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:

The article emphasizes the critical role of continuous pilot education and personalized flight reviews as essential tools for aviation safety and maintaining proficiency.
Pilots are encouraged to maintain traditional skills like manual navigation and performance calculations, rather than over-relying on technology, to prevent critical skill fade and potential panic if systems fail.
Effective flight reviews require careful selection and open communication between the instructor and client, with instructors screening for hazardous attitudes and clients prioritizing safety over cost-cutting measures.

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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.