Can You Return to Flying After a Long Break?

Question: I quit flying under my private license over 30 years ago. I had about 100-plus hours. I am 61 now. Is it smart to retrain to start flying again at this age?

Answer: Life is too short not to do something that brings you joy. If flying brings you joy, go out and do it. As long as you are safe about it, your age shouldn’t matter.

Find a flight instructor—preferably one who has experience working with older return-to-flying clients—and work your way through cFAR 61.87, solo requirements for student pilots.

Speaking from experience as a CFI with more than 5,000-plus hours of dual given, it takes approximately one hour of dual instruction for each year you have been away from flying to regain your skills. Muscle memory usually comes back quicker than knowledge recall, although the latter will also be part of your retraining. You knew it before, so you can relearn it again.

Be patient and gentle with yourself.

I have had return-to-flying candidates who had been out of the cockpit for 20-plus years come back and regain their privileges.

One took 17 hours of dual, and another, who was 10 years out, I was ready to give rental privileges to at six hours of dual given, but he asked for more training because he was a grandfather and wanted to take his grandchildren with him.

Aim to be able to perform all the maneuvers to check ride standards. You won’t have to retake your check ride—the hours you logged before don’t expire. But the skills and knowledge can fade.

If you wish to fly solo, you will need to either obtain a third-class medical certificate, or pursue BasicMed in lieu of an FAA-issued medical. You can find details of both online. If you simply want to get into the sky, take a CFI with you and enjoy. You’ve earned it.

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