The Things You Need to Know Before You Solo

Learning to fly an airplane is not like learning to drive a forklift or a stick shift.

Meg Godlewski

Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at 08:20 AM ET

Verified

Being ready for your first solo takes a lot more than you might think. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

Student pilots must understand FAR Part 61.87, which outlines the extensive aeronautical knowledge and skills required for solo flight, as achieving proficiency takes significant time and dedication.
A mandatory, geographically specific pre-solo knowledge test is administered by your instructor, who is ultimately responsible for your actions during solo flight, making thorough preparation essential.
The 90-day solo endorsement is renewable, meaning you do not have to repeat all pre-solo training if you don't complete your private pilot certificate within that initial period.

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As a student pilot you don’t know what you don’t know. There is so much information coming at you, so many skills to learn, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and buried—especially when it comes to what you need to know before your first solo.

Your instructor will appreciate it if you take ownership of your training by insisting on and following a syllabus. The first part of the syllabus will consist of tasks listed under FAR Part 61.87—the aeronautical knowledge and skills required for solo flight.