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Launch to Free Flight

Instructors should rarely have to take over in this phase except below 1000 feet, where they still should be prepared to take over the controls at any time. The general rule is prompt only once for the correct action, and if it is not executed, take over, rectify the problem (“Don’t fool around below 1000 feet!”), then return control to the student. Of course when students are ready to solo the instructor does not have to take over. Students at this stage should be prepared for all events in the curriculum.

Free flight should now be a green situation for the student. However, instructors should look to demonstrate how quickly the situation can change and coach the student on how to cope in these situations. There should be very few demonstrations during this phase, mostly instructor-prompted student flying.