Back in January of 2010, I completed my first solo with 9.2 hours. The task can be daunting at first, but the initial step is to accept that flying by yourself is daunting.
It's OK to be scared for your solo; the fear will make you more alert to your surroundings and the plane. The objective is to get yourself at an optimal arousal level; by that, I mean a sort of nervousness that makes you alert, but not so afraid that you are unfit for flight.
The second point is to rely on your training. All of the training that you have been doing over the past weeks, months, or even days, will still be there when you need it by yourself, in the air...so don't change anything! Do as you have been taught, and you will be safe. Obviously you may have to make minor adjustments based on conditions (say there is an aircraft taking the runway while you are on final), but you must stick to the procedures you have been taught.
The third point is to enjoy the flight! Once you are up in the air, make sure you take time to stop and smell the roses (well, not literally, but you understand what I mean). Don't lose your situational awareness, but make sure you take a few seconds to look at the right seat and notice no one is there. It will scare you and impress you at the same time. Once you realize you are flying by yourself, the feeling will most likely be of great accomplishment.
In short, do these three things to have a safe and enjoyable first solo:
- Remember it's normal to be nervous
- Rely on your training (I cannot stress this enough)
- Enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime experience of being alone in the air for the first time
A final note is to listen to your instructor, who will surely be able to help you through the whole experience and make it a bit less daunting. He/she will surely support you and give you some last-minute confidence and tips (mine sat outside in his truck with a radio and watched me fly over).
