Customizing Flight Review Can Make Huge Difference

Seminar offers multipronged approach for pilots and instructors to turn it into genuine tool for continuing education and safety.

Meg Godlewski

Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Pilots in the cockpit [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

Flight reviews are vital for aviation safety and should be customized through collaborative planning between the pilot and instructor to address specific skill gaps and areas needing improvement.
Pilots are urged to engage in continuous learning and maintain foundational skills, such as manual navigation and performance calculations, to avoid over-reliance on technology and prevent panic during equipment failures.
A successful flight review depends on a good match between the pilot and Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), with instructors advised to screen for hazardous attitudes or unrealistic expectations from clients seeking to cut corners on safety or cost.

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I spent the past weekend at the Northwest Aviation Conference & Trade Show, which is held annually on the third weekend in February at the Washington State Fair Event Center in Puyallup.

The conference is part trade show, part “family reunion,” and part educational smorgasbord. It’s the latter that I enjoy the most. Traditionally, the event has more than 70 hours of seminars covering everything from getting the most out of your aircraft’s avionics or engine, renewal seminars for A&Ps, planning your career, mountain flying, instrument proficiency, and the big kahuna, getting the rust off your pilot certificate.