Don’t Dread the Flight Review

Pilots should make it more than a lunch date and be prepared for the best results.

Meg Godlewski

Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at 09:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Making a plan to stay proficient between flight reviews is an important step towards your overall safety and flying enjoyment. [Pixabay]

Key Takeaways:

Mandatory every 24 months per FAR 61.56, flight reviews are crucial for pilots to validate skills, ensure proficiency, and renew privileges, despite often being a source of dread.
Proactive preparation is key: schedule your flight review several months in advance, book adequate time (e.g., 3 hours), and study up, especially on knowledge aspects.
Alternatives to the standard flight review include completing a practical test for a new certificate or rating, or actively participating in the FAA WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program.
While you can't "fail" a flight review, an instructor can defer endorsement until you demonstrate satisfactory knowledge and skill, often requiring additional instruction.

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There is something about the thought of doing a flight review that makes pilots cringe as though they are talking about a trip to the dentist.

Per cFAR 61.56, a flight review usually consists of at least an hour of ground and one of flight, which isn’t a lot in the grand scheme of things. Yet there are pilots who treat them with dread or look for a way to make it as painless as possible, such as the old “fly to lunch with my buddy who is a CFI, talk about flying for an hour, and get an endorsement” route.