How often you should be flying to maintain proficiency is a very individualized metric. [Credit: Meg Godlewski]
Key Takeaways:
Maintaining pilot proficiency is an individualized commitment that requires regular and consistent flying.
Recommended strategies include flying at least once a week, setting monthly hourly goals (e.g., 10 hours), or planning specific missions with clear objectives like cross-country flights or practicing maneuvers.
Pilots should strive to keep flying fun and interesting to avoid burnout and prevent long breaks, which can necessitate regaining both currency and proficiency.
Question: I just completed my private pilot check ride. Now that I have the certificate, it feels weird not to be flying several times a week, although truthfully, I cannot afford to keep doing that. How often should I be flying to maintain proficiency?
Answer:
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
