Solo Limitations

Question 1

You’re checking the weather at one of the airports on the cross-country route. The airport has one runway, 9-27. Which of the following wind groups from the TAF allow for solo flight?

09010KT
18010KT
24010KT
09008G14KT

Answer 1

• 09010KT
• 24010KT
• Solo flight is not authorized when current or forecast winds at the destination airports exceed 10 knots total or 5 knots crosswind.

Question 2

What is the minimum flight visibility required for solo flight?

Answer 2

Local solo operations
3sm

Solo cross-country operations
5sm

*14 CFR 61.89 requires just 3 statute miles visibility for solo operations (even cross-countries), but ATP’s requirements are more stringent. Consider the student’s prior experience as well; a student who has never flown in 5 SM visibility before might be unable to complete the route safely, while one who has trained in those conditions may have no trouble.

Question 3

You’re checking the weather at one of the airports on the cross-country route. Which of the following sky condition groups is NOT permissible for solo flight?

SCT015
BKN035
OVC080

Answer 3

BKN035

• Solo cross-countries require ceilings of at least 4,000 feet AGL.

Question 4

Where must the first solo take place at?

Answer 4

The approved first solo airport.

• This is usually the student’s home base airport, but not necessarily. For example, at the Addison training center near Dallas, the high level of corporate jet traffic poses an additional risk to student solo flights. As such, all solo operations are conducted out of nearby McKinney Airport.

Question 5

Which instructor can conduct the warm-up flight prior to a solo flight?

Answer 5

The student’s primary instructor.

• The primary instructor, due to their experience working with that student, will be able to judge the student’s proficiency level more accurately than an instructor with less time with that student. Also, the primary instructor puts their certificates on the line by endorsing a student to solo, and making this decision without seeing the student’s performance first-hand would be foolish.

Question 6

How many takeoffs and landings (to Solo Eval standards) must a student demonstrate during a warm-up flight?

Answer 6

2 full stops, plus a go-around without the assistance of the instructor.

*This gives the student a chance to warm up, and the instructor a chance to ensure the student has maintained proficiency between flights. 10 consecutive takeoffs and landings are required as a prerequisite for the Solo Eval, not during the solo warm-up.

Question 7

How much flight time must a student have within the preceding 10 days to be authorized for their first solo?

Answer 7

5 Hours

Question 8

Who selects the route to be flown during solo cross-countries?

Answer 8

ATP Admin personnel, as listed in the Approved Routes document. Students may only use the approved cross-country route for solo cross-countries.

Question 9

A student successfully completes their Solo XC Evaluation on May 3. What is the last day on which they can fly their first solo cross-country without having to fly the route again with an instructor?

Answer 9

May 13. To fly the solo cross-country route, a student must have flown that exact route within the preceding 10 days.