that the pre solo phase is the most expensive. When I see someone who has 40 hours, hasn't soloed and on top of that has not done the cross countries, soft field / shortfield takeoffs and landings, night or simulated instrument time, the only thing I can think of is that poor student got ripped off.

The main reason people don't solo is they don't have their landings down. So why wouldn't the instructor move ahead. You have to do Soft Field / Short Field Takeoffs and Landings, 10 Night takeoffs and Landings, Dual Cross Countries ( Yes More Landings). This is usually plenty of time for the Landing ( Lightbulb) To come on.

Here I have listed the Pre Solo Requirements for you. Remember there are two parts Aeronautical Knowledge and Aeronautical Experience.

(a) General. A student pilot may not operate an aircraft in solo flight unless that student has met the requirements of this section.

(b) Aeronautical knowledge. A student pilot must demonstrate satisfactory aeronautical knowledge on a knowledge test that meets the requirements of this paragraph:

(1) The test must address the student pilot's knowledge of—

(i) Applicable sections of parts 61 and 91 of this chapter; (FAR"S )

(ii) Airspace rules and procedures for the airport where the solo flight will be performed; and

(iii) Flight characteristics and operational limitations for the make and model of aircraft to be flown.

(2) The student's authorized instructor must—

(i) Administer the test; and

(ii) At the conclusion of the test, review all incorrect answers with the student before authorizing that student to conduct a solo flight.

(c) Pre-solo flight training. Prior to conducting a solo flight, a student pilot must have:

(1) Received and logged flight training for the maneuvers and procedures of this section that are appropriate to the make and model of aircraft to be flown; and

(2) Demonstrated satisfactory proficiency and safety, as judged by an authorized instructor, on the maneuvers and procedures required by this section in the make and model of aircraft or similar make and model of aircraft to be flown.

(d) Maneuvers and procedures for pre-solo flight training in a single-engine airplane. A student pilot who is receiving training for a single-engine airplane rating or privileges must receive and log flight training for the following maneuvers and procedures:

(1) Proper flight preparation procedures, including preflight planning and preparation, powerplant operation, and aircraft systems;

(2) Taxiing or surface operations, including runups;

(3) Takeoffs and landings, including normal and crosswind;

(4) Straight and level flight, and turns in both directions;

(5) Climbs and climbing turns;

(6) Airport traffic patterns, including entry and departure procedures;

(7) Collision avoidance, windshear avoidance, and wake turbulence avoidance;

(8) Descents, with and without turns, using high and low drag configurations;

(9) Flight at various airspeeds from cruise to slow flight;

(10) Stall entries from various flight attitudes and power combinations with recovery initiated at the first indication of a stall, and recovery from a full stall;

(11) Emergency procedures and equipment malfunctions;

(12) Ground reference maneuvers;

(13) Approaches to a landing area with simulated engine malfunctions;

(14) Slips to a landing; and

(15) Go-arounds.

All of the above areas need to be covered and Documented in Your Logbook. And it needs to be signed off by a Certified Flight Instructor. Yes I have seen people that have gone up with their friends, and their friends have signed their logbooks. These areas can only be given by a Certified Flight Instructor ( CFI)

Hope to See You In the Sky

Airfreddy