question about soloing

[SJM]

Do you need your instructor there when you solo?

I understand that when you first solo you obviously want to have your instructor on the radio, but after you get comfortable soloing, do you need him/her to be present? Or have them sign off on something?

And what are the limitations of having a solo endorsement vs actually having the private license? (aside from being able to take pax)

[Grabo172]

Here are your limitations...

§ 61.89 General limitations.

(a) A student pilot may not act as pilot in command of an aircraft:

(1) That is carrying a passenger;

(2) That is carrying property for compensation or hire;

(3) For compensation or hire;

(4) In furtherance of a business;

(5) On an international flight, except that a student pilot may make solo training flights from Haines, Gustavus, or Juneau, Alaska, to White Horse, Yukon, Canada, and return over the province of British Columbia;

(6) With a flight or surface visibility of less than 3 statute miles during daylight hours or 5 statute miles at night;

(7) When the flight cannot be made with visual reference to the surface; or

(8) In a manner contrary to any limitations placed in the pilot's logbook by an authorized instructor.

(b) A student pilot may not act as a required pilot flight crewmember on any aircraft for which more than one pilot is required by the type certificate of the aircraft or regulations under which the flight is conducted, except when receiving flight training from an authorized instructor on board an airship, and no person other than a required flight crewmember is carried on the aircraft.

You don't need to have your instructor there. But some schools might require it, or at least have AN instructor around.

[casey]

this would be an excellent question for your CFI.

You need a signoff to solo, and it is limiting. The CFI can attatch further limitations to the solo privileges. The signoff is for local flights. For XC flights you need more signoffs and they are per XC routing. Your solo signoff also expires after 90 days.

If your goal is to not get the certificate and just fly recreationally on a solo endorsement, i would suggest not doing that. If you really dont want to go through the hassle of getting a private (which isnt that much), get a sport license or something instead.

[Superfly7XAF]

Might want to check out:

FAR 61.87 Solo Requirements for Student Pilots

(n) Limitations on student pilots operating an aircraft in solo flight. A student pilot may not operate an aircraft in solo flight unless that student pilot has recieved:
(1) An endorsement from an authorized instructor on his or her student pilot certificate for the specific make and model aircraft to be flown; and
(2) An endorsement in the student's logbook for the specific make and model aircraft to be flown by an authorized instructor, who gave the training within the 90 days preceding the date of the flight.


You might want to also check out sections (a), (b), (c), and (d) of that FAR as well. Also solo X-Country requirements follow in FAR 61.93.

[X-Forces]

The short and simple answer is NO.

However, like Grabo pointed out, depending on where you fly the school might require it, but the FAA doesn't.

IMHO, your instructor should always be there for you initial solo.

I know that we require the instructor's presence certain solos. When I trained in FL I soloed most of the time when my instructor had the day off. He was usually nowhere to be found.

[sdfcvoh]

Except if operating 141...

141.79(b)
No student may be authorized to start a solo practice flight from an airport until the flight has been approved by a certificated flight instructor.

[Sidious]

Originally Posted by sdfcvoh

Except if operating 141...

141.79(b)
No student may be authorized to start a solo practice flight from an airport until the flight has been approved by a certificated flight instructor.

Couldn't that mean he has just given the proper endorsements and it would then the flight woud be "aproved by a certificated flight instructor" ?

[meyers9163]

Well said above. I'd just add by saying no. However a good CFI will probably be right around the radios or available to their student should they need them. I know I always was and all the CFI's that I would deem great quality instructors who cared would always be near by incase something indeed came up. Remember it is your CFI's rear on the line when you solo.

[PGT]

after I got signed off I had to call up my instructor before I went flying

"can I go fly?...pretty pleasseeeee"

[meyers9163]

Originally Posted by PGT

after I got signed off I had to call up my instructor before I went flying

"can I go fly?...pretty pleasseeeee"

hahha got the bug eh?

[sdfcvoh]

Originally Posted by Sidious

Couldn't that mean he has just given the proper endorsements and it would then the flight woud be "aproved by a certificated flight instructor" ?

I'm not sure how deep that runs, actually. I remember a discussion with my CFI regarding 141 and a requirement that CFI be present. Although I couldn't find anything other than the wording above.

To directly answer your question, I read it differently than just an endorsement as the reg uses wording that doesn't talk about endorsement. It (the reg) talks about specific flights.

But I am certainly not the reg specialist! I'm just read them....

[Grabo172]

Originally Posted by sdfcvoh

Except if operating 141...

141.79(b)
No student may be authorized to start a solo practice flight from an airport until the flight has been approved by a certificated flight instructor.

I'm pretty sure that just means that any CFI that works at that school has to approve the solo flight. Not necessarily the students own instructor.

[Wolfy]

Also for 141, a lot depends on their syllabus.

[meyers9163]

Originally Posted by Wolfy

Also for 141, a lot depends on their syllabus.

141 is just another beast all together!

[bLizZuE]

I remember my second solo. I was expecting my instructor to be there waiting for me on the ground when I got back. The office was completely empty, nobody anywhere to be found. I remember thinking "WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENED?" lol

[nosehair]

Originally Posted by casey

If your goal is to not get the certificate and just fly recreationally on a solo endorsement, i would suggest not doing that.

umm.. why not, Sir.

Seriously, not being a smarta**, but trying to understand that anti-recreational solo flying attitude that I see floating about. Whussup widdat?

I encourage it. ??

[Sidious]

Originally Posted by nosehair

trying to understand that anti-recreational solo flying attitude that I see floating about. Whussup widdat?

I encourage it. ??

The recreational limitations outweigh any benifits it offers. For only 10 more hours of dual time you can earn your Private Certificate. On top of that if you want to fly in Class B or any other controlled airspace you must also receive individual enodorsements that will most likely push you over the 40 Total Time required for a Private Certificate.

I do not think it is worth it and the small number of Recreational Pilots in the U.S. seems to validate that fact. With Sport Pilot increasing in popularity it would seem the FAA will get rid of Recreational soon.

[germb747]

I'd ask your CFI what he expects of you. You are, after all, essentially flying on his ticket--which is also why folks frown upon just flying recreationally on a solo endorsement with no intention of upgrading.

[EineBeBoP]

Originally Posted by nosehair

umm.. why not, Sir.

Seriously, not being a smarta**, but trying to understand that anti-recreational solo flying attitude that I see floating about. Whussup widdat?

I encourage it. ??

I read that as saying:
Not getting ANY ticket (Private, sport, etc) and just getting his solo signed off every 90 days for the rest of his life.

That seems stupid, as if you finish your PPL you can fly when you want, where you want. (Obviously if weather permits)



Question for you guys:
I fly out of kWHP. With my solo endorsement, am I legal to fly 5 miles west and land at VNY? Do I need a signoff to do that? Flying to my Practice area is futher, so I dont see distance as a problem, but do I need permission to land at another airport besides my home?

[Grabo172]

Originally Posted by EineBeBoP

Question for you guys:
I fly out of kWHP. With my solo endorsement, am I legal to fly 5 miles west and land at VNY? Do I need a signoff to do that? Flying to my Practice area is futher, so I dont see distance as a problem, but do I need permission to land at another airport besides my home?

You need a signoff (endorsement from your CFI) to make repeated landing at another airport (besides your training airport) within 25 miles. The signoff includes route training to and from the airport and local procedures such as traffic pattern and local traffic procedures...

Ask your CFI, shouldn't be a problem to get that endorsement...