The Joy of Flying Solo Cross Country

I remember vividly the first time I had been cleared to fly solo. Having arrived upon it later than my classmates, I was anxious to jump up to their ranks. In what seemed like a fit of excitement and fear, I flew my first solo circuit around the small but dear airport at Caloundra, a quaint coastal town north of Brisbane, Australia. With the defining test of skill and ability tackled, the next task of cross country flying didn't seem impossible anymore. This is not to say it wasn't challenging in the least bit. Here are five reasons why single-pilot cross country flying has been one of the best experiences of my life, and by extension, of any student pilot. 

1. You are the Captain of the ship.

With no instructor by your side to caution you on your errors and the forgiving ground thousands of feet below, you are essentially both the Captain and the crew of your sail. This meant exercising good decision-making, such as flying higher than intended to keep more room with terrain encroaching on your altitude or dodge the effects of midday turbulence. As the only occupant of the flight, I also got to walk away with some sloppy landings in crosswinds without the disapproving looks of my instructor. 

2. "Life's easier in the air."

Cruising along, edging your way to the next airfield, you are pretty much left to your own devices. And I mean that quite literally, too. Except for the occasional reporting of intentions over the radio, you are at liberty to tune in for banter with friends on a shared frequency (be careful not to hog the channel for the benefit of others flying), reach for your camera, or listen to the playlist you had snuck along.

 3.  Fronts seats to a nature documentary.

I consider myself lucky, having flown over some gorgeous landscapes in Northeastern Australia; green lushes, rusty countryside, tall cityscapes, and blue waters. The sheer variety in scenery never ceased to amaze me each time I got to fly into a new airport. Flying gifts you the transformational ability to view the land and sky from a grander perspective, and it is humbling. I often look back on several fond memories. Some gratifying, some unsettling; viewing the distinct hue of the setting sun, watching a distant rain cloud pour down, tracking down ever curving motorways, and flying blind through the expanse of thick clouds.

 4.  Flight planning is exciting and educational.

Setting sail into the wilderness awakens the frontier spirits in us. This, by far, is the most thrilling aspect of solo cross country flying. Modern day training aircraft offer the luxury of flight management systems and GPS for easy navigation. Even so, flying, as an old schooler, using weather forecasts, visual references, charts, fuel and time logs sharpen your wit as an aviator. It is something I also would recommend as good fun. As my instructor would drill into me time and again, there is a caveat; don't let this get you distracted from the basic task of flying the airplane.

 5.  Possibility of chance

It wouldn't be fair if I didn't mention that there is a definite chance that life could still throw you a curveball despite all your planning. You may arrive to find a thick cloud cover over your pitstop airport, the one with the sure toilet, forcing you to divert. You may find yourself stuck with a non-functioning credit card, miles away at an unfamiliar airport trying to refuel the aircraft. But so is life, and I am sure you are no stranger to it. These moments make experiences worth retelling. For that, I am grateful; however, I still regret downing the large can of soda preflight.

Originally published on Medium.