Flight Review Lesson Plan

Special Cases • 14 CFR 61.56

The Flight Review Lesson Plan helps instructors evaluate and restore the knowledge, risk management, and flight proficiency required by 14 CFR 61.56.

Flight Review Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Schedule

    Topic:
    Time:
    Pilot Interview and Objectives:
    0:15
    Ground Review:
    1:00
    Flight Activities:
    1:00
    Postflight Discussion:
    0:15
    Minimum Planned Time:
    0:00

  • Attention Getter:

    • Ask the pilot to identify the most significant changes in their flying, aircraft, and operating environment since the last proficiency review.

  • Motivator:

    • A flight review is a tailored training event and an opportunity to strengthen proficiency, judgment, and risk management before weaknesses contribute to an accident.

  • Objective:

    • Determine that the pilot can safely exercise the privileges of the pilot certificate and provide the training needed to correct identified deficiencies.

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Flight Review Lesson Plan

Materials

Flight Review Lesson Plan

Instructor Actions

  • Preparation and Pilot Interview:

    • Review the pilot's experience, currency, recent flying, aircraft, typical missions, goals, and areas of concern.
    • Agree on objectives and standards while explaining that regulatory minimum time does not guarantee satisfactory completion.
    • Verify that the instructor and aircraft are appropriate for the training to be conducted.

  • Ground Review:

    • Review current general operating and flight rules of 14 CFR part 91.
    • Use scenario-based questions to assess weather decisions, airspace, aircraft performance and limitations, systems, aeronautical decision-making, risk management, personal minimums, and automation management as applicable.
    • Review the planned flight, aircraft status, weight and balance, performance, and applicable hazards.

  • Flight Activities:

    • Select maneuvers and procedures necessary for the pilot to demonstrate safe exercise of certificate privileges.
    • Evaluate aircraft control, checklist use, traffic avoidance, takeoffs, approaches, landings, navigation, abnormal or emergency procedures, and risk management as appropriate to the pilot and aircraft.
    • Provide additional instruction whenever performance does not demonstrate safe proficiency.

  • Postflight:

    • Debrief performance, decisions, strengths, deficiencies, and recommended follow-on training.
    • When performance is satisfactory, make the flight-review logbook endorsement recommended by current FAA guidance.
    • When performance is not yet satisfactory, document training given without making a failed-flight-review endorsement and develop a plan for additional training.
Flight Review Lesson Plan

Student Actions

  • Provide an accurate account of recent experience, goals, and operating needs.
  • Prepare the assigned regulatory review and flight-planning exercise.
  • Demonstrate sound aircraft control, checklist discipline, situational awareness, aeronautical decision-making, and risk management.
  • Participate in the postflight critique and establish a continuing proficiency plan.
Flight Review Lesson Plan

Completion Standards

  • The pilot demonstrates the knowledge and proficiency necessary to safely exercise the privileges of the pilot certificate.
  • The review includes at least one hour of ground training and one hour of flight training unless an applicable provision of §61.56 provides otherwise.
  • Additional training is completed whenever necessary; elapsed minimum time alone does not establish satisfactory completion.
Flight Review Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • A well-designed flight review renews safe habits and gives the pilot a practical plan for maintaining proficiency beyond the endorsement.

  • Closure:

    • Review agreed follow-on training, personal minimums, and the pilot's continuing proficiency plan.