Milestones

[cjsmith]

rfrench soloed his first flight student today. He called me from the ramp, saying "That's his engine you hear in the background. I'm not in the plane."

I bet the first time an instructor ever does that, it's scarier for the instructor than it is for the student.

There's no LJ mood thingy for "proud".

Comments

[joedecker.livejournal.com]

Yay Rob! (There is, of course, "other/proud")

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

Yay! :)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

He may post about it later.

(But I want the bouncing kitty face!)

[joedecker.livejournal.com]

(But I want the bouncing kitty face!)

For you, then. :)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

*ping*

lj tricksy

[gev.livejournal.com]

pick an iconed mood that's close, the enter a custom mood.
then you get the icon and the custom mood. :)

Re: lj tricksy

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

ooooo! I edited this post. Thanks!

[dieppe.livejournal.com]

Ah, reminds me of my first solo...

Hm. Those were the days. Mebbe I should post about it in my LJ? *ponder*

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Go for it! 8-)

[gjo.livejournal.com]

Yup, you just have to look at the face of those gliding instructors sending a student solo. Boy do they look stressed when the student joins circuit.

[sunnydale47.livejournal.com]

I bet the first time an instructor ever does that, it's scarier for the instructor than it is for the student.

Oh, absolutely. In fact, although it does get easier with experience, it's scary for the instructor every time! At least the student can admit to being scared ... the CFI has to put on a very casual attitude and tell the student, "Nah, don't worry -- you're ready, you'll do fine," and stand there on the ramp looking like the only thing on their mind is having to mow the lawn when they get home.

T was a CFII, and used to tell me about sending students up for their first solo. Hell, can you imagine teaching your wife to fly and sending her up for her first solo? And he practically pushed me out the door when I woke up to a gusty crosswind and wanted to postpone my long cross-country. He never let on that he had the slightest concern, and only admitted when asked much later, after I was licensed, that his heart was in his mouth both times.