A lot of lapsed pilots put off the flight review because they remember the checkride. They should not. The two have almost nothing in common.
What does the FAA actually require?
14 CFR 61.56 asks for three things, every 24 calendar months, before you can act as pilot in command:
- At least one hour of ground instruction on the current Part 91 general operating and flight rules
- At least one hour of flight instruction on the maneuvers and procedures the instructor considers necessary
- A logbook endorsement from the instructor when you are done
That is the whole requirement. No examiner. No knowledge test. No pass or fail.
What happens on the ground?
A conversation, not a lecture. It usually covers:
- Airspace, and the equipment each class requires
- Weather minimums for visual flight
- Right of way rules
- Anything that has changed since your last review
If you plan to fly into the Dallas Fort Worth Class B airspace, say so beforehand and the session gets built around it.
What happens in the air?
Takeoffs and landings, slow flight, stalls, steep turns, and a few emergencies, flown in the same category and class you want to be signed off in. I am correcting as we go, not scoring you. Most reviews run one to one and a half hours in the air.
What does a flight review not do?
It does not make you current to carry passengers. That is a separate rule, 14 CFR 61.57: three takeoffs and landings in the previous 90 days for day passengers, and three to a full stop at night for night passengers. It is usually one short flight, often tacked on the same day.
It also does not replace your medical. You still need a current medical certificate or BasicMed to exercise your privileges.
What should you bring?
Your pilot certificate, your logbook, your medical or BasicMed paperwork, and proof of US citizenship such as a passport, which TSA rules require before flight training. You do not need your own airplane; every airplane on the fleet page works for a review.
The full breakdown, including what it costs, is on the flight review page.
