Building on the FAA's minimum requirements for solo, you must demonstrate your understanding of these items & proficiency in performance of these maneuvers before you will be eligible for solo flight.
____ Pilot Certificates & Documents
____ Aircraft Certificates & Documents
____ Use of Checklists
____ Preflight inspection
____ Operation of aircraft systems
____ Engine starting
____ CTAF communications and AWOS information
____ Taxiing
____ Airport & Runway markings
____ Warmup & Before-takeoff check
____ After-landing procedures
____ Parking & securing the airplane
____ Airspeed, altitude, & level flight control
____ Traffic Pattern
____ Obtaining & understanding a preflight briefing
____ Collision avoidance & clearing turns
____ Normal & Crosswind takeoff & climb
____ Unusual Attitudes recognition & recovery
____ Steep turns
____ Slow flight maneuvering
____ Power-off stalls (from straight flight, turns, and descent)
____ Power-on stalls (from straight flight and turns)
____ Turns around a point
____ S-Turns across a power line or road
____ Weight & Balance calculations
____ Special Emphasis areas
____ Runway “wheelie” touchdown view
____ Forward Slip to landing
____ Normal & Crosswind descent, approach, & landing
____ Short & Soft field takeoff & landing
____ Go-around / Rejected landing
____ Cockpit management and handling distractions
____ Pilotage navigation to another airport
____ Lost procedures
____ Intro to ATC communications
____ Approach to & pattern entry at another airport
____ Recovery from bouncing or ballooning on landing
____ Landing with gusts
____ Systems & equipment malfunction / blank panel
____ Autopilot recognition and shutoff
____ Emergency descents (slips & spirals)
____ Engine-out approach & landing
____ Wind shear avoidance
____ Tailwind takeoff & landing
You will also need insurance coverage.
Non-owned aircraft renter's insurance will cover your liability (banged into a car, scraped another plane, ran over someone's toe, injured a passenger, etcetc) as Pilot In Command as well as pay the deductible on our insurance plan for our plane and cover lost income while she's down for repair. We require a minimum of $20,000 in aircraft damage & loss of use coverage, and we recommend securing sufficient liability coverage to protect yourself and your interests. We are NOT insurance agents nor attorneys and cannot advise you in any way :-) other than recommending that you speak with your own agent. Please provide us with a copy of your certificate prior to your solo flight.
That said, however, we have been very happy with Ace Aviation, our agent, and recommend them and their services. You can surf over to https://ace.aeroinsure.com/DTM/US/ to get a quote for coverage and play with your options. If you are an EAA member, be sure to provide your membership number to get an automatic increase in medical coverage. [And if you aren't, now is a great time to join; it's a fantastic organization :-] The great news is that, in addition to costing less than $500 per year, it covers you in any plane you can fly as a Sport Pilot (and then some, but that's your limit for now :-) We make nothing other than goodwill from the recommendation, and you're welcome to look into non-owned coverage elsewhere as well.
Non-owned aircraft renter's insurance will cover your liability (banged into a car, scraped another plane, ran over someone's toe, injured a passenger, etcetc) as Pilot In Command as well as pay the deductible on our insurance plan for our plane and cover lost income while she's down for repair. We require a minimum of $20,000 in aircraft damage & loss of use coverage, and we recommend securing sufficient liability coverage to protect yourself and your interests. We are NOT insurance agents nor attorneys and cannot advise you in any way :-) other than recommending that you speak with your own agent. Please provide us with a copy of your certificate prior to your solo flight.
That said, however, we have been very happy with Ace Aviation, our agent, and recommend them and their services. You can surf over to https://ace.aeroinsure.com/DTM/US/ to get a quote for coverage and play with your options. If you are an EAA member, be sure to provide your membership number to get an automatic increase in medical coverage. [And if you aren't, now is a great time to join; it's a fantastic organization :-] The great news is that, in addition to costing less than $500 per year, it covers you in any plane you can fly as a Sport Pilot (and then some, but that's your limit for now :-) We make nothing other than goodwill from the recommendation, and you're welcome to look into non-owned coverage elsewhere as well.
When you're ready, it's time to move to Leaving the Pattern!