What did you do on the flight portion of your last flight review?

What did you do on your last flight review?

  • Short, soft, takeoff and landing

    Votes: 33 54.1%

  • Go around

    Votes: 33 54.1%

  • Steep turns

    Votes: 45 73.8%

  • Slow flight

    Votes: 48 78.7%

  • Stalls

    Votes: 49 80.3%

  • Ground reference maneuvers

    Votes: 18 29.5%

  • Basic instruments maneuvers

    Votes: 24 39.3%

  • IFR procedures (including IPC)

    Votes: 10 16.4%

  • I just do a normal flight for lunch (no specific maneuvers other than a typical flight)

    Votes: 2 3.3%

  • Something new or advanced such as aircraft checkout, aerobatics, new rating, etc.

    Votes: 11 18.0%
  • Total voters
    61
Brad Z

Brad Z

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Forgive me, but this is going to be airplane land focused question, but what did you do on your last flight review? I’ve had extensive conversations with many highly experienced instructors and examiners and there seems to be a consensus that the typical flight review leaves a lot to be desired.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot. Even for more experienced pilots it’s easy to make the 61.56 flight review a formality. I’m curious how much basic PP ACS type of skill elements are included in a typical flight review. Did your last flight review challenge you?

Check as many as apply. The incredibly non-scientific poll is limited in the number of options, so feel free to add to this thread anything not included. There are no wrong answers here; as long as one flew for an hour and did a sufficient amount of maneuvers and procedures to demonstrate the safe exercise of your certificate, you’ve met the requirement.

I also acknowledge that some folks are required to complete pilot proficiency checks, which checks the box for a flight review. If that’s you, no worries, you’re out of scope of this poll.
 
In addition to what I marked, I also did a simulated engine failure but that wasn't on the list.

I answered with regard to my last review, as the question asked, but there is quite a bit of variation each time. Flight reviews are open ended so that a pilot and CFI can tailor the review to specific needs.

For example, on my FR prior to my latest, I asked the CFI to provide simulated instrument work. I had recently bought my Beech and had not yet been able to go up with another pilot to do any foggles flying in her. We did a couple of stalls and, IIRC, steep turns, but then we spent 30-45 minutes with me wearing foggles and doing turns and climbs and descents with my CFI giving me ATC-like instructions.

In contrast, my last FR had no sim'd instrument at all (probably should have).

All of my FRs have been different, but all suited what I needed at the time.
 
I like to mix it up and dust off areas I don’t use much. I also like to use different instructors (all friends) as they have different perspectives which I find valuable.
 
I haven’t needed a Flight Review since 1983, but I’ll outline the last few that I gave (in a Baron)…
  • Go around
  • Steep turns (under the hood)
  • Slow flight (one of them included training on the effect of bank angle on Vmc. IIRC, 7 or 8 degrees of bank into the good engine was more than enough to not need any rudder pressure.)
  • Stalls
  • Basic instruments maneuvers
  • IFR procedures (including IPC)
  • I just do a normal flight for lunch (it wasn’t a normal flight, but he bought lunch.)
  • Something new or advanced… (we dug through his POH and Supplements, especially avionics supplements, and found stuff he didn’t know, but that was during the ground part.)
My measure of progress over the years for him was how deep his pits got. The first time we trained (in January in MN) he had pits down to his belt when we got out of the airplane. They were less pronounced every time we trained. ;)
 
Half Fast said:
In addition to what I marked, I also did a simulated engine failure but that wasn't on the list.

I answered with regard to my last review, as the question asked, but there is quite a bit of variation each time. Flight reviews are open ended so that a pilot and CFI can tailor the review to specific needs.

For example, on my FR prior to my latest, I asked the CFI to provide simulated instrument work. I had recently bought my Beech and had not yet been able to go up with another pilot to do any foggles flying in her. We did a couple of stalls and, IIRC, steep turns, but then we spent 30-45 minutes with me wearing foggles and doing turns and climbs and descents with my CFI giving me ATC-like instructions.

In contrast, my last FR had no sim'd instrument at all (probably should have).

All of my FRs have been different, but all suited what I needed at the time.
Click to expand...
Same here for the non-IFR stuff... and always an engine failure to practice and unusual attitudes. Also emergency descents. Basically a shorter version of a checkride with emphasis on what I rarely do in everyday flying. I also do quartering tailwind landings (if winds are under 8) but only with CFIs I know very well because they understand why.
 
For my ground portion, I used the King VFR Refresher course. It's reasonably thorough, a bit outdated in spots, but it's a spliced-together mess of course snippets. Martha's hair keeps changing clip to clip, and John adds and loses 20+ lbs clip to clip. That was funnier than their lame jokes.
 
I do mine in a J-3 Cub, so not much to do but basic airwork, takeoffs, and landings.
 
I've actually been thinking about this as I'll need one in July. Won't have time to get the instrument knocked out. Im thinking about taking the Colorado pilots ground course and then doing the mountain cross country to qualify as a review.

I was contemplating doing ases. However, it's a bit impractical and being a flatlander Im a bit intimidated by mountains and mountain weather.
 
Simulated emergency landings is what stood out the most to me because that's where I had the most trouble. Winds were a bit tricky that day and the CFI picked a runway that was densely surrounded by trees. I *think* I did steep turns, slow flight and stalls but don't exactly remember because I probably nailed them and therefore they weren't memorable.
 
It’s been like 4 or 5 years since I had a “Flight Review.” Have gotten new ratings for mine since then
 
I did all that except a VFR go-around. Missed approaches are close enough for me.

