Pre-solo test

Rebel Lord

Rebel Lord

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Rebel Lord
Ok so my solo is this week sometime. I have to take a pre-solo test.

Any instructor or student want to tell me what was in their pro-solo test or what they put in it?
 
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Rebel Lord said:
Ok so my solo is this week sometime. I have to take a pre-solo test and I've tried to get alittle bit out of my instructor but hes keeping it under wraps.

Said "it will include alot of stuff" Any instructor or student want to tell me what was in their pro-solo test or what they put in it?
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1) What quantity of flight line is needed to secure the aircraft?

2) What airspeeds do you pitch for on downwind, base, final, short final?

This article from AOPA might help: Pre-Solo Written Test
 
At a minimum it will cover the following:
§61.87 Solo requirements for student pilots.
(a) General. A student pilot may not operate an aircraft in solo flight unless that student has met the requirements of this section. The term “solo flight” as used in this subpart means that flight time during which a student pilot is the sole occupant of the aircraft or that flight time during which the student performs the duties of a pilot in command of a gas balloon or an airship requiring more than one pilot flight crewmember.

(b) Aeronautical knowledge. A student pilot must demonstrate satisfactory aeronautical knowledge on a knowledge test that meets the requirements of this paragraph:

(1) The test must address the student pilot's knowledge of—

(i) Applicable sections of parts 61 and 91 of this chapter;

(ii) Airspace rules and procedures for the airport where the solo flight will be performed; and

(iii) Flight characteristics and operational limitations for the make and model of aircraft to be flown.
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In addition your instructor can add anything that he feels that you should know before you solo.
 
I think mine consisted of "what's rule #1?" and then all the rest were minor things.
 
And when you solo, try not to be Super Dave

A story stolen from the Red Board (posted by bluefishbeagle). But fun to share with the student pilots who are about to solo.
Picture this:

I was once working with a student I'll call "Super Dave"

The first time I flew with Super Dave he was wearing an insulated Air Force flight suit carrying an Air Force pilots helmet with flip down visor. He was very disappointed to learn my plane did not have Air Force style plugs for the mike. He insisted on wearing the flight suit however and did for every lesson.

Super Dave was fearless
Super Dave was implusive
Super Dave was over confident
Super Dave was always seeking approval
Super Dave was invincible
Super Dave drove me nuts.

To be fair Super Dave was a good stick but a stick without a lick of common sense.

He could have soloed in 5 hours but I held him back till he had 12 and we had covered every pre solo manuver three times over.

Finally it was time for Super Dave to solo. I feared the day but it had arrived. Super Dave arrived at the airport early (flight suit and all) and did a preflight while I was in the hanger praying.

Super Dave was instructed to make three "Stop and go landing PLUS I instructed him to taxi back to the end and use full length each time.

What could go wrong I reasoned as I signed his student Lic and logbook. He had been making perfect patterns and landings for the last 7 hours.

Super Dave lined up and off he went, the rotation was textbook. But that's where all things normal stopped.

Super Dave was all over the sky. Banking crazily, pitching like a seal with a great white on it's tail. I could not talk to Super Dave this was before hand helds and the small country airport did not have a working unicom.

The downwind was wild as well as his final approach. He rolled and pitched I envisioned my trusty C150 in a pile of smoking rubble with me explaing to the FAA why I let this wild man solo.

It was time to flare or crash, just as suddenly as he lost control he regained it, the plane leveled off just in time an made a perfect touchdown. I ran out to the runway to flag him in as he taxied back. But Super Dave did not taxi back he did a touch and go.

Again a perfect takeoff, then the previous nightmare started all over again. I could not imagine what was happening. Again just before the second landing he seemed to regain control and make a perfect landing.

Again Super Dave did not stop he did a touch and go. The wild gyrations continued during the third circut and again just before he crashed, the plane smoothed out and he made his third perfect touch down. Finally I thought "It's over" That is until Super Dave was off again. Super Dave could not count. His fourth time around the patterned was no better but true to form he regained control and made a perfect fouth landing.

Finally Super Dave taxied back to the ramp, exited the aircraft with sweating running from every pore in his body, his insulated flight suit drenched, but not out of fear it was July with 90 per cent humidity.

Super Dave's first words upon exiting the plane was. "how'd I do, how'd I do, it was good wasn't it".

I drew a deep breath and said "the takeoff and landing were perfect but what in the "blazes" (cleaned up to meet forum rules) were you doing the rest of the time."

"Oh," he said, "I was taking pictures" as he pulled a camera out of one of the many pockets in his flight suit.​
 
Mine was basically v speeds, weather mins, fuel mins (FAA and flight school), lost comm procedures for the airport, some basic stuff about the plane like usable fuel, oil requirements, and interpreting metars and tafs. Pretty sure that was all of it.

Good luck!
 
I don't have a set in stone exam for my pre-solo students. They are customized (besides what's required in 61.87) to each student based what I think they do and don't know.
 
Could be, How many times does your airplane have?
 
Don't worry,you should be familiar with the info that is tested. Study airspeed ,and airspace .also look at the regs that cover solo and solo cross country flying
 
Don't forget the most important questions will be about where to fill up a bucket with prop wash at the airport, how much JetA can your tanks hold and who your first passenger will be after you solo. :D
 
BigBadLou said:
Don't forget the most important questions will be about where to fill up a bucket with prop wash at the airport, how much JetA can your tanks hold and who your first passenger will be after you solo. :D
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Very funny :loco:
 
Know your Airplane and know your Airport.... If you can do that, you'll be fine.:yes:
 
Mine was a bit on V speeds, Class D rules, and landmarks around the airport, and a LOT on what I was permitted to do solo.
 
Think about it... he wants to make sure you safety take off, do the pattern, and safely land.

Departure procedures
TPA
V-speeds and in the pattern
emergency (losing an engine)
spotting traffic
ATC comms
flaps (downwind, base, final)
Arrival procedures
 
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