First solo flight

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The first solo flight of a new airplane pilot in North America consists of the student completing several take offs and landings by him or herself. Flying such a flight is a milestone known as soloing.

1 Requirements
2 Soloing
3 Traditions
4 References

[edit] Requirements

As for the time that a new pilot must take instruction before taking to the sky on his own, there is no rule. In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration regulations require that a student pilot show competence in several specific skills before being allowed to solo.^[1] However, competence is mostly a judgement call of the Certified Flight Instructor (also known as a CFI). In practice, it typically takes 15-20 hours of flight time, however, soloing at 8 hours or 30 hours is not uncommon. In extreme cases, new pilots may get their solo endorsements after fewer than two hours, or more than 40 hours.

[edit] Soloing

Usually when the student is given permission to fly alone the instructor directs the student to fly three circuits of the traffic pattern each accompanied by a full stop landing.^[1] During the solo, the students Flight instructor generally supervises the students performance from the ground, paying close attention to the approach and landing, with many instructors keeping a radio handy in case the student pilot should need assistance or advice.^[1]

[edit] Traditions

Student aircraft pilot who has had the tail of their shirt cut off after a solo flight.

Several traditions have developed around "soloing", including drenching the student with water and cutting off and permanently displaying the back of his shirt. However, soaking a pilot who has already soloed is breaking tradition and is subject to its due consequences^{[original research?]}

In aviation lore, the traditional removal of a new pilot's shirt tail is a sign of the instructor's new confidence in his student. In the days of tandem trainers, the instructor would tug at the students shirt tail whenever he was getting himself into trouble. After the first solo, the new pilot is competent in the air does not need such a safety device.