New Pilots Should Beware of the ‘Close-to-Solo’ Trap

Complacency, inadequate instruction, and the two-fisted technique can become real issues.

Meg Godlewski

Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 09:26 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Flying with someone other than your regular CFI can improve performance.[Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

Prolonged flight training with the same instructor can foster complacency and the normalization of unsafe practices, such as neglecting checklists or adopting incorrect control techniques.
Learners are often unaware of their "soft spots" or dangerous habits until another instructor identifies and corrects them, highlighting the importance of fresh perspectives and pre-solo checks.
A case study illustrated how fundamental errors, like a "two-fisted" takeoff and landing technique, can be passed down through instruction, underscoring the critical need for proper teaching on aircraft control and consistent checklist usage.

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When you fly with the same person for several hours, you can get used to each other to the point of complacency.

Your CFI might let you get away with a slip, like forgetting to use a checklist during the preflight inspection, which can lead to a normalization of deviance. Or you might be paired up with an instructor who is building their hours and following the syllabus by “checking the boxes” but not really teaching. Or maybe something got lost in translation or technique as it was taught, and the learner is ill-equipped for solo flight.