Theses and Dissertations

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0643-0290

Advisor

Strawderman, Lesley

Committee Member

Gonzalez-Vargas, Jessica

Committee Member

Narsipur, Shreyas

Date of Degree

5-15-2026

Original embargo terms

Immediate Worldwide Access

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Industrial & Systems Engineering

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

College

James Worth Bagley College of Engineering

Department

Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

Abstract

Flight instructors have the burden of determining when a student is ready for their first solo flight, and many have expressed uncertainty over their own decision-making skills during this phase of a student’s training. Prior studies have examined flight instructors’ pre-solo decisions in other countries, but no such study has been conducted with American flight instructors. For this study, current flight instructors with multiple prior endorsements for a student pilot’s first solo were interviewed to identify the more abstract concepts they use to guide their decision. Qualitative themes were identified from their experiences. Using this information, a checklist was developed to guide inexperienced flight instructors in these decisions as they gain confidence in their own decision-making abilities.

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