Time to Solo as a Predictor of Performance in Civilian Flight Training

Abstract

Civilian and military flight schools have long used the amount of time needed to solo as a benchmark for students. The researcher used regression analysis of student training records to see whether the amount of time a student needed to solo could predict the time needed to earn a private pilot license or the ability to pass the private pilot checkride on the first try. Results showed a strong relationship to the time needed to earn the certificate, but not to checkride results. The researcher recommends more analysis to determine which factors can produce competent pilots in fewer hours.