Student Pilot Solo Requirements

Student Pilot Solo Requirements Student Pilot Solo Requirements Have you started flight training? Eager to fly the airplane by yourself? Not so fast - make sure you know the rules for flying solo! Here are the requirements and limitations for solo flight by a student pilot:   Requirements Must be at least 16 years old.Must be able to read, speak, write and understand the English language.Must have a student pilot certificate and at least a Third-Class medical certificate. (These are usually the same document, but not always!)  Must pass a written knowledge test covering Parts 61 and 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations, airspace rules, and regulations and flight characteristics and operational limitations for the make and model of aircraft to be flown.    Must receive and log flight training from a certified flight instructor on the maneuvers and procedures appropriate to the make and model of aircraft to be flown,  and demonstrate satisfactory proficiency in these maneuvers, including those listed in  14 CFR 61.87:  Proper flight preparation procedures, including preflight planning and preparation, powerplant operation, and aircraft systemsTaxiing or surface operations, including run-upsTakeoffs and landings, including normal and crosswindStraight and level flight , and turns in both directionsClimbs and climbing turnsAirport traffic patterns, including entry and departure proceduresCollision avoidance, wind shear avoidance, and wake turbulence avoidanceDescents, with and without turns, using high and low drag configurationsFlight at various airspeeds from cruise to slow flightStall entries from various flight attitudes and power combinations with recovery initiated at the first indication of a stall, and recovery from a full stallEmergency procedures and equipment malfunctionsGround reference maneuversApproaches to a landing area with simulated engine malfunctionsSlips to a landingGo-arounds Limitations In addition to having certain privileges, a solo student pilot also has some restrictions. A solo student must not act as pilot in command of an airplane: at night (without the proper training and endorsement)while carrying passengersmore than 25 nautical miles from the home airport (without a proper endorsement)carry property for compensation or hirewhen the flight visibility is less than 3 statute miles  without visual reference to the groundcontrary to any limitations placed in the students logbook by the instructor  on an international flightin furtherance of a business Source: 14 CFR 61.87 and 14 CFR 61.89