Pilots and flight instructors have a new FAA advisory circular, AC 61-98D, to guide them through both the flight reviews and instrument proficiency checks required under Part 61. This newest version of the circular addresses changes in technology and the operational environment, their impact on recurrent training and proficiency checks. The FAA added important safety information from the General Aviation Joint Steering Committee (GAJSC), findings and recommendations designed to help improve the GA accident rate. These new 61-98D guidelines do not however, apply to pilots operating under Part 121 or Part 135 training regimes.
FAA Releases Updated Circular on Flight Reviews and IPCs
Key Takeaways:
- The FAA has released AC 61-98D, a new advisory circular updating guidance for general aviation flight reviews and instrument proficiency checks (IPCs) to incorporate modern technology, operational environment changes, and safety recommendations aimed at reducing accident rates.
- The circular emphasizes a shift towards continuous pilot training by discontinuing the term "biennial flight review" and focuses on critical safety areas, including loss of control.
- Flight reviews and IPCs are not pass/fail tests; instructors simply do not endorse a pilot's logbook if competency concerns exist, with English language proficiency now a specific part of the evaluation.
- AC 61-98D provides updated insights on topics like night currency, recency of experience in aircraft make/model, and detailed requirements for maintaining instrument currency using FAA-qualified flight simulators or training devices.
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