Make Flight Reviews for CFIs Worthwhile

When you are a busy instructor, flying for yourself can be particularly enjoyable.

Friday, April 19, 2024 at 09:29 AM ET

Verified

It may seem odd that someone who flies for a living needs to demonstrate pilot proficiency every two years, but those are the rules, with a few exceptions. [iStock]

Key Takeaways:

Flight reviews are mandatory every two years for pilots, including flight instructors, and are designed to ensure the safe exercise of pilot privileges through ground and flight instruction.
To make the flight review valuable, pilots should aim beyond minimum requirements, potentially using it to pursue a new rating, endorsement, or aircraft checkout.
The administering instructor must hold appropriate ratings and aircraft knowledge, and while a flight review is considered flight instruction by the FAA, it is not a pass/fail checkride; unsatisfactory performance leads to further training, not a failure.

See a mistake? Contact us.

One of the most challenging parts of being a flight instructor is making the time for your own flying, such as when you need a flight review. It may seem odd that someone who flies for a living needs to demonstrate proficiency every two years, but those are the rules, with a few exceptions, such as completing a phase of the FAA Wings program or adding a new certificate or rating. Don’t just aim to satisfy the minimum requirements—make the time spent worth something.

This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine

If you're not already a subscriber, what are you waiting for? Subscribe today to get the issue as soon as it is released in either Print or Digital formats.