How to Build Confidence Along With Hours

Here's what a learner should know about the benefits of solo cross-country flights.

Meg Godlewski

Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at 12:30 PM ET

Verified

Edited By: tccjeremy

Solo flying experience builds both skill and confidence. [Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

Many flight students feel unprepared for solo cross-country flights due to rushed training, reduced solo experience, and a concerning decline in traditional navigation skills caused by over-reliance on technology.
Flight instructors are urged to provide comprehensive instruction in fundamental navigation (pilotage, E6-B, dead reckoning) and thorough cross-country planning, execution, and post-flight procedures.
Effective training includes structured ground lessons, fostering independent decision-making during dual flights, clearly explaining solo endorsement limitations, and emphasizing flight plan management for safety.
Prioritizing robust solo cross-country experience, supported by meticulous instruction, is crucial for building a pilot's confidence, essential skills, and decision-making abilities.

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It makes me sad when someone tells me how unprepared they felt during their first solo cross-country flight. More often than not, this happens because they felt rushed into their first solo, and lack confidence in their training. Some flight students have been pushed through the pipeline with minimal instruction and the boxes checked by the CFI who was also pushed through the pipeline.

I have been warned it is getting worse. Several designated pilot examiners (DPEs) I know have expressed dismay over a change in the Part 141 world where there has been a shift away from requiring solo cross-country flight once the learner has earned their private pilot certificate. Instead, the private pilot rolls right into the dual instruction for their instrument and commercial certificate flying with a CFI.