Solo X-country question

[JonJohn82]

mini, where did you fly at OUN?

 

[Fly_Chick]

I usually give my students options for their first solo xcrty. We have already flown together to at least one of the airports. Then I usually give them three airport options, and have them analyze weather, distance, aispace and let them choose based on their knowledge.

I have them pick their second airport landing. I am looking more for what they come up with, how they make their decisions, then I will commet or guide their decision making (airspace, remarks in the AFD).

 

[wiggsfly]

Depends on where. When I instructed for a university the students didn't have a choice, in fact nearly all cross-countries through commercial were to about the same 3 airports. As for part 61, I make my students choose where they want to go (within reason) and we'll typically fly it dual before hand for the first time.

 

[midlifeflyer]

I think that most CFIs probably pick that first flight. Typically, it's the same route that they did dual. That way, there is a level of familiarity that may make the student a bit more comfortable.

After that, selection is usually a joint effort.

There are exceptions. I managed to talk my CFI into letting me go in a completely different direction than our dual. It was an adventure including getting lost, having a radio failure, and diverting to an unplanned airport. Some day I'll have to write that one for my website, probably after I have a chance to refly the route sometime and get photos.

 

[Tater Salad]

We were given a list of about 15 airports that we were approved to fly to by our flight school. Wasn't a bad list at all. The instructor had to give the final approval for the flight once the student had shown that all flight planning preparations were carried out, and are correct. A little limiting, but it's what has to be done when you're sending student pilots out on there first solo x-countries.

 

[sqwkvfr]

Thats how I plan to roll as a CFI...

I think that the CFI should choose the destinations...I know that if I was given a choice, I'd have picked the easiest destinations and routes possible.

Instead, I was told where to go, it forced me to figure out how to get there and deal with the comms, etc.

The trip had three legs...one was perfect for airway navigation, one was perfect for dead reckoning, and the other was perfect for pilotage.

I learned a lot more than I would have had I chosen the destinations.

 

[minitour]

mini, where did you fly at OUN?

I was out at Airman Flight School.

and out there, we had approved airports per the 141 syllabus...the short ones were okay, but the long one I wanted to do a trip into some Bravo (or at least through it/over it) and go somewhere busy...it sucked having to go out to DHT...good food, but not busy at all

-mini

 

[check6]

I agree with midlife. In my professional opinion, flying with them over the route gives them confidence to see it is no big deal.

 

[PC12Cowboy]

Mini,
have you gotten to penetrate your classBravo yet??lol

 

[darkvw]

the first one I did was the route we flew dual , then I got to pick them as I wanted, he just wanted to see all of the planning done first. He also made sure I knew the emergency proceedures too.