It's a throwback, but a fun one. The solo student gets a big welcome
and congrats from whoever is there, but now with many airports with
minimal coverage it can be hard to find someone.

It worries me that these rites of passage are apparently becoming rare
in parts of the country. These are important things that we shouldn't
allow to die.

Tearing off the shirt of a solo pilot is apparently not the tradition
it once was, either, but our little family now has three of those very
special mementos hanging on our wall. The solo stamps/signatures in
my logbook (and the feeling of being "welcomed to the club" at every
airport I visited as a student) trigger wonderful memories, and served
to give me more incentive to actually finish up the private.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"