Student night solo?

(Michael) wrote in message om...
(Robert M. Gary) wrote
Sure - but basic night flying isn't one of them. In other countries
it's a separte rating, and that's fine - but in the US it's something
we expect at the private level.

With the amount of training we give students the should be able to
safely return home even if it gets dark. However, if they plan on
flying a lot of cross countries to unfamiliar airports they may want
to consider getting more than the minimum. I don't have a problem
providing more training but most students aren't interested in that
during their primary training. Most of my students are working
professionals so the time difference between night training and
checkride is often 6 months. Going 6 months without flying at night is
hard for any rated pilot.

And this is why I have a real problem with this blanket acceptance of
no night solo.

I would not have a problem soloing a student at night but would
normally require some additional training. However, the FBOs I work
for prohibit students from flying at night solo so it doesn't make
much difference. I do often work with aircraft owners so that could
happen.

-Robert, CFI

"Michael" wrote in message
om...
Dave S wrote
My answer as a non-CFI is.. I would expect the number of CFI's who
actually endorse a student for night solo to be VERY low.. simply as a
result of the environment in which we instruct and train.

My answer as a CFI is - if not now, when? The student will have night
privileges when he passes the checkride. Therefore, if you don't feel
comfortable having him fly solo at night on your ticket, how can you
send him to the checkride?

My policy is that the student gets a night solo endorsement when he
completes his night and instrument training. If I don't feel like he
can fly at night and maintain an adequate level of safety and
proficiency, then we do more than the mandated 3 hour minimum (this
has happened). If he doesn't like it, he can find another instructor
(this has not).

Michael

Michael, I like your attitude you must be a excellent instructor you kind of
sound like my old instructor to bad he went to the airline's he was a great
instructor. The Flight school he used to work at was not so good though they
are crooks

"Michael" wrote in message
om...
Dave S wrote
My answer as a non-CFI is.. I would expect the number of CFI's who
actually endorse a student for night solo to be VERY low.. simply as a
result of the environment in which we instruct and train.

My answer as a CFI is - if not now, when?

When he passes his check ride. Until then, I don't need the liability
incurred by allowing students to fly at night.

Dave S wrote
My answer as a non-CFI is.. I would expect the number of CFI's who
actually endorse a student for night solo to be VERY low.. simply as a
result of the environment in which we instruct and train.

My answer as a CFI is - if not now, when? The student will have night
privileges when he passes the checkride. Therefore, if you don't feel
comfortable having him fly solo at night on your ticket, how can you
send him to the checkride?

My policy is that the student gets a night solo endorsement when he
completes his night and instrument training. If I don't feel like he
can fly at night and maintain an adequate level of safety and
proficiency, then we do more than the mandated 3 hour minimum (this
has happened). If he doesn't like it, he can find another instructor
(this has not).

Michael

My comment would be... how much instruction and experience did the
student get in night operations? Just the bare minimum? How well does
the student perform with minimal direct supervision?

My brother in law actually had some student night solo time, but that
was a byproduct of his training.. he worked long days, and so much of
his training was evening and dusk. Over 1/3rd of his hours were at night
by the time he took his checkride. His DE initially thought there was an
error on his form 8710.

My answer as a non-CFI is.. I would expect the number of CFI's who
actually endorse a student for night solo to be VERY low.. simply as a
result of the environment in which we instruct and train.

Dave

Peter MacPherson wrote:
I'm a CFI and was curious how many CFI's sign their students off for
flying solo at night. I personally don't feel comfortable doing it.

Thanks,
Pete

My FBO didn't allow solo night flight so I wasn't signed off for it.
IMHO, a good thing.


--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL, IA Student

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

My FBO didn't allow solo night flight so I wasn't signed off for it.
IMHO, a good thing.


--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL, IA Student

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

In rec.aviation.student Peter MacPherson wrote:
I'm a CFI and was curious how many CFI's sign their students off for
flying solo at night. I personally don't feel comfortable doing it.

Thanks,
Pete

Uncomfortable, then don't sign them off! Most students truly do not
have enough night experience to be flying solo at night. I think the
good judgement kicks in at about 10 hours of night time.

Conversely, about 1/2 my private training time was night, so I got
signed off for solo night. :-) The DPE re-checked the numbers on my
8710, and they agreed with my logbook, and I have been night current
and comfortable at night ever since (1975).

Best regards,

Jer/ "Flight instruction and mountain flying are my vocation!" Eberhard

--
Jer/ (Slash) Eberhard, Mountain Flying Aviation, LTD, Ft Collins, CO
CELL 970 231-6325 EMAIL jer'at'frii.com WEB http://users.frii.com/jer/
C-206 N9513G, CFII Airplane&Glider, FAA-DEN Aviation Safety Counselor
CAP-CO Mission&Aircraft CheckPilot, BM218 HAM N0FZD, 218 Young Eagles!

In rec.aviation.student Peter MacPherson wrote:
I'm a CFI and was curious how many CFI's sign their students off for
flying solo at night. I personally don't feel comfortable doing it.

Thanks,
Pete

Uncomfortable, then don't sign them off! Most students truly do not
have enough night experience to be flying solo at night. I think the
good judgement kicks in at about 10 hours of night time.

Conversely, about 1/2 my private training time was night, so I got
signed off for solo night. :-) The DPE re-checked the numbers on my
8710, and they agreed with my logbook, and I have been night current
and comfortable at night ever since (1975).

Best regards,

Jer/ "Flight instruction and mountain flying are my vocation!" Eberhard

--
Jer/ (Slash) Eberhard, Mountain Flying Aviation, LTD, Ft Collins, CO
CELL 970 231-6325 EMAIL jer'at'frii.com WEB http://users.frii.com/jer/
C-206 N9513G, CFII Airplane&Glider, FAA-DEN Aviation Safety Counselor
CAP-CO Mission&Aircraft CheckPilot, BM218 HAM N0FZD, 218 Young Eagles!

"Peter MacPherson" wrote in message news:9kQad.459163$8_6.292132@attbi_s04...
I'm a CFI and was curious how many CFI's sign their students off for
flying solo at night. I personally don't feel comfortable doing it.

Thanks,
Pete

Back when I was a student I remember several of my cross countries
being done at night (in a tailwheel with no landing light no less).
However, the flight school I work with now prohibits it. I would say
the night training we give toward the private is pretty minimum
(especially for the student that has over a year between checkride and
night flying). I would expect students to come back after their
private and ask for more night training before renting at night.

-Robert, CFI