The Strategy of Staying Current

Which is safer, a 10,000-hour pilot who has flown only 20 hours in the last year or a 200-hour pilot who has flown frequently in the last month?

Tom Benenson

Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 04:23 PM ET

Verified

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

Key Takeaways:

The article distinguishes between being "current" (meeting FAA minimum flight experience requirements) and truly "proficient," emphasizing that proficiency, not just currency, is essential for pilot safety.
It outlines specific FAA currency regulations for pilots, including requirements for carrying passengers, night flying, instrument flight, and the mandatory Flight Review.
To achieve genuine proficiency, pilots are encouraged to go beyond the minimums by flying frequently, proactively seeking refresher training (potentially with an instructor), reviewing aircraft manuals and avionics, and participating in programs like the FAA's Wings Program.

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Which is safer, a 10,000-hour pilot who has flown only 20 hours in the last year or a 200-hour pilot who has flown frequently in the last month? Often it’s the latter, which is an excellent argument for staying current. Flying an airplane is not like riding a bicycle; if you don’t use the skills, you’ll lose them.

The FAA has promulgated a number of regulations that address actions that it feels are necessary for pilots to remain current. It’s important to realize the FAA’s requirements are a minimum and there’s a vast difference between being current and being proficient.