Had my first unsupervised solo on Monday night; second scheduled for tomorrow morning.  The checklists are the same, the plane is the same, the airfield is the same, but there are qualitatively weighty differences at the edges.

For example: In the supervised case, even when the student is running the checklists, the instructor is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the initial step from “aircraft parked” to “aircraft not parked” is made safely and in accordance with all laws and policy.  From an OSHA standpoint, a Cessna is sort of like a lawnmower on its side with no blade guard, blades extended by two feet in both directions, raised to chest level, on wheels, with the motor swapped for something 50-100x as powerful.  It’s with some gravity that one cranes his neck around and yells “clear prop!” out the window before turning the key on that monster.

And like, when the plane is back on the ground and you’re back at the ramp…where *exactly* is one supposed to park?

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