Flight Review (BFR) in Dallas-Fort Worth

A flight review requires a minimum of one hour of ground instruction and one hour of flight instruction under FAA regulations (14 CFR 61.56). In practice, most pilots need more time than the minimum, especially if they have not flown recently. A pilot who has been away for one to two years typically takes one and a half to two hours of ground and one to one and a half hours of flight. A pilot who has been away for five or more years may need two to three sessions to get back to a comfortable standard. The review is not a test: there is no pass or fail. The CFI determines when you have demonstrated the required proficiency, and there is no fixed maximum number of sessions. Most pilots who have not flown in three years or less complete their flight review in a single day with Settle Aviation in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Bring your pilot certificate, a current government-issued photo ID, your logbook, and proof of medical certificate or BasicMed completion. If you have been away from flying for a while, reviewing the current FAR/AIM before your ground session helps so you are not starting cold on the regulations. You do not need to own an aircraft: Settle Aviation can help you arrange access to a rental in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, or you can bring your own. If flying a rental, confirm the aircraft is current on its annual inspection and that you have the required documents on board: airworthiness certificate, registration, operating limitations, and weight and balance data. Your logbook should show your most recent flight review endorsement so the CFI knows where your previous standards stood.

The FAA requires the ground portion to cover the current general operating and flight rules of 14 CFR Part 91, plus any other subjects the CFI considers necessary for safe flight. In practice this includes airspace structure and equipment requirements, weather minimums for VFR operations, right-of-way rules, and any regulatory changes since your last review. The CFI may also cover emergency procedures, aeronautical decision making, and topics specific to where you plan to fly. The Settle Aviation ground session is a conversation, not a lecture: the CFI asks questions to find gaps, explains what has changed, and makes sure you leave with a clear picture of current standards. If you want extra time on a specific topic, such as flying in DFW Class B airspace, that can be arranged in advance.

A flight review with Settle Aviation costs $75 per hour for flight instruction and $50 per hour for ground instruction. Aircraft rental is separate and depends on the plane you fly: a typical single-engine training aircraft in the DFW area rents for $180 to $250 per hour wet, meaning fuel is included. For a standard flight review with one and a half hours of ground and one and a half hours of flight, expect roughly $187 in instructor fees plus $270 to $375 in aircraft rental, for a total of approximately $460 to $560. You pay only for the time you use: no packages, no deposits, no minimum commitments. The cost increases if you need additional sessions, but there is no surcharge for being rusty.