What Are Flight Review Requirements?

If you’re a pilot, you know that regular training is essential to stay safe and competent in the air. One of the requirements for pilots is a flight review. This review must be conducted every two years to maintain your pilot certificate. In this article, we’ll explore some of the flight review requirements and the benefits of a flight review preparation course.

Flight Review Requirements

A flight review is a two-hour review of your flying skills with a certified flight instructor (CFI). During the review, you will fly with the instructor and demonstrate your ability to perform certain maneuvers and procedures. The review must include one hour of ground instruction and one hour of flight instruction.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a flight review aims to ensure that you are competent to operate an aircraft within the National Airspace System (NAS). This review is required to cover specific areas of aeronautical knowledge and skill. The FAA mandates that the flight review must include a review of the current general operating and flight rules of Part 91. This is a review of maneuvers and procedures necessary for the safe exercise of pilot privileges. Also, a review of the current FAA-approved Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) for the aircraft to be flown during the review.

The review must cover the following areas:

• Preflight preparation and procedures.
• Airport operations, including takeoffs and landings, ground operations, and traffic pattern operations.
• Performance maneuvers, including stalls, steep turns, and emergency procedures.
• Navigation, including pilotage and dead reckoning, and the use of navigation systems.
• Instrument flight rules (IFR) operations, if appropriate.
• The flight review can be conducted in any aircraft that you are qualified to fly. If you hold multiple pilot certificates (e.g., a private pilot and instrument rating), the flight review can cover all certificates.

Flight Review Preparation Course

While a flight review is required every two years, many pilots choose to undergo a flight review preparation course beforehand. If you’re feeling a little rusty or unsure of your skills, a flight review preparation course can help. These courses are designed to help pilots prepare for their review and improve their flying skills. They include both ground and flight instructions, covering the same topics as the review itself. They are especially beneficial for pilots who have not flown in a while or who are not confident in their abilities.

The ground instruction covers the same topics as the flight review itself, including preflight preparation, airport operations, performance maneuvers, navigation, and IFR operations. The flight instruction includes practice flights with a CFI. During this, you can practice the maneuvers and procedures that will be evaluated during the flight review.

Specific Flight Review Preparation Course Benefits

One of the main benefits of a flight review preparation course is that it can help you feel more confident and prepared for your flight review. It can also help you identify any areas in which you need additional practice or instruction. For example, if you struggle with performance maneuvers like stalls or steep turns, a flight review preparation course can help you master these skills before your review.

Another benefit of a flight review preparation course is that it can be tailored to your specific needs and experience level. If you are a relatively new pilot, your course might focus more on basic flying skills and procedures. Another benefit, if you are an experienced pilot who has not flown in a while, your course might focus more on getting you back up to speed and refreshing your knowledge of regulations and procedures.

Regardless, if you are a pilot, a flight review is an essential requirement for maintaining your pilot certificate. While the review itself is only two hours long, it is important to take it seriously and prepare for it accordingly. A flight review preparation course can help you feel more confident and prepared for your review. It can help you identify any areas in which you need additional practice or instruction. Whether you are a new pilot or experienced, a flight review preparation course is an investment in your safety and competence in the air.

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AUTHOR

Karey Ciel

Karey grew up and obtained her in private pilot’s license in Central Iowa. She fell in love with tailwheel aircraft during her primary training and obtained a tailwheel endorsement the week following her private pilot checkride. She is eager to obtain her seaplane rating and is merging her passion for flying with her prior work career. Karey has a background in marketing, editing, and web design after graduating from Simpson College. When she is not flying or working, Karey enjoys anything related to technology and admits she can be a bit of a nerd. She also has discovered a love for virtually all outdoor pursuits, with a special fondness for climbing, shooting, and hiking.