Champing at the bit?

[Pianorak]

Getting on for nearly 40 hours and still not solo. Went back to reread up on this sore subject to remind me there are people who went solo after 40 and even 60 hours plus – which should be some comfort and put my mind at rest.

However, one question occurs to me: If a student has done repeatedly eight near-perfect landings out of 10 and the remaining two were still safe but involving a “bounce” or “balloon” would any FI be inclined to let them go solo? (Assuming that all other aspects such as keeping correct height, speed, trim etc. were to an acceptable standard.)

Possibly an unfair and unanswerable question, but I’ll ask anyway.

[A and C]

Its all very much of a judgment call as to if the whole flight is safe , I would rater see a student make a good recovery from a mistake that not make any mistakes at all.

Perfect students are a bit of a worry as you dont know how they will react when something dose go wrong ( and it will ) fortunatly the perfect students are not very common !.

It sounds to me that you need another instructor , this is not a critisisum of the instructor but sometimes if things are said in a diferent way the student will react in a more positive way.

[Genghis the Engineer]

Problem is of-course that it's the instructor who is best fitted to judge what "good" is, and many students get frustrated by this inevitable difference in perception. (I think this works in any sphere, the oddments I've taught - varying from outdoor pursuits in my youth to test flying now, but I'm not a QFI to be fair, there have often been marked differences - in both directions - between my perception of ability and the perception of those I've taught).

I know a QFI who tried to send a student solo for months but the chap was so under-confident he kept refusing.

G

[dublinpilot]

P,

You might try asking your instructor to let you fly a number of circuits and not to say anything to you, or to touch the controls, unless he deems it necessary in order to ensure safety. Most importantly, ask him to let you try to fix your own mistakes without out his help/input, unless it's going too far.

It may well show you that you do still need someone there, or it may show him that you've learned more than he had tought.

dp

[Pianorak]

Thanks for all the responses.

Dublinpilot: that’s exactly how we work at the moment. Also, I should add that my original posting was prompted by the disappointment with myself. Furthermore, having “binned” the first FI, I am now completely at ease with my second FI whose judgement I trust and respect.

In short, yes, I am still just a tad too inconsistent to be let lose on my own. Hey ho, roll on Christmas!

[Whirlybird]

My instructor used to demand consistently perfect landings before he'd get out (this was after first solo). One day he was away and I flew with someone else; I did one good one, one passable, and one crap approach and go-around. He said; "I'm getting out of her; you know when to go around, so you''re safe". All instructors are different, and so are all students. Frustrating though, innit? I know how you feel. Don't worry; you'll get there in the end. Easy for me to say I know...but you will.

Good luck,

Whirly (48 hours approx to first solo, with two "false" solo checkrides; I didn't post on the thread; fed up with the fuss about first solo)

[Pianorak]

Thanks Whirly. Yes, frustrating at times. And yes, I too am ever so good at go-arounds when there’s some rude (or perhaps hard of hearing?) so-and-so proclaiming “Lining up XX” and proceeding blithely onto the runway when I have made my Final Call and am practically on top of . . . whoever it is.