Perhaps a question for ATC to answer, how do they differentiate (indeed, should they ?) a first student solo from a second or more student solo ?
When I was training, flying solo and giving a 'Student G-ABCD' call sign I was more than once given instructions to orbit (although not on final !) and extend downwind due to heavy commercial traffic. Fortunately by the stage this started happening I was close to test, no dramas but would they have known that ?
I suppose the ATC view would be that whilst not ideal, the solo student was up to dealing with whatever emergencies or instructions were given otherwise the Instructor wouldn't allow the student to go solo.
Lest it be taken out context, the question is posed out of idle curiosity, not to have a pop at anyone.
Last edited by 150 Driver; 20th Feb 2015 at 14:07.
Reason: clarification