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Then, when they do get the message, they will
either dump the flap, or take half power and sit
there with the nose up.
This is where instructors earn their slender pay
packet. They beat the pupil to the flap selector and
make sure he doesn’t touch it. They are ready to close
the throttle and then advance it smoothly if the pupe
has slapped it open. And they are ready to put huge
forward pressure on the stick if the pupe doesn’t do so.
Another terrible sin, at this stage, is for the pupil to
be allowed to use partial power to rescue a bounce or
a balloon. There must be none of this during pre-solo
training – it comes in much later. The bottom line is
that if he has stuffed up the landing, he simply doesn’t
have the skill to put things right near the ground and
then try again. He is likely to either lose directional
control with the power changes, or run out of runway.
So any sort of stuff up, be it a bounce/balloon
situation, or a not-down-the-centerline nonsense,
must be the trigger for a full go-around. There
must be no half measures.
Incidentally, the very worst thing an
instructor can do is to have her hands or feet on
the controls and “help” you by applying a bit of
pressure. She is hindering you by deceiving you
into thinking you are doing it right, taking away
the proper feel of the controls, and making you
feel that she doesn’t trust you to do it yourself.
She has also made sure that you are flying
safely and reasonably accurately and can handle
emergencies such as EFATO, or an engine failure
in the circuit. You must, according to the regs,
be able to make a reasonable attempt at a forced
landing. You should also have an idea of how to
deal with a fire on the ground and in the air.

For the instructors

To close, here are a few extra tips for instructors –
stuff I have found out for myself. Stuff that is not
any manuals.
A first solo should be only ONE circuit and
landing – unless the pupil has to do a go-around.
When pupes are told to do two or three landings
the first one is always fine – disaster strikes on the
second or third landing when the pupil is losing
concentration and becoming overconfident.
During pre-solo training I make students do a
couple of circuits and bumps without instruments
at all, by hanging a jacket or towel over the whole
panel. This is seat of the pants flying. It serves a
couple of purposes. The main one is to emphasise
the importance of attitude flying. Get the nose in
the right position and the airspeed will be right.
Flying with no instruments at all is surprisingly
easy to do, and it is a huge confidence builder.
I make a bad approach – too high, too low, too
fast, too slow, not on centerline, or not straight,
and then hand over to the student. I want to see
him take firm positive action to sort it out.
Beware the second solo. You can expect a drop in

performance after first solo. I suspect this is due to

overconfidence, which causes a lack of focus.

Finally, this is how I avoid giving the student

time to get nervous. You tell them on downwind

that they are doing really well. You want them to

make it a full stop landing after which you want

them to taxi back to the threshold and do a perfect

circuit without you having to say a single word.

When they have done their vital actions and are

ready to go I ask them to describe how they will

do a go-around, if necessary. Once they have done

that. I tell them they will do the circuit on their

own, tell ATC it is a first solo, get out, fasten my

seat belt, close the door firmly and walk away.

The big trick is not to look round. This tells

them clearly that you have full confidence in them.

Stomp off across the grass towards a nice cup

of hot coffee, like Mike Kemp did to me.

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