Respect the Limitations of the Solo

Tuesday, July 26, 2022 at 07:32 AM ET

Verified

You have just been entrusted with an airplane—that's an awesome privilege that you worked hard to get. [File photo: Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

While a student pilot is the Pilot in Command during solo flights, the Flight Instructor (CFI) bears significant responsibility due to their solo endorsement.
CFIs must clearly document and communicate solo flight limitations, including weather, aircraft-specific rules, and flight school policies, which students are legally and ethically bound to follow.
Students are expected to adhere strictly to all limitations and demonstrate sound judgment; failure to do so can result in serious consequences for both the student and the CFI, including the revocation of solo privileges.

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Federal aviation regulation (FAR) 91.3 states: “The pilot in command of an aircraft is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to the operation of that aircraft.”

It seems pretty straight forward—unless the PIC is a student pilot on a solo flight, and they are flying on the endorsement of their flight instructor. If the student PIC makes a bad decision that results in an FAR violation, or an incident or accident, you better believe their CFI is going to hear about it.