You're near to complete all the lessons required before you can go solo. But are you still lacking that confidence to fly without your instructor? Or do you feel completely ready?
Your First solo is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You'll never have a second "first" solo. You must be thoroughly prepared to enjoy it. If you master the ideas I am sharing here; then you should be ready to fly solo.
Go/No-Go Decisions
Right from the beginning of your flight lessons, get in the habit of making decisions based on weather, aircraft performance and your limitations. Are you able to make appropriate decisions before flying out? Or even in-flight if the weather deteriorates? Do you know what your limitations as a student pilot are?
Surrounding Traffic
Always be an active listener. When you hear ATC talk to other airplanes or when others give position reports, visualise where they are in relation to you. Having an idea of the traffic around you will improve your situational awareness.
Effective Communication Skills
Not just knowing the traffic around you, but you should be able to accurately and effectively communicate with the tower controller and other traffic. Know the terminology generally used in a traffic circuit, like extend downwind, orbit left, or right 360, short approach etc.
Stabilised approach
You should be able to maintain a stabilised approach from the final up to flare. A stabilised approach is where you continue a steady flight path to the touchdown point. The speed should be close to the reference approach speed, plus or minus a few knots.
To maintain a stabilised approach, you should be able to understand and make subtle changes to the aircraft's energy. You can achieve it by holding the speed (pitch) close to the reference (mentioned in POH or your SOPs) and power as required to stay on the correct flight path.
Do you have a set of own parameters for a stabilised approach? Ask me if you'd like to work on your parameters.
Wind Correction
Knowing the direction of the wind will let you fly a perfect rectangular traffic circuit or pattern. Use visual references, or ATC reported wind to get an estimate of the surface wind.
Knowing where the wind is blowing from will also decide the landing technique, normal or crosswind. Get proficient at using flight controls (rudder and aileron) during crosswind landings.
If the crosswind is within your limits, you should be able to maintain the longitudinal axis of the aircraft parallel to and over the runway centreline at all times, for take-offs and landings as well.
Landing and touch down
If you can adjust the aircraft's energy, you should be able to touchdown on a predetermined touchdown point. Small piston aircraft are flown close to minimum speed before they can touchdown. And to do so requires a correct landing attitude. Do you know the proper landing attitude of your airplane?
Handling Emergencies
If there is one thing you should know before you fly solo, is to handle an emergency. Practice with your instructor, a glide approach to land from various positions in the circuit pattern. Have no doubts about how you would execute one if it is required to do so. Simulate with your instructor, how you would handle an engine fire or even a bird strike.
Have you memorised and practised memory items from the engine fire checklist?
If you can perform these actions without any assistance from your instructor, then you should be ready for your first solo.
Have you completed your first solo? Let me know if you haven't, and I would be more than happy to assist you in reaching your goal.
Comments