Required Pre-Solo Flight Training per §61.87 (d) and §61.93 (e)

An often-missed item on solo signoffs is the logging of required flight training. §61.87 (d) states Maneuvers and procedures for pre-solo flight training in a single-engine airplane.

A student pilot who is receiving training for a single-engine airplane rating or privileges must receive and log flight training for the following maneuvers and procedures:

(1) Proper flight preparation procedures, including preflight planning and preparation, powerplant operation, and aircraft systems;

(2) Taxiing or surface operations, including runups;

(3) Takeoffs and landings, including normal and crosswind;

(4) Straight and level flight, and turns in both directions;

(5) Climbs and climbing turns;

(6) Airport traffic patterns, including entry and departure procedures;

(7) Collision avoidance, windshear avoidance, and wake turbulence avoidance;

(8) Descents, with and without turns, using high and low drag configurations;

(9) Flight at various airspeeds from cruise to slow flight;

(10) Stall entries from various flight attitudes and power combinations with recovery initiated at the first indication of a stall, and recovery from a full stall;

(11) Emergency procedures and equipment malfunctions;

(12) Ground reference maneuvers;

(13) Approaches to a landing area with simulated engine malfunctions;

(14) Slips to a landing; and

(15) Go-arounds.

Additionally, §61.93 (e) lists Maneuvers and procedures for cross-country flight training in a single-engine airplane. A student pilot who is receiving training for cross-country flight in a single-engine airplane must receive and log flight training in the following maneuvers and procedures:

(1) Use of aeronautical charts for VFR navigation using pilotage and dead reckoning with the aid of a magnetic compass;

(2) Use of aircraft performance charts pertaining to cross-country flight;

(3) Procurement and analysis of aeronautical weather reports and forecasts, including recognition of critical weather situations and estimating visibility while in flight;

(4) Emergency procedures;

(5) Traffic pattern procedures that include area departure, area arrival, entry into the traffic pattern, and approach;

(6) Procedures and operating practices for collision avoidance, wake turbulence precautions, and windshear avoidance;

(7) Recognition, avoidance, and operational restrictions of hazardous terrain features in the geographical area where the cross-country flight will be flown;

(8) Procedures for operating the instruments and equipment installed in the aircraft to be flown, including recognition and use of the proper operational procedures and indications;

(9) Use of radios for VFR navigation and two-way communication, except that a student pilot seeking a sport pilot certificate must only receive and log flight training on the use of radios installed in the aircraft to be flown;

(10) Takeoff, approach, and landing procedures, including short-field, soft-field, and crosswind takeoffs, approaches, and landings;

(11) Climbs at best angle and best rate; and

(12) Control and maneuvering solely by reference to flight instruments, including straight and level flight, turns, descents, climbs, use of radio aids, and ATC directives. For student pilots seeking a sport pilot certificate, the provisions of this paragraph only apply when receiving training for cross-country flight in an airplane that has a VH greater than 87 knots CAS.

Both of these are required to be logged in a student pilot’s logbook to legally solo. The easiest way I have found to do this is to create a spreadsheet with these requirements. It is similar to the §61.105 and §61.107 signoffs used for the practical test. It is acceptable to also write the training in the remarks line of the logbook. However, a spreadsheet not only takes the place of the required logging but acts as a checklist for you as the instructor. When I first meet a student pilot on the first day these four spreadsheets are pasted into their logbooks. As we complete training I simply find the areas we covered and sign it off. As we approach the checkride date I know what additional items we must complete. (I have posted an example at the end of this post)

Be cautious signing the remarks section as “training per 61.87(d)” This is generic and implies you did all the items (15 in total) on that flight. Possible, but not realistic.

Remember without proper signoffs your student is not legal to solo. This includes all training and endorsements. If an accident or incident occurs and if something is missing you as the instructor will most likely be invited to speak to the local FSDO. I have known instructors who had improper endorsements who were invited to retake (709 ride) their CFI with an FAA inspector. Worst of all is the insurance company. I have never seen a policy that does not state in some fashion that the aircraft and pilot must be legal for the policy to apply. Should an accident or incident take place and the student pilot is missing these signoffs, they are not legal to be soloing and most likely will not be covered by the insurance.

Tailwinds,

Lance