Many pilots are training at a school that embraces performing the duties of pilot in command in lieu of solo flight. [Credit: Meg Godlewski]
Key Takeaways:
Many pilot training programs are increasingly substituting traditional solo flight with "Performing the Duties of Pilot in Command" (PDPIC), where an instructor is present, to meet experience requirements for certifications.
Aviation experts and instructors express concern that PDPIC, despite being legally permissible for certain requirements, undermines the development of essential confidence, independent decision-making, and single-pilot resource management skills that only true solo flight can provide.
This shift in training may result in pilots having significantly less actual solo experience, potentially affecting their preparedness for real-world scenarios and raising questions about the quality of pilot training and safety.
The article also highlights issues with the origin and application of PDPIC rules, including potential for incorrect logging and leading to pilots being technically certified without fully acquiring the necessary independent command experience.
You probably remember your first solo—when it was, where it was, and what airplane you flew.
After the first solo, there were additional solo flights where you practiced takeoffs and landings or went to the practice area to work on the maneuvers you learned with your CFI. Eventually, you flew solo cross-country flights.
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
![Many pilots are training at a school that embraces performing the duties of pilot in command in lieu of solo flight. [Credit: Meg Godlewski]](https://www.flyingmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/FLY1125_1.5-In-Training-1.jpeg)
