After completing my first solo, the next stage was solo consolidation. The aim now was to become more comfortable flying alone in the circuit and to build confidence in handling the aircraft without anyone beside me. It is a really important step, as it forms the foundation for the next parts of training such as solo navigation exercises and, eventually, the QXC (Qualifying Cross Country).
The feeling of flying solo still feels quite new, but this stage gave me the opportunity to settle into it properly. Without an instructor’s voice in my headset, I had more space to focus on my own decision-making, workload, and awareness in the circuit. The routine felt familiar now, and I could concentrate on consistency rather than simply getting around safely. Each circuit helped me feel more in control and more confident.
I completed an additional hour of solo flying, and it was a really useful chance to refine things like spacing, timing, and landings without guidance. By the end of that hour, I could feel the difference. The nerves from the first solo had eased, and it began to feel natural to operate the aircraft entirely on my own.
After reviewing my progress, my instructor recommended that I start looking at navigation lessons next, while the weather was still good. It felt like the right time to move forward, taking the skills I had built in the circuit and beginning to apply them to more dynamic flying beyond the airfield.
Solo consolidation has been a short but meaningful phase in my training. It bridged the gap between flying under close supervision and starting to think independently as a pilot. That growing sense of confidence is what makes this stage so rewarding, and it feels exciting to now be ready for the next challenge ahead.
Modular Pilot Kiran 