The Strategy of Staying Current

Which is safer, a 10,000-hour pilot who has flown only 20 hours in the last year or a 200-hour pilot who has flown frequently in the last month?

Tom Benenson

Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 04:23 PM ET

Verified

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

Key Takeaways:

The article distinguishes between meeting FAA minimum "currency" requirements and achieving true pilot "proficiency," emphasizing that the former is often insufficient for safety and skill retention.
It outlines specific FAA currency rules (e.g., 90-day landing requirements, instrument currency, Flight Review) but argues that these are bare minimums and do not guarantee a pilot's proficiency, especially in challenging conditions.
To maintain genuine proficiency, pilots are encouraged to fly frequently and intentionally, review aircraft and avionics manuals, use simulators, and utilize programs like the FAA Wings Program, which promotes recurrent training and can satisfy Flight Review requirements.

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Which is safer, a 10,000-hour pilot who has flown only 20 hours in the last year or a 200-hour pilot who has flown frequently in the last month? Often it’s the latter, which is an excellent argument for staying current. Flying an airplane is not like riding a bicycle; if you don’t use the skills, you’ll lose them.

The FAA has promulgated a number of regulations that address actions that it feels are necessary for pilots to remain current. It’s important to realize the FAA’s requirements are a minimum and there’s a vast difference between being current and being proficient.