Question: I am a student pilot who just soloed. My CFI told me I could practice everything we’d done together except for stalls and ground reference maneuvers. Is this because the FAA doesn’t allow student pilots to do them solo as part of the Part 141 modernization initiative?
Answer: According to the FAA, “this is not related to the Part 141 modernization initiative. Students can conduct stalls and ground reference maneuvers during solo flight if they have received the required training and hold the appropriate endorsement from an authorized instructor under 14 CFR § 61.87.”
However, the FAA notes that even when a student meets the regulatory requirements listed under 61.87, “pilot schools and instructors may establish additional limitations based on curriculum structure, safety considerations, or assessments of student proficiency. Students should review their school’s policies and consult with their instructor if they have questions about any restrictions beyond FAA minimums.”
It is the instructor’s prerogative to spell out any additional limitation on the student’s solo privileges. These limitations are written in the endorsement placed in the student’s logbook. They often include weather minima, crosswind limitations, and admonishments to adhere to flight school rules, such as “student will check weather and fill out an aircraft performance sheet before solo.”
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