Don’t Dread the Flight Review

Pilots should make it more than a lunch date and be prepared for the best results.

Meg Godlewski

Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at 09:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

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

Key Takeaways:

Flight reviews (FAR 61.56) are mandatory every 24 months to maintain pilot privileges, consisting of at least one hour of ground and one hour of flight, and are crucial for verifying a pilot's skills.
Pilots should plan ahead significantly (e.g., two months), book ample time (e.g., three hours) to avoid rushing, and study foundational knowledge as it often fades faster than flying skills.
Alternatives to a standard flight review include completing practical tests for new certificates or ratings, or participating in the FAA WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program.
A flight review cannot be "failed" like a check ride; however, a CFI can decline to endorse completion until the pilot demonstrates satisfactory knowledge and skill, potentially requiring additional instruction.

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There is something about the thought of doing a flight review that makes pilots cringe as though they are talking about a trip to the dentist.

Per cFAR 61.56, a flight review usually consists of at least an hour of ground and one of flight, which isn’t a lot in the grand scheme of things. Yet there are pilots who treat them with dread or look for a way to make it as painless as possible, such as the old “fly to lunch with my buddy who is a CFI, talk about flying for an hour, and get an endorsement” route.