What!?! You're not allowed to have fun?

[Clear-&aMillion]

This article in AOPA flight training claims an instructor should only let a student perform a solo flight if it is NECESSARY for certification. You mean, your CFI never allowed you just to fly because you felt like it?

 

[FN FAL]

This article in AOPA flight training claims an instructor should only let a student perform a solo flight if it is NECESSARY for certification. You mean, your CFI never allowed you just to fly because you felt like it?

Nope...and I don't blame him either.

 

[hobbsmeter]

Until you're certified then each and every flight is necessary!
There's always a lesson to be learned, whether you have 3 hours or 30 000 hours.

 

[navigator72]

Kind of takes the fun out fo learning how to fly. I'm glad I got my license back when it wasn't such a pain in the A$$ to do anything aviation. back in the day, I used to walk right through the FBO and go outside to look at all the different planes (nobody ever said a word). I used to stop by the FBO and sign out a plane and fly for a couple of hours without needing permission from anybody (most of the time, there wasn't anybody at the FBO, I would come back a week later and pay for the flight time).

Thank you letting me rant!

 

[LearLove]

yeah, what a bunch of crapola. I soloed when I was 16 and didn't care much about moving on to the PVT as long as I could just buzz around the local area and pattern. The thing that finally made me finish my pvt durring my senior year in high school was that I wanted to complete my instrument rating prior to leaving for college (leaving the comm, cfi and multi all down hill while in college) so I had to get my act in gear. Otherwise I would have buzzed around on 90 day sign offs all thru college.

I had 66 hours when I took my PVT test but just the bare min in required duel because I blew almost 2 years just flying around the local area. Learned alot though and I was a line guy at the flight school so I had access to cheap(er) rentals than most. Plus alittle birdy may have shown me how to unplug a hobbs meter or maybe not. You didn't hear that from me.

All students should just get out an buzz around every now and then after they solo. Takes the load off.

 

[jaxpilot]

kinda hard to enforce that when you're student owns his own aircraft.

 

[FN FAL]

yeah, what a bunch of crapola. I soloed when I was 16 and didn't care much about moving on to the PVT as long as I could just buzz around the local area and pattern. The thing that finally made me finish my pvt durring my senior year in high school was that I wanted to complete my instrument rating prior to leaving for college (leaving the comm, cfi and multi all down hill while in college) so I had to get my act in gear. Otherwise I would have buzzed around on 90 day sign offs all thru college.

I had 66 hours when I took my PVT test but just the bare min in required duel because I blew almost 2 years just flying around the local area. Learned alot though and I was a line guy at the flight school so I had access to cheap(er) rentals than most. Plus alittle birdy may have shown me how to unplug a hobbs meter or maybe not. You didn't hear that from me.

All students should just get out an buzz around every now and then after they solo. Takes the load off.

At the place I used to work at in mechanical assembly and field service teching, we had a manager that 100 hours and hadn't gotten his private. His previous instructor refused to sign anymore solo endorsements for the guy.

What was I supposed to do as a CFI? Let him log another 100 hours with endorsements from me?

 

[GravityHater]

Thats lawyers flying our airplanes for us.
Crap once signed off, we used to spin 150s, 172s for HOURS just for fun.
Full spins, multiple turns, not the dropped-wing thing they do now.

 

[gkrangers]

I think I did one solo where I just flew around town.

The rest I was practicing maneuvers, landings, or a cross country.

 

[avbug]

kinda hard to enforce that when you're student owns his own aircraft.

Really? When the student is flying on your authorization, under your responsibility, and affecting your livliehood and certification? It's hard to take responsibility for your own obligations...is that what you're saying? I don't care if a student owns the aircraft or not. If I'm teaching a student, I authorize what that student can or cannot do, because he doesn't fly without that authorization. If he violates it, I will explain the ground rules again to the student. If this isn't acceptable, then my authorization is revoked, and the FAA will get involved. You're the instructor, you're in control, and you're responsible. Giving that up is an unprofessional standard of weakness.

