SongMan

-When you guys endorse your students for X-contry solo flight, do you guys write wind, visibility, and etc limitation on the endorsement?
If so, what figures do you use? and how do you personally come up with that figure?

-Solo X-country, do you CFI's have your student file the flight plan or just fly using the flight plan sheet without actually filing?

Thanks!

ChinookDriver47

Yes to question #1, and #2. They have strict limitations that are WAY above the normal VFR conditions spelled out in the FAR's.

For instance, I will almost always put the following in the conditions / remarks section:

Ceiling greater than 3.5k AGL, visibility at least 10nm as reported by destination ATIS/AWOS at time of filing; winds less than 15 kts at the sfc with X-wind not to exceed 8 kts. Daytime, VFR only.

Further, they absolutely MUST MUST MUST file a flight plan via either DUATS, DUAT, or those idiots in Arizona who don't know W T F they're doing and put a copy in my in-box. They call or text me when they end each leg of their destination and when they are back home.

I take ZERO chances.

FlyerJosh

I haven't had a student endorsement in several years. However here's what I did:

My student's general 90 day solo endorsement contained any weather limitations that I set forth. (I personally never signed a 90 day endorsement- mine were limited to either 45 or 60 days). I didn't differentiate in weather for local or XC flight (traffic pattern was the only exception).

The cross country logbook endorsement was an endorsement for specific airports, route, make/model, and the date of the trip. Since I had to go over the weather and flight planning with him/her before hand the day of the flight, I never felt the need to restrict in the endorsement. It was either go or no go. I did require that students call me from the ground at any fuel stop and we would update and reevaluate the weather at that time (that was written in the endorsement).

With regards to flight plans, I required that all of my students filed and activated VFR flight plans when on flights outside of the local area. I also heavily encouraged VFR flight following.

ChinookDriver47

Very good. Interesting how different people do things. Most of the time that restriction was there for them to seriously consider whether or not they wanted to even bother trying to fly. The restrictions were pretty liberal and accomodated daily flying unless we had a front or something that was coming through. I don't think I started imposing restrictions until one of my fellow CFI's students called the school and asked to be picked up because he couldn't / wouldn't take off in the cross wind at the airport. He then complained because we charged him the rental and instructor fees for both airplanes.

When I go with my students on X-C's we are always on the RADAR. I leave it up to them if they use it by themselves but encourage it as well. If they are over water for an extended period of time or punch the mountains, it is a requirement.

Ewfflyer

Honestly I never put a restriction on the endorsement, because I taught at a 91 school, and I was there, or another instructor was there to approve or disapprove before they took an airplane either local, or X-C solo flights. But as far as the Cover-Your-A$$ goes, yeah it's a good idea.

coldpilot

I would always put weather restrictions on student endorsement. I like FlyerJosh's idea about making them call at a fuel stop to reevaluate. They would also file a flight plan and call me when they got back. Just a way of making sure they are ok, do a debrief and make sure the CLOSED the flight plan. You can never CYA too much as a CFI.

EAHINC

I always put restrictions on a student pilot endorsement. I also make my students call me at all points of landing. I teach and encourage VFR flight following in SoCal and beyond, however I do not require that they file a flight plan.

1. I must be notified at least 24 hours before solo flight.
2. Solo in flight school A/C only.
3. No solo if 90 degree crosswind exceeds 7 knots.
4. No solo between sunset and sunrise.
5. No solo if wind exceeds 15 knots
6 No solo if visibility less than 10 miles
7. Weather briefing before every solo, even for pattern work.
8. Full fuel in tanks before departure.

YourCptSpeaking

I teach at a 141 school in VA, and we have standard solo mins for student pilots, so when I give an endorsement, I just write "Standard Mins", then put a remark in the back of the logbook summarizing what they are in case the student goes to another school before the endorsement runs out. Also, we require the student to call us before and after each flight, and before, we go over the planned weather, time, fuel burn, etc. either over the phone or in person. I've been on so many flights to the places I send my students, it's real easy to spot a mistake in calculations or just some kid trying to BS you.

Our mins aren't terribly conservative, which ends up being a good thing because it lets me as the instructor send students who are performing at different levels in differing weather conditions. I've sent one student at 7SM vis and OVC040 and kept another back in 10SM and OVC 050. Also depends on the winds and whether I think they can handle a crosswind on either end of the trip...stuff like that. So the limits I put in their logbook are liberal enough that it allows me some room to work with if they demonstrate proficiency, but it also allows me to use them as an excuse not to send them, if "it's too close to the limitations". :-)

Your CptSpeaking

FlyerJosh

Just curious where you teach...

POPA

Visibility better than 10SM?
How the heck did your students ever get any flying done?!