How do student pilots stay safe while learning?
Pilots learning to fly are placed in a system that provides checks and balances to ensure that they aren’t exposed to dangerous situations before they have been given the necessary knowledge to cope. Prior to flying alone, student pilots must complete a written examination and have demonstrated proficiency in all activities relating to local flying, including emergencies. So when you take the airplane up for the first time by yourself, you will have been drilled many times in what to do in case something doesn’t work as planned. Essentially, the same approach is followed prior to going on long solo trips, called cross-country flights, away from the airport. The objective is to keep new pilots under the watchful eye of an instructor until they have gained the experience and knowledge to go out on their own. That supervision process continues until the student pilot becomes a private pilot.
