It was a very special day.. I took my student down to Fort Worth Alliance Airport (KAFW). I have trained this student for about 3 weeks. I taught him how to preflight the airplane and I remember how scared he was at his first takeoff, his first power on stall and his first slip to land.
During his first 5 or 6 lessons he kept the taxiway center line on one side of the airplane. Now it was a different story; my student is able to call ground, taxi the airplane on the center line do the run-up, call tower, takeoff, take me to another airport do the required calls, land and taxi back with me sitting on the side with my arms crossed!!
We landed at Alliance Airport and taxied back to the runway.. we did that four times and at then I asked the tower for parking instructions since my student was flying solo for the first time.
This is my second student I endorse to solo.. but this one is special because my first one was already trained and was assigned to me to give him retraining. I started with this one without him having any experience; the feeling of seeing him making decisions, communicating, flying, etc.. it's amazing because he learned all that from me!!
I was very very scared.. but he was excited.. very excited and that made me feel better.. he did his three takeoffs and landings and I will definitely keep that day in my mind just as I remember my first solo.
