Welcome Guest. Sign in or Signup

3 Answers

Student Pilot Solo

Asked by: 1591 views , ,
Student Pilot

Hello,

When does a CFI knows a student is ready for there first solo fight?  

Thanks,

Shawn

Ace Any FAA Written Test!
Actual FAA Questions / Free Lifetime Updates
The best explanations in the business
Fast, efficient study.
Pass Your Checkride With Confidence!
FAA Practical Test prep that reflects actual checkrides.
Any checkride: Airplane, Helicopter, Glider, etc.
Written and maintained by actual pilot examiners and master CFIs.
The World's Most Trusted eLogbook
Be Organized, Current, Professional, and Safe.
Highly customizable - for student pilots through pros.
Free Transition Service for users of other eLogs.
Our sincere thanks to pilots such as yourself who support AskACFI while helping themselves by using the awesome PC, Mac, iPhone/iPad, and Android aviation apps of our sponsors.

3 Answers



  1. KDS on Oct 25, 2021

    I suspect you would get a different answer from every CFI. I have heard other instructors say things like “Not until they make three good landings in a row” and “Not until I see them recover from a bad landing”. However, I tend to be more subjective. I ask myself, if this was my son or daughter and this was my uninsured airplane, would I allow this person to go solo.

    Of course, the decision also includes if all of the legal requirements have been met and all the T’s crossed and the I’s dotted.

    +1 Votes Thumb up 1 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes



  2. Mark Kolber on Oct 26, 2021

    It’s more art than science. A feeling that, “they can handle it.”

    +2 Votes Thumb up 2 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes



  3. Warren Webb Jr on Dec 31, 2021

    Usually when we have reached a lesson where the student is consistent and doesn’t need my help (i.e. when I’m no longer needed in the airplane), I’ll tell him/her that if this consistency continues into the next lesson the first 3 or 4 times around the pattern, we’ll be ready for the solo. But before getting out, I’ll ask if he/she wants to do it. I’ve got to see the desire from the student – I’m not going to push anyone into it.

    0 Votes Thumb up 0 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes


The following terms have been auto-detected the question above and any answers or discussion provided. Click on a term to see its definition from the Dauntless Aviation JargonBuster Glossary.

Answer Question

Our sincere thanks to all who contribute constructively to this forum in answering flight training questions. If you are a flight instructor or represent a flight school / FBO offering flight instruction, you are welcome to include links to your site and related contact information as it pertains to offering local flight instruction in a specific geographic area. Additionally, direct links to FAA and related official government sources of information are welcome. However we thank you for your understanding that links to other sites or text that may be construed as explicit or implicit advertising of other business, sites, or goods/services are not permitted even if such links nominally are relevant to the question asked.