What We're Doing..

First Solo - White Flight

Friday, 31 July 2015 03:30

  

 

 

 

As a pilot advances through his or her training there are many great lessons to be undertaken.

Aviation has many traditions and rights of passage. The First Solo Flight is one that all pilots never forget and is the first step on the way to becoming an accomplished pilot, capable of making command decisions.

Professional Pilot Training is very proud to mark this occasion for this year’s Air Niugini junior credits with the traditional “First Solo Bucket”.

After obtaining:

  • An Aviation Reference Number (ARN).
  • A class 1 or 2 medical. C
  • Completing the required flying training under the command of their flight instructor with a minimum of 15 hours flying experience and completing a dual flight check.

The students qualify for their 1st solo.

Each student then completes a solo circuit. Flying a “circuit” involves a takeoff, climbing to 500 feet Above Aerodrome Level (AAL) then preforming a climbing turning onto the “Crosswind ” and “Down Wind” legs.  At 1000 feet AAL the student, now the Pilot In Command, levels the vertical flight path while managing the energy state and ground track of the aeroplane within very fine tolerances to fly the “Down Wind” leg.  At the end of Downwind the Pilot In Command lowers the Vertical Attitude to begin the decent for landing.  A descending turn is made through “Base” arriving on a 3 degree Final Approach.  By making the required adjustments to the flight path and airspeed the solo student slows the aeroplane and gently docks the wheels with the runway.

After completing his or her 1st solo tradition demands each student make Two more sacrifices. The solo bucket and the Jetty Jump!