Flight Review (ex-BFR)

"What do you mean I can't do this anymore?!" -Pilot realizing the regulations change

Welcome to your flight review! Whether you haven't flown in years or are a proficient every-day flier, this required lesson should be a positive and exciting experience.

Flight reviews are supposed to be fairly standardized, in the sense that the goal is to get you back to proficiency on the required skills of your certificate. But... there is so much more. My flight reviews are designed to execute the following tasks:

1. Practice the maneuvers of your certificate-level to a satisfactory level of proficiency. Remember the FAA ACS booklet? Yeah, that one!

2. Focus further training in those areas you are most concerned by. Are you planning to venture in new destinations, weird airports, different operations? Tell me about them and let's tackle them together.

3. Update you on recent FAA updates (regulations, programs, etc.). There's always new stuff coming out. Let's update you on these.

4. A refresher of the FAA Compliance Program. The FAA is actually nice. Let's talk about it.

5. A refresher of the FAA WINGS Program. A gold mine of resources!

6. A refresher of the AOPA Pilot Services Program. AOPA is awesome. Let's just leave it at that.

Here is the FAA Safety Team's guide to Flight Reviews:

Conducting an Effective Flight Review Dec05.pdf

Download PDF • 1.07MB

All right - here is the lesson plan!

Pre-Flight (Ground)

The flight review requires a minimum of 1+00 hr ground and 1+00 hr flight training. This is supposed to be highly informative and engaging. My flight review is scenario-based.

You will build a cross country flight plan to a location of your choice more than 200 NM away. If you do these every day, it should take you just a few minutes. If you don't, then it can be a great fun challenge! Choose a cool destination and let's plan out the flight. As you plan out this trip, consider two fundamental topics: risk management (remember PAVE, IMSAFE, etc.?) and personal minimums. We will discuss both.

Flight

The flight pretty much simulates your last checkride. Except waaaaay more relaxing. There's no pressure of failure, since you can't fail a flight review! We will just get you back to proficiency. If there's something you want to focus on more, let's do it! Let's try to stay local so that we can minimize the flight time, if possible (for your wallet's pleasure).

Please refer to the Airmen Certification Standards (ACS) for the content of your flight review.

Post-Flight (Ground)

During post-flight, we will debrief the flight and discuss what went well and what could have gone better. It's important you understand that every debrief item is designed for your safety and proficienty - don't take it personally! The more we fly, the more we become complacent with our routine. Often, the best lessons are when we break that routine!

We will then discuss the FAA Compliance Program, the FAA WINGS Program, AOPA's Pilot Servies. These will support you as a pilot. They're important. We will then draft two things:

1. Proficiency Plan. Let's understand what we can do to keep you proficient. This is especially important if you don't fly often. Let's find resources to help you be safe.

2. Continuous Development Plan. Let's discuss whether further training is right for you. Perhaps a new rating, or the addition of a new class. Let's discuss your mission and see how we can help you better prepare for it.

All right. Pretty straight forward, right? Let's make it fun. Bring pizza.