This is the moment of a lifetime. Until only about a century ago, humans could only look up in the sky and wonder how we’d get there. But today or soon enough, you are getting to join the ranks of becoming a pilot with your first airplane solo.
Nerves, excitement, and maybe even a small dose of fear are normal. Here are 9 tips for your first airplane solo:
- Use the checklist – it’s there for a reason.
- Give a solid preflight inspection.
- Tell ATC it’s your first solo.
- Nail your airspeeds.
- View it as a routine flight.
- Don’t try anything new.
- Video what you can.
- Don’t be pressured by ATC or Other Traffic.
- Use the checklist.
This post is also available in our YouTube video below:
1. Use the Checklist
I’ll be honest – it was always fairly annoying for my instructor to hound me for not pulling out the checklist during very routine parts of the flight – cruise climb, descent checklist, etc. When there isn’t a lot happening and things feel routine, do I really need to multitask that much to pull out the checklist?
The answer is yes. The professionals flying the big birds today live and die (literally) by the checklist. The airplane will do its job if you do yours, and that checklist is there to make sure the airplane continues to do what it’s supposed to do.
Take your time with the checklist especially during your first solo. Don’t be pressured to do a quick run up if there are other airplanes waiting to go behind you.
If there’s one checklist you definitely don’t want to miss, it’s a thorough before takeoff checklist and a solid pre-landing checklist. Fly by the book today – it will keep you from being affected by the newness of flying alone.
2. Do a Solid Pre-Flight Inspection
Your instructor may or may not help you with your pre-flight inspection today. After all, the point of the flight lesson today is that you are going solo.
As such, make sure to give the airplane a really, really good pre-flight inspection. Check the things that could lead to silly malfunctions in flight:
- Is the oil cap still off from the last student putting in another quart after the last flight was over?
- Have the fuel caps been properly sealed? We don’t need fuel spraying out and declaring an emergency to get back on the ground.
- Did you sump the fuel tanks again after the last flight topped off?
- Is your flap motor operating both wings? That would make for an eventful base-to-final turn if not.
- Did you un-chock the airplane? I’ve had to shut the engine off, un-chock, and start over. It’s a real confidence booster, especially when the ground crew is watching.
3. Tell ATC it’s Your First Solo
If you’re soloing at a towered airport, Air Traffic Control can be a great resource to you on this day especially. Don’t be shy to tell them it’s your first solo. All you need to say is something very brief as part of your transmission:
Addison Tower, Skylane 916DF ready for full-length departure on 15. VFR to the East. This is my first solo flight.
When I was still a student pilot I very frequently would end my first transmission with “student pilot” just very briefly so that ATC could help me out wherever practical. This is particularly helpful in busier controlled Class B and C airspace. You’ll find that controllers will sometimes spare you the last minute vector or late descent into an airport because of this.
If you’re soloing at an uncontrolled airfield, ending your takeoff radio call with “first solo flight” will help you get extra time and or spacing from other pilots that want you to be safe and be able to take your time during this special flight.
For further reading on ATC communications, see our article 13 ATC Communication Tips and Tricks for Pilots.
4. Nail Your Airspeeds
One of the most prevalent areas pilots show their sloppiness and lack of discipline is not flying the correct approach airspeeds.
The airplane you’re flying is very talented at flying just fine without you at the helm. It’ll do its job if you just do yours. Be disciplined about flying your correct airspeeds on downwind, base, and especially final.
Always ask yourself “high, low, fast, or slow… and what am I going to do about it.” If you’re high, take some power out. If you’re fast, you need to pull the nose up. Don’t be lazy here. The airplane is really good at touching down smoothly if you’ll fly it to stall speed just above the ground.
Fly your checklist airspeeds and don’t float halfway down the runway because you came in over the threshold in a 172 going 80kts. Fly the numbers and nail them every time.
Later on when you get your tailwheel endorsement, fly in the mountains, or learn to fly on floats, you can’t get away with not being disciplined on airspeed. It has been one of the most critical things I’ve focused on as a pilot and you start those habits now.
While it’s a little different than a 172, the Cessna 182 is very close in handling characteristics and airspeeds. Check out our article on 9 Actionable Cessna 182 Landing Tips You Can Implement Today.
5. View it as a Routine Flight
The airplane doesn’t know this is your first solo flight. If you continue to do your job (i.e. follow the checklist!), it will 99.9% of the time do its job.
You have been prepping for this day for quite some time now, but remember that you have the requisite skills to do this. Most likely your first solo flight will be flying in the pattern or nearby and getting a few landings under your belt. If you fly your airspeeds and follow the checklist, this can be an very routine flight for you.
6. Don’t Try Anything New
Today isn’t the day to buzz the tour with Goose in the back (RIP, Goose). Today is about bringing together all of the training you have so far and demonstrating to yourself that you can fly.
I’m repeating myself, but this goes back to flying the checklist and your airspeeds. There will come a day for fun power-off short approaches and low-level passes in formation, but that’s not today. You will be happiest and most successful if you play today by the book and do what you’re trained to do.
7. Video What You Can
If you are able to stick a mounted GoPro in the cabin, or have someone on the ramp video your takeoff and landing, it will be a special memory for sure. But don’t get so caught up in the videography that you are not able to focus on the job at hand.
Here’s a rule I would go by on solo day: If you can’t hit “record” and forget about it for the rest of the flight, don’t bring it at all.
There will be a time and a place for selfies, mock cabin announcements, and maybe even proposals in the air, but don’t let technology distract you from flying today. Have someone else film it, or get enough video storage on your phone or GoPro that you can hit record and then forget about it for the duration of the flight.
8. Don’t Be Pressured by ATC or Other Traffic
This goes back to just flying the airplane. Your LAST responsibility when flying the airplane is to talk on the radio. Yes it is an important part, but your first, second, and third responsibility are to fly the airplane.
Telling ATC or other airplanes in the pattern that it’s your first solo will help you to not be accidentally pressured by them if they are in a hurry, flying a tight pattern, or just generally impatient.
Remember that at the end of the day, you have your own responsibility to fly the airplane, and that is independent of anyone else’s hurry or pressure. If you’re working with ATC, remember that they are there for YOU. They might sound intimidating but ultimately YOU have the final say in the safety of the flight, and that is your primary responsibility.
9. Use the Checklist
You guessed it… use that checklist today.
- Fly by the book, and the airplane will do its job.
- Give it a great pre-flight, and the airplane will do its job.
- Worry about the radio last, and the airplane will do its job.
- Be a pilot and not a videographer, and the airplane will do its job.
- Trust and rely on your training, and the airplane will do its job.
Bonus: Get Your Shirt Tail Cut Off
Make sure someone is there to cut off your shirt tail and frame it. It’ll be a special memory for the rest of your life. Why do they cut off a your shirt tail when you solo, anyway (link to answer)?