FAA Flight Review
A flight review is a recurring FAA requirement under §61.56 for many pilots, but it is also an opportunity to identify weak areas and make recurrent training relevant to the flying you actually do.
Use the current FAA framework
Section 61.56 contains the flight-review requirement and alternatives or exceptions that may apply. AC 61-98E provides current FAA guidance for general aviation pilots and instructors.
A flight review is not a web checklist
The review is conducted by an authorized instructor and must satisfy the applicable regulation. Completing an online checklist, reading articles or using Last Practiced does not itself complete a flight review.
Prepare around your real flying
Review aircraft knowledge, operating environment, recent experience and the skills most relevant to your flying. A useful preparation plan may include landings, go-arounds, stalls, navigation or emergency procedures depending on your needs and instructor plan.
Use the review as a proficiency checkpoint
Rather than treating the review only as a deadline, use it to discuss risk, recurring weak areas and a practical plan for the next period of flying.
Practice Targets are personal reminders. They do not establish regulatory currency, proficiency, legal eligibility to fly, or compliance with a specific operating requirement.
Authoritative references
- FAA AC 61-98E — Currency Requirements and Guidance for the Flight Review and Instrument Proficiency Check
- FAA AC 61-91K — WINGS—Pilot Proficiency Program
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations — 14 CFR Part 61
Make the review relevant
Tell the instructor what you actually fly, which aircraft and avionics you use, and which situations you rarely encounter. That context can make the review more useful than a generic maneuver sequence.
Knowledge and flight work together
Weather, airspace, performance, systems, risk management and aircraft handling are connected in real operations. Preparation should reflect those connections.
Continue between reviews
The formal review is periodic; proficiency work can continue between reviews. Keep a short list of skills worth revisiting and use normal flights, dedicated practice or instructor training to address them.
Related resources
This page is a general reference. Verify current regulations, aircraft documentation and operating requirements applicable to your flight.