The airlines and charter operations conduct recurrent training annually and many train more frequently. Their pilots almost always fly as crews and fly hundreds of hours each year.
Most general aviation pilots fly far less frequently, operate as a single pilot and are subject to less rigorous recurrent training. But their level of responsibility remains the same as any airline pilot: To fly safely and proficiently.
A thorough flight review is designed to ensure you remain a safe and proficient pilot. I do not treat flight reviews as a “check the box” exercise but as an opportunity to enhance proficiency, to practice seldom-used skills and to continue learning as a pilot.
That philosophy holds true for my own flight reviews or for those I conduct with clients.
The purpose of the flight review required by Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) 61.56 is to provide for a regular evaluation of pilot skills and aeronautical knowledge. A flight review is also intended to offer pilots the opportunity to design a personal currency and proficiency program in consultation with a certificated flight instructor.
A key part of this process is the development of risk management strategies and realistic personal minimums. You can think of these minimums as individual “operations specifications” that can help guide your decisions as a pilot and target areas for personal proficiency flying and future training.
Remember, a flight review is not a test. You cannot fail a flight review. It is an opportunity to have your flight proficiency reviewed objectively, to brush up on seldom used skills or acquire new ones and to design a program to maintain or enhance your proficiency as a pilot.
Of equal importance, a flight review should be an enjoyable experience and I will strive to do everything possible to make it such.
My goal is to make the most efficient use of your time while still conducting a thorough flight review. This maximizes your investment and allows you to get the most out of the review.
How much time is “enough” to accomplish a flight review will vary from pilot to pilot. Someone who flies the same airplane 200 hours every year may not need as much time as someone who has logged only 20 hours since their last flight review, or a pilot seeking a new endorsement in conjunction with the flight review.
At a bare minimum, a flight review must consist of one hour of ground and one hour of flight time. Realistically, we will likely spend more time than the minimum required by the regulations.
The more study and review you conduct on your own ahead of time, the less time we'll spend going over regulations, airspace, weather, etc... If you're flying regularly we'll probably spend less time in the airplane than if you're flying infrequently.
Also, many pilots will combine a flight-review with some other task to make the best use of their time. I combined one of my own flight reviews with obtaining my high-performance and complex endorsements, for example. Getting checked out in a new airplane is another opportunity to combine the flight review with another task.
If your instrument currency will soon lapse or you are just plain “rusty” on the gauges we can tailor your flight review to incorporate several, or even all, of the instrument tasks you need to remain safe, proficient and current.
How long it takes to complete your flight review depends on your currency and preparation, but a rough estimate for an average pilot is around three hours total. The ground portion can easily take 1.5 hours with another 1.5 hours in the airplane.
There is no “standard” flight review. The most effective reviews are tailored to the individual pilot. To facilitate creating a flight review plan that you find effective I strongly suggest completing the FAA's Flight Review Preparation Course and reviewing the Air Safety Foundation's Flight Review Guide.
Once you have completed those two items, fill out the aeronautical history form below and return it to me, along with any questions or specific training requests.
The regulations require a review of the general operating and flight rules established in part 91 of the regulations so a review of those regulations before your flight review is highly recommended.
I will ask you to plan a cross-country flight and we will review your flight planning and use the cross-country as a starting point to cover the following:
In the airplane, at a minimum we will cover:
In many cases we'll be able to combine maneuvers to make the most efficient use of your time. (For example, if you are instrument current we may fly a partial-panel approach to combine the two tasks into one.)
If all of the above looks like a lot of information to cover, it is. However, with some preparation on your part the actual flight review will seem simple and should take place quickly. A flight review is what you make of it.
Professionalism is an attitude that applies regardless if you are a student pilot, a private pilot, a flight instructor or captain of a jumbo jet.
I'm looking forward to flying with you.
Will
(Consider this list a buffet dinner, pick and choose what looks good but you'll probably not want to eat the whole thing.)
FAA Flight Review Preparation Course:http://www.faasafety.gov/ALC/course_content.aspx?cID=25
Air Safety Foundation Flight Review guide:http://www.aopa.org/asf/publications/sa03.html
Samurai Airmanship:http://www.rodmachado.com/Articles/samurai.htm
Aeronautical Decision Making: 14 CFR Parts 61 and 91 and The Airman's Information Manual Review the Practical Test Standards for the certificates and ratings you holdhttp://www.faa.gov/education_research/testing/airmen/test_standards/
Night Flying Tips
http://www.faasafety.gov/ALC/libview_printerfriendly.aspx?id=6580
Avweb brainteasers:
Preflight This
http://www.avweb.com/programs/quiz.cgi/brain/quiz0104.html
Call me a Taxi
http://www.avweb.com/programs/quiz.cgi/brain/quiz0094.html
A Touch of Class Airspace Review
http://www.avweb.com/programs/quiz.cgi/brain/quiz0065.html
VFR Weather Minimums
http://www.avweb.com/programs/quiz.cgi/brain/quiz0036.html
ASF Terrain Avoidance Quiz
http://www.aopa.org/asf/asfarticles/2004/sp0407quiz.html
For Instrument rated pilots:
Radar Contact
http://www.avweb.com/programs/quiz.cgi/brain/quiz0080.html
A Little off the Airway
http://www.avweb.com/programs/quiz.cgi/brain/quiz0089.html
Holding Procedures