Solo before senior year

Jelsma did not skip steps; instead, he spent months building knowledge before he ever reached the runway. "Ground is super essential," said Chaya Prasad, Skyview Aviation's student coordinator. "You can really tell between the kids who are studying outside of the school versus the kids who are coming in."

Jelsma began with an in-person ground school program before starting flight training under FAR Part 61. He studied alongside a small group of four other students. Rather than memorizing answers, they focused on understanding why systems and procedures worked the way they did. "There was a lot of times where it was a simple question, but also one where it's like, what's the actual reason behind it, not just the answer," he explained.

Skyview works closely with the Patriots Jet Team Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps introduce young people to aviation careers. Its scholarship recipients can access simulator sessions, ground school, and mentorship opportunities in addition to flight training.

Prasad said those who solo early spend a significant amount of time outside formal lessons studying, combining chair flying and using the simulators. "The kids who are soloing quickly are coming in two to four times a week," she said, noting that consistency helps students retain skills and build momentum, while gaps between lessons often mean relearning.

Still, instructors avoid treating low-time solos as the standard. "Everyone progresses differently," Prasad said, noting that training is adjusted based on each student’s goals, schedule, and learning needs. That distinction matters especially for students balancing work or family obligations. Some pilots progress quickly; others take longer to build confidence. When students struggle, the school often adjusts instruction styles or pairs them with another instructor for additional perspective. Prasad said communication between instructor and student is critical.

Jelsma described a similar transition in his own training. While ground school came naturally to him, applying that knowledge to actual flying proved more demanding.

The first solo strips everything back: an empty seat beside you, no voice beside you, no one to reach for the controls. What’s left is the runway ahead and the quiet realization that it’s all on you. "The challenge started once I got in the plane," he said. "Once you're actually in the plane, you have your six-pack and everything else that you have to focus on all at the same time."

Even with accelerated progress, Skyview says safety standards remain unchanged. Before solo, students must complete the required endorsements, pass a presolo knowledge test and demonstrate proficiency in the aircraft. The school also reinforces IMSAFE checklists, a self-assessment tool pilots use to evaluate their physical and mental readiness to fly, along with personal minimums, and weather decision making. "We value their safety over anything," Prasad said. If an instructor believes a student is too fatigued or mentally distracted, the lesson may be converted into a ground session instead. "We want them to be confident in making that call whether they're going to fly or not," she said.

Jelsma said completing his written exam early helped reduce stress later in training, allowing him to focus fully on flying. For Jelsma, soloing early was never really the point. The goal now is continuing toward his certificate, mentoring newer pilots, and eventually building a career in aviation. His advice to aspiring pilots is to start by making sure they enjoy aviation before diving fully into training.

"I would think you'd want to take the discovery flight first before you do ground school," Jelsma said. "Or alternatively, go to maybe YouTube or something first and try to learn yourself before you go into the ground school to see if you're interested in the ground as well as the actual flying."

Once someone commits to training, he recommends showing up prepared, studying consistently, and focusing on understanding the material, not just memorizing the answers.