The purpose of the flight review required by 14 CFR part 61, § 61.56 is to provide for a regular evaluation of pilot skills and aeronautical knowledge. Consequently, a flight review is a routine evaluation of a pilot’s ability to conduct safe flight. In effect, it is a proficiency-based exercise in which the airman is required to demonstrate the safe exercise of the privileges of their pilot certificate. The flight instructor should be aware that the flight review is not a practical test, but rather a training event in which proficiency is evaluated. Section 61.56 states that the review must consist of a minimum of 1 hour of ground training and a minimum of 1 hour of flight training, except as provided for in § 61.56(b), (d), and (e). However, all flight instructors should fully understand that § 61.56(a)(2) requires the instructor to conduct “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.” If the pilot does not demonstrate the proficiency to conduct safe flight, then more training is required. For this reason, the FAA reminds flight instructors that a flight review may require more than 1 hour of ground training and 1 hour of flight training. Since satisfactory completion of a flight review is based on pilot proficiency, it is up to the instructional service provider to determine what type of instruction is required and how much additional training time, if any, is required to ensure that the pilot has the necessary knowledge and skills to conduct safe flight operations. While flight instructors are encouraged to manage the expectations of the pilot under review and discuss the outline of the flight review with the pilot, it is the flight instructor that ultimately determines the total training time required for a flight review.

For the reasons previously discussed, a flight instructor should not develop a flight review plan of action based on regulatory minimums. Instead, a flight instructor should develop a plan based on achieving a flight proficiency and knowledge level that meets regulatory requirements. Section 61.56 states that a flight review must include a review of the current general operating and flight rules of 14 CFR part 91. It also states that a person conducting the review has the discretion to determine the maneuvers and procedures necessary for the pilot under review to demonstrate “safe exercise of the privileges of the pilot certificate.” With the increasing complexity of the aviation operating environment, flight instructors are encouraged to structure the flight review and develop a plan of action that is specific to the needs of the pilot under review. The FAA has provided the following recommended guidance in this paragraph to help flight instructors develop a plan of action for an effective flight review.

Under § 61.56(c) no person may act as pilot in command (PIC) of an aircraft, except as provided in § 61.56(d), (e), and (g), unless within the preceding 24 calendar months that person has accomplished a satisfactory flight review in an aircraft for which that pilot is appropriately rated. An authorized instructor or other person approved by the Administrator must conduct the flight review.

Under § 61.56(e), a person who has satisfactorily completed one or more phases of the FAA-sponsored WINGS within the preceding 24 calendar months does not need to accomplish the flight review requirements of the section. AC 61-91, WINGS—Pilot Proficiency Program, describes how flight instructors should encourage pilots to participate in WINGS.

Pilots and flight instructors should be aware that, under § 61.56(d), there is no requirement for pilots who have completed certain proficiency checks and ratings within the preceding 24 calendar months to accomplish a separate flight review. These accomplishments include satisfactory completion of pilot proficiency checks conducted by the FAA, an approved pilot check airman, a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE), or one of the U.S. Armed Forces for a pilot certificate, rating, or operating privilege.

However, the FAA recommends that pilots consider also accomplishing a review under some of the following circumstances. For example, a pilot with an Airplane Single-Engine Land (ASEL) rating may have recently obtained a glider rating, but may still wish to consider obtaining a flight review in a single-engine airplane if the appropriate 24-calendar-month period has nearly expired. When approached by pilots seeking advice on such matters, flight instructors should consider the factors described in the following paragraphs.

Before undertaking the review, the flight instructor should interview the pilot to determine the nature of their flying and operating requirements. Elements to consider should include, but not be limited to, the following areas: