First solo flight

First solo flight

The first solo flight of a new airplane pilot in North America consists of the student completing several take offs and landings by him or herself. Flying such a flight is a milestone known as soloing.

Requirements

As for the time that a new pilot must take instruction before taking to the sky on his own, there is no rule. In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration regulations require that a student pilot show competence in several specific skills before being allowed to solo.Harvard reference | Surname=Namowitz| Given=Dan | Title=First solo follies | Journal=AOPA Flight Training | Volume=19 | Issue=4 | Year=2007 | Page=43-44] However, competence is mostly a judgement call of the Certified Flight Instructor (also known as a CFI). In practice, it typically takes 15-20 hours of flight time, however, soloing at 8 hours or 30 hours is not uncommon. In extreme cases, new pilots may get their solo endorsements after fewer than two hours, or more than 40 hours.

Soloing

Usually when the student is given permission to fly alone the instructor directs the student to fly three circuits of the traffic pattern each accompanied by a full stop landing. During the solo, the students Flight instructor generally supervises the students performance from the ground, paying close attention to the approach and landing, with many instructors keeping a radio handy in case the student pilot should need assistance or advice.

Traditions

Several traditions have developed around "soloing", including drenching the student with water and cutting off and permanently displaying the back of his shirt. However, soaking a pilot who has already soloed is breaking tradition and is subject to its due consequencesOr|date=September 2007

In aviation lore, the traditional removal of a new pilot's shirt tail is a sign of the instructor's new confidence in his student. In the days of tandem trainers, the instructor would tug at the students shirt tail whenever he was getting himself into trouble. After the first solo, the new pilot is competent in the air does not need such a safety device.

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • solo flight — The first air flight of a student pilot without an instructor in the plane with him. De Rienzo v Morristown Aircraft Corp. 28 NJ 231, 146 A2d 127 …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • solo flight — flight which takes place by an unaccompanied pilot flying alone, first flight performed by a new pilot by himself …   English contemporary dictionary

  • First Flight — may refer to: * First Flight ( Enterprise episode) * First Flight (film), an animated short film * First Flight Airport, in North Carolina, United States * First Flight Handicap, a horse race * , a collection of short stories * , a music… …   Wikipedia

  • Solo — may refer to:Music*Solo (music), to play music or sing alone *Drum solo, a portion of the song reserved for the drummer *Guitar solo, a portion of the song reserved for the guitarist *Solo (group), and American R B group *Solo (band), a Dutch pop …   Wikipedia

  • solo — so|lo1 [ soulou ] noun count * a piece of music or a part of a piece of music that is performed by one person: a piano solo The trumpeter did a brilliant solo in the middle. solo so|lo 2 [ soulou ] adjective usually before noun 1. ) done by one… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • solo — I UK [ˈsəʊləʊ] / US [ˈsoʊloʊ] noun [countable] Word forms solo : singular solo plural solos * a piece of music or a part of a piece of music that is performed by one person a piano solo The trumpeter did a brilliant solo in the middle. II UK… …   English dictionary

  • flight, history of — ▪ aviation Introduction  development of heavier than air flying machines. Important landmarks and events along the way to the invention of the airplane include an understanding of the dynamic reaction of lifting surfaces (or wings), building… …   Universalium

  • Flight of Icarus — Infobox Single Name = Flight of Icarus Artist = Iron Maiden from Album = Piece of Mind B side = I ve Got the Fire Released = 11 April 1983 Format = Recorded = 1982 Genre = Heavy metal Length = 3:49 Label = EMI Writer = Adrian Smith Bruce… …   Wikipedia

  • solo — /soh loh/, n., pl. solos, soli / lee/, adj., adv., v. n. 1. a musical composition or a passage or section in a musical composition written for performance by one singer or instrumentalist, with or without accompaniment: She sang a solo. 2. any… …   Universalium

  • solo — /ˈsoʊloʊ / (say sohloh) noun (plural solos or soli /ˈsoʊli/ (say sohlee)) 1. a musical composition performed by or intended for one singer or player, with or without accompaniment. 2. any performance, as a dance, by one person. 3. a flight in an… …  

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”