Well done Iainpoll - told you it would be your turn soon
The most helpful tip I can give anyone about navigation is
do as much on the ground as possible! Get the wind forecast, use your whiz wheel, and decide which radionavs you'll use. Write down their frequencies, and you could even write down the morse so you don't need to fiddle around with your kneeboard. All this will save time spent with your head in the cockpit in the air - time in which you might have gone past a landmark.
If you DO miss a landmark, don't worry. Sometimes even if you know exactly where one is, it might not be visible if you're just a couple of degrees off track. First thing to do is check your DI against the compass to make sure your heading is what you think it is. Then, just wait and see if the next one turns up. If not, then use a couple of VORs, or a VOR and a DME to get a position fix. Don't panic, even ATCOs that fly get it wrong sometimes.
Finally, don't be afraid of speaking to ATC, and don't be afraid of using non-standard R/T. They don't bite ... hard!
Don't be sloppy with what you say, but ask for what you want. No need to panic because you say 'sorry, I mean' rather than 'correction'. As long as the message gets across, that's what's most important. Don't be afraid of getting something wrong either. Just make sure you tell them. Again, it has been known for an ATCO to be wrong occasionally
Remember, they're there for
your safety!
Oooh... and don't forget to relax and enjoy it every now and then! Your instructor wouldn't have sent you off solo if he wasn't entirely convinced you would bring the a/c back safely. They really hate the paperwork if you screw up
