What’s New With the Flight Review?

Examining MOSAIC rule impact, how to conquer ‘airspace fade,’ and ongoing EFB vs. paper chart debate.

Meg Godlewski

Tuesday, March 03, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

When it has been more than a decade since you were the PIC, there can be some jitters involved with a flight review. [Credit: CanvaPro]

Key Takeaways:

The Montana Aviation Conference and AOPA Rusty Pilots seminar highlighted significant regulatory changes, particularly the new MOSAIC rule.
The MOSAIC rule greatly expands opportunities for sport pilots, allowing them to fly larger, faster aircraft (like Cessna 140/150/172 series) with additional training and endorsements.
Lapsed pilots commonly struggle with retaining airspace knowledge, performing towered airport operations, and overcoming "mic fright" during radio communication, emphasizing the need for focused review and practice.

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I have just returned from Billings, Montana, where I had the honor of attending the Montana Aviation Conference. The annual event is three days of aviation organizations and pilots gathering to attend workshops and seminars, view exhibit wares, and listen to speakers.

I was one of the speakers, administering the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Rusty Pilots seminar. I have been traveling around the country doing these seminars since 2017, and I must say they bring me great joy. The seminar is approximately three and a half hours of ground instruction and can be used to help satisfy the required ground component for the flight review. The presentation is part illustrated lecture and part guided discussion.