As a student pilot, one of my instructors once saw an entry in my logbook in which I wrote "joyriding." A former SF/ranger, he lit into me, which made a big impression at age 16. He told me he didn't ever want to see me in that airplane when I didn't have a plan and wasn't making full use of that time. He knew how hard I worked to get that time, and he also knew he wasn't going to give a student enough slack to hang himself. He taught the same concept I espouse; that there's a difference between an hour of experience, and an hour of time.

If a student wants to go solo and see the leaves change colors, fine. Make it productive, enjoy the flight, be responsible. If a student wants to go teach himself aerobatics, big problem, and I'll ground the student and ensure either he can't rent, or that the FAA is involved and he can't fly. I'll get the police involved, if he pushes it enough. If a student wants to go get his own certification, and then pursue his own ideas on his own certificate, I won't intervene unless I am made aware of a safety hazard...but he surely won't come close while operating on my instructor certificate and on my watch as his instructor.

 

[midlifeflyer]

This article in AOPA flight training claims an instructor should only let a student perform a solo flight if it is NECESSARY for certification. You mean, your CFI never allowed you just to fly because you felt like it?

If the author means that each student solo flight should have a purpose, there's merit to it. But it can be carried to an extreme..

I knew a 141 school in which a student pilot had a landing accident. I was one of a group of instructors who was asked to fly with him. The guy landed better than me and it was clear to everyone that the accident was one of those flukes. He had a good handle on what happened and what he needed to do to correct it.

The pilot's biggest problem at this point was his loss of confidence, but since he had already met all of his solo time requirements, he was not allowed to solo again until after he received his private pilot certificate.

 

[FN FAL]

I knew a 141 school in which a student pilot had a landing accident. I was one of a group of instructors who was asked to fly with him. The guy landed better than me and it was clear to everyone that the accident was one of those flukes.

Fluke landings? You must be talking about UND.

 

[FlyingFisherman]

I called my only student pilot today and let him know he had my blessing if he was up to flying. He can go to any number of airports I've endorsed him to for lunch if he likes.

I also like the fact we can put whatever we want in his limitations...my favorite line is "Only with prior notification and authorization" when it comes to solo flights. I faxed a little blurb and signature to his office this morning.

He's covered in that I said he could. I'm covered if he decides to exceed limitations or balls up an airplane without letting me know.

 

[hoop]

As a student pilot, I was signed off for 3 of the local airports. I flew out of a class D, and the other 2 were uncontrolled, but usually have quite a bit of traffic. I could go practice anytime I wanted. My only requirments were to call my instructor prior to the flight, and give him a report of winds, and a mini-weather briefing. After about my 3rd solo, he asked what I practiced on. Well, I told him that I just did a little sight seeing. Man, that old retired colonel tore into me similiar to what Avbug described. It was only then that I realized I'm paying too damn much money to just be out lollygagging..... Ever since then, I had an index card with the manuevers and order in which they will be practiced. I have to say though, that the solo time was a great confidence builder. I couldn't imagine not flying solo until you already had your ticket. I just don't see the logic in that......Just my low-time 2 cents.

 

[jaxpilot]

whoa. well i havent signed him off to solo, another instructor did and then he transferred to me but still has the old instructors instructors endorsement. He hasnt done anything to worry me and he is an older man and I am confident of his abilities. If he were to worry me I would involve the FAA or police as you said.

 

[NoPax]

I've instructed and been instructed by friends and strangers. I don't know if it's just me, but I want to lay a plan out of every maneuver / navigation exercise to be done in a solo lesson - its part of being a professional flight instructor. Also, flight tracking software is great for the cross country trips.

The time for fun, and sightseeing is after they get their PVT. That should be the reward for them. If you let them do it with their student certificate, then where's the motivation for them to actually do the checkride?

I'd also not allow students to take up their girlfirends, wives etc...again, its a distraction that should be left until after they've learned the complex art and science of flight.

 

[gkrangers]

I'd also not allow students to take up their girlfirends, wives etc...again, its a distraction that should be left until after they've learned the complex art and science of flight.

Its also illegal.

 

[FN FAL]

Its also illegal.

Is it really illegal? Or is it just prohibited?

 

[gkrangers]

Is it really illegal? Or is it just prohibited?

I saw this coming.

 

[Flyerjosh]

Its also illegal.

It's not illegal if you are conducting a Dual flight...