Different Perspectives is a series designed to give the varying vantage points of instructors and student pilots going through their flight training
The following is a guest post by Vincent of PlasticPilot.net
My first solo came quite late, at 20 something hours. There are different reasons for this. I learned to fly in Geneva (LSGG), with rather intense airline traffic, this leaves little room for mistakes, so instructors have to make sure their solo students can handle it. The basic trainer was an AS-202 Bravo, with electrical flaps, so no-flaps landings were part of the pre-solo training.
Thanks to the progress forms used at this time, I knew that the solo was approaching. It soon was confirmed when my Instructor came on board with a handheld radio, the first time nothing happened. There was a 10+ kts crosswind, and Geneva has only parallel runways, Not good.
The handheld radio was here again at the next lesson. My instructor was carrying it discretely, but I saw it anyways. My landings on that day were simply horrible. After three of them, he asked for a full-stop. While we were taxiing back, he quickly checked the flaps and trim position, and told me to drop him by the grass runway holding point. The moment was here!
I double-checked everything and reported ready. The take-off roll was uneventful, and the climb a bit steeper than usual, but there was not much difference. The checks went smoothly: flaps, landing light, electrical fuel pump, crosswind turn. Then came the long downwind. The circuit in Geneva is quite long: 7 minutes at 90 kts. I was well concentrated, and everything was fine, until on final.
Then I thought of all what I read before, about students floating on their first solos, because the instructor was no longer on board. Speed was fine, everything looked good. The major difference was the white spot beside the runway. Also known as my instructor looking at my landing from outside for the first time. I tried to focus on the approach, the landing was totally normal. I vacated runway, and went for a second one The runway was too short for a solo touch-and-go’s.
Because of my concentration level (and maybe some stress.) the emotion came later, shortly after parking the aircraft, my hands were slightly shaking, and the silly smile on my face was greater than usual. No water bucket was thrown at me, and my shirt did survive the event. Even without that, it was really a memorable day.
To view an instructors vantage point on the fist solo visit PlasticPilot.net
