Embedded Files
The Flight Review
The Flight Review
References
References
Focused Flight Review by AOPA Air Safety Institute (NB: You need to be an AOPA member to take advantage of this program)
What Does a Flight Review Entail?
What Does a Flight Review Entail?
As per FAR 61.65, the flight review is required to include a minimum of at least one hour of ground, and one hour of flight. And it must include (1) A review of the current general operating and flight rules of part 91 of this chapter; and (2) A review of those maneuvers and procedures that, at the discretion of the person giving the review, are necessary for the pilot to demonstrate the safe exercise of the privileges of the pilot certificate.
Additionally, the FAA has issued more detailed guidance for conducting a flight review. This guidance can be found in Advisory Circular AC 61-98D, Flight Review Guidance, and in the FAA document Conducting an Effective Flight Review. I follow the guidance of these documents, and I recommend that you familiarize yourself with them ahead of time in order to maximize the effectiveness of the review while minimizing wasted time.
Also, please note that the intent of the review is to make sure that — in the view of the instructor — you are knowledgeable enough, proficient enough, and safe enough, to be endorsed to fly for another 24 months. If you are found to be sufficiently deficient in any of these areas then you will not be endorsed for the flight review. In this case, we usually agree on a plan of action to bring you back to the level needed for the flight review endorsement.
How Much Time Should I Allocate For the Flight Review?
How Much Time Should I Allocate For the Flight Review?
I teach for the real world, and not just the checkride — or, in this case, the flight review endorsement. As a result, I do not provide "2 hour flight reviews." The minimum slot that you should book for a review is 3.0 hours, although I recommend a 3.5-4.0 hour slot. Regardless of the slot size, I recommend that you pre-flight the aircraft before the start of the flight review.
What Should I Bring to My Flight Review?
What Should I Bring to My Flight Review?
You should bring everything that would for a regular solo cross-country flight (for both VFR, and, if instrument rated, IFR). This means current charts and references (paper or electronic), all required documents, view limiting device (regardless of VFR or IFR), etc. Basically, anything and everything that you would, and should, bring on a regular flight. You might also want to have some way to take notes, during the ground or flight portions of the review.
How Should I Prepare for my Flight Review?
How Should I Prepare for my Flight Review?
As mentioned above, you should familiarize yourself with Advisory Circular AC 61-98D, Flight Review Guidance, and in the FAA document Conducting an Effective Flight Review. If you are an AOPA member, you can also take the AOPA Flight Review Quiz to help you prepare.
No doubt, the above documents and review will help key you to certain areas, such as the FARs, airspace, systems, aerodynamics, etc., that you might need to review before the flight review.
For those of you who are AOPA members, the AOPA Air Safety Institute has created a program that it calls Focused Flight Review. You can watch this video to learn more about how the program works. But, generally, it combines some topic specific on-line materials (provided by the AOPA ASI), with related ground and flight portions of the review provided by your CFI. Some examples of topics that you can choose from include Positive Aircraft Control, Weather & CFIT, Instrument Proficiency, etc. They also provide a number of additional resources related to the focused flight review.
It depends on what your needs and goals are, but this program is a great way to add some focus, and to potentially get more out of your flight review than you might with a less focused review. This is largely accomplished by enhancing the review by having you do a significant amount of preparation before meeting with your CFI.
Please notify me if you choose to go this route, so that we can coordinate various details before the time of the actual review.
The objective of the WINGS Program (WINGS Program User's Guide) is to address the primary accident causal factors that continue to plague the general aviation community. The WINGS - Pilot Proficiency Program is based on the premise that pilots who maintain currency and proficiency in the basics of flight will enjoy a safer and more stress-free flying experience.
With the WINGS program, you can earn points for various activities. Enough of the right activities the WINGS program can satisfy your flight review requirement without ever actually having to do a flight review. Note that the WINGS program is not designed to be done only once every 24 months as a replacement for a flight review; it is designed to be an ongoing program to help you maintain currency and proficiency.
If you would like to use the WINGS program instead of a formal flight review you will need to familiarize yourself with the program and decide which courses you would like to use to achieve your goals. Also, please notify me if you choose to go this route, so that we can coordinate various details as needed.
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