Easing Solo Anxiety

[kodoz]

I thought about this from another post. Knowing you're about to solo can be distracting (if not anxiety-provoking). So I wanted to see what others do or had done, and what worked out best for them. Both times I soloed (once fixed wing, once helicopter) were different: my fixed wing instructor told me en route to an airport we frequented that we'd do a couple of patterns and then he was getting coffee, my heli instructor asked me at the end of a lesson if I was ready, then hopped out. I never did the last option: plan a flight where you know today you'll solo, you do a few patterns, and then your instructor gets out.

[captkirkyota]

My school is 141 and everything is all planned out in a syllabus, so I knew I was gonna be solo-ing, it was a scheduled thing, I came in, we went over school solo policies, what I can and can't do, signed the agreement that I would stick to the can and can'ts. Went out with my instructor, did a pattern together, set down he got out and then sat next to the taxi-way while I did pattern for 40 minutes. He also had a radio if I needed to talk with him for any reason.

[qwerty]

Instructor scheduled my solo about a week before I had to do it. I was a bit nervous and anxious for the whole week and basically right before my instructor hopped out, but overall I don't think it made my performance worse knowing about my solo in advance.

[slick1537]

I haven't soloed yet, but I would really hope my instructor would let me know at least a day before hand.

[Azhigher]

I knew about my solo in advance due to it being a 141 school. Made it easier for me that way I think, I had time to mentally prepare. The worst part about it all was my instructor told me the first pickup would be strange due to the cyclic wanting to be so far forward to hold a steady hover so I was a little nervous about that. After I picked it up and got stabilized it was all good.

[500E]

We did a few circuits, some straight in Qstops and some downwind Qstops was told to park up on ramp, he got out, and said do a few circuits, and see how you feel, then walked away.

[helicopterpilot]

I soloed in a 300CB back in 2000. Took of from Concord, California and flew to Rio Vista, a small airport to the northeast.

I knew what I was heading for on that flight. Being enrolled in a 141 Program at HAI it was standardized when you did your solo. If everything went as expected, of course.

 

Did the usual patterns and some straight in autos at Rio with my CFI before he told me to set it down on the helipad, and to "do a couple of patterns - but remember she will be a lot lighter now, so easy with the collective". He then climbed out smiling... Felt weird on the first pattern, then on the second one it felt just fantastic..

[rotor91]

First ATTEMPT at a solo flight, saw my CFI put the 2-way radio under the seat, so I had 20 min(to the practice area) to psych myself OUT, and it showed on my attempt to solo! Needless to say, after I heard over my headset "DOWN COLLECTIVE...NOW" The attempt was over. We went up 2 more times, and on the third time, we're sitting on the ground at idle(after about 20 min of flying at the practice area), and he asks if I'm ready....and very calmly I said YES...I'm ready! AND I did a perfect solo!

 

So do it sneaky, if you feel the student is ready. Especially after a couple approaches, auto's, etc., this builds he/she confidence UP.

 

My .02

R91

[brushfire21]

I am going to second Rotor91, sneaky is way better on the mental status, and this can still be done on a 141 flight as well if the instructor does it right (mine did!).

[southernweyr]

It looks like it depends on the student. My solo was planned and I flew a bit with my instructor then she got out and I went for a few patterns. I don't believe the knowledge of the impending solo made me nervous but I was nervous while soloing. I was only up for about a half hour the first time. After that I was soloing with much more confidence with the next solos being over an hour in length.

[ADRidge]

I haven't solo'ed yet... heck, it'll be a week before I start auto's, I think. But I know it's coming, and that's the way I like it. I want to be able to have a (somewhat) definite date so I can practice what I need to beforehand, get into the proper mindset, think fifteen steps ahead and anticipate how my ship will behave.

 

But I've noticed I have a different mindset than a couple of people in my ground school.

[brushfire21]

ADRidge,

 

Your instructor will know when your ready before you do very possibly when it comes to that time. Don't worry about needing to get in the extra practice as you will be doing it anyways and the instructor will help you do the polishing work needed!

[lwalling]

Soloing is a good (easy) thing for me. In many ways, I am more comfortable on my own than I am supervised. Granted, my instructor is extremely easy going and well structured in his training activities - and that helps me a great deal.

 

So far the only thing I have been a little uncomfortable with is night flying, supervised or not, its damn hard to do a clean setdown in the dark ! .

[fast03cobra]

When I soloed for my Private ASEL, I knew at least a day or two in advance. It KILLED ME!! I was so darn nervous. I really wished my instructor would have sprung it on me...

 

With that being said I believe that the CFI should know his or her student, and decide which is best for them..

[rollthbns]

I was given a clue with some ballast and a handheld radio tagging along for the flight. I had always taken the approach that I would NEVER know when I was ready to solo, and would just trust the judgement of my flight instructor when the time came. We went out to one of our favorite local practice areas and did a few pickups, setdowns, an auto and an approach or two We sat down and he jumped out with a smile and said have fun!

 

I did about 5 patterns and after the initial shock of being alone in the machine, the training took over and I just followed what was taught coupled with the current conditions of the area and bingo! I think I made better landings by myself actually. Perhaps it was the extra concentration or the reduced "Im watching you" factor. One thing that stood out was how darn tiny a person looks from 1/4 mile away at 700 ft agl. It may seem somewhat juvenile, but I was absolutely giddy when the flight was over. I survived solo flight in a helicopter!

 

I prefer the sneak it up on you method. Nothing worse to me personally than having to stress ahead of time.

[Copterpilot213]

The "spring it on you" method does have some good things about it for most people, as has been stated above.

 

However, I don't think most people have their checkride without any notice... So in my opinion, working on how to deal with nerves early on will help you with your checkride. I'm of the firm opinion that the great majority of people don't fail checkrides due to lack of knowledge, but due to being nervous.

[r22butters]

My first solo was schedualed beforehand. I also had to pass a pre-solo written test that morning, so I guess it would have been hard to surprise me?

 

We flew to another airport, he got out, I did three trips around the pattern, then he got back in and we did some other stuff.

 

Knowing, in advance, that I was going to solo, actually helped me prepare more, and thus alleviate a lot of the anxiety.

[ADRidge]

Wow that was a crazy trip back in time! Strange seeing a post you don't remember typing out!

[r22butters]

Guess I missed the date? Its weird that these old post come back around every so often.

[ADRidge]

I think it's kind of cool. I especially get a kick out of reading Flingwing's old posts.

[Hovergirl]

My first solo was schedualed beforehand. I also had to pass a pre-solo written test that morning, so I guess it would have been hard to surprise me?

 

 

I was thinking along these lines. If the student has to pass a test, and a stage check, and get endorsements from his instructor, he's not going to be thinking about anything else after all that is done. Might as well put your cards on the table.