On my last one I had a lot of new-to-me avionics so we played with that a lot. Usually OEI since I have a twin, though my last FR was in the Yankee.

Always includes lunch.
 
also partial panel
 
One guy I use pulled the gear breaker while I was scanning for traffic on the downwind. Got abeam the numbers, pulled power to 11”, put the lever down and put in 15* flaps. After a few seconds I said “somethings not right.”

After not seeing the gear down light, I investigated and found the breaker.

Probably the most interesting thing I’ve had a CFI do on a FR.
 
I usually try to use a different instructor,who is t a friend. Also in between flight reviews I get a rental checkout.
 
My last flight review was really comprehensive and I liked it that way. We did short field landing, normal landing, and then in the air steep turns, stalls, slow flight, emergency procedure, unusual attitude recovery and power off 360. The flight review almost felt like a check ride and the CFI I was working with at the time was just really good in my opinion.
 
We did a lot of the items in the list. When it was over, my (new to me) CFI said I was the most “comfortable with my airplane” pilot that she has flown with. That made me feel very happy because she is a flight instructor for the aeronautical program at a major university.
 
When I gave flight reviews most non-IR pilots struggled with basic hood work.
 
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It's so rare for me to fly with another rated pilot that I can't ever get in sim inst conditions. We discuss the flight review, and I tell the CFI I would like to do the entire hour(or more) under the hood, with no ref to outside view. After takeoff I go 'IMC' about 200 feet AGL. I do all kinds of flight work except spins. Although rated for instruments, I no longer will fly in actual, and my plane is not prepped for inst conditions, although I would get by in an emergency. I have no plans, and avoid even the appearance of entering IMC, but if it ever happens I want to be as prepared as I can. Whatever the CFI wants me to do with the plane, I'll do it, but it's all done under the hood(foggles). I also shoot one GPS approach to mins.
 
Racerx said:
I've actually been thinking about this as I'll need one in July. Won't have time to get the instrument knocked out. Im thinking about taking the Colorado pilots ground course and then doing the mountain cross country to qualify as a review.

I was contemplating doing ases. However, it's a bit impractical and being a flatlander Im a bit intimidated by mountains and mountain weather.
Click to expand...
You make sure to let us know POA which CPA session you're going to take. June, Aug & Sept.
Finish the class & flight, then the CO-POA contingent will finally have an excuse for a meetup.

coloradopilots.org

Mountain Flying Ground School | Colorado Pilots Association

Learn to fly safely in the Colorado Rockies. CPAs mountain flying ground school covers density altitude, weather, route planning, and mountain pass navigation.
coloradopilots.org coloradopilots.org
 
We usually do what amounts to a mini-checkride. I usually do that on my own every 3 months or so, but it's easy to drift off the standard when you're self-evaluating yourself. So I ask the CFI to ensure that my standards are still good enough for safe flight.
it's all done as we fly from one airport to another, replicating situations that might be encountered in regular flying.
 
murphey said:
You make sure to let us know POA which CPA session you're going to take. June, Aug & Sept.
Finish the class & flight, then the CO-POA contingent will finally have an excuse for a meetup.

coloradopilots.org

Mountain Flying Ground School | Colorado Pilots Association

Learn to fly safely in the Colorado Rockies. CPAs mountain flying ground school covers density altitude, weather, route planning, and mountain pass navigation.
coloradopilots.org coloradopilots.org
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Since im due in July was thinking June
 
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Bill said:
One guy I use pulled the gear breaker while I was scanning for traffic on the downwind. Got abeam the numbers, pulled power to 11”, put the lever down and put in 15* flaps. After a few seconds I said “somethings not right.”

After not seeing the gear down light, I investigated and found the breaker.

Probably the most interesting thing I’ve had a CFI do on a FR.
Click to expand...
I had a student that bought a Bonanza that used to have a Alon Aircoupe and did not have any complex experience. I could tell he never looked at the gear indicators after putting the gear switch down. So I did that to him. After asking him twice is anything was wrong, he said there must be or you would not be asking. We left the pattern so he could check things, at that point he still did not know. I hope it made an impression on him.

Sadly, a few years later I was told he was killed in an ultralight crash.
 
Just did my review this past week.. and will be doing my yearly IPC next month (wings credit).

Ground portion was reviewing 91 and planning a flight from X to Y with the CFI pitching some gotcha questions... there were a few where he got me, not that I answered wrong, just noted that I forgot, but I knew the answer was - and when did they note stadiums with the diamond.. I let him get me on that one.... Air portion was short and soft field take off, then clearing turn, steep turns, power - on/power off, engine out, airplane fire, and unusual attitudes than back to the field for emergency and soft field landing, and normal take over over a fifty foot obstacle and normal landing. I was a little behind the plane for a bit as it was my first time in a modern Archer, with a G-1000 panel... and got caught with the low wing ground effect... but once I got things arranged in my head, it smoothed out and hit the numbers on the last landing :D

Oh, Check list... forgot a few times... and got the "if only there was a way to make sure the plane was properly configured for landing..?"
 
I had to pick someone up in Sacramento and was worried about IMC on the return so I took a CFII with me and he signed off on the BFR.
 
Racerx said:
Since im due in July was thinking June
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Counts as a BFR and as a bonus, you get the certificate for landing at Leadville.
Of course the way the weather is happening (it's 65F right now in Denver) we'll probably have snow storms all summer. Friends went to Vail yesterday...a few bare spots but they keep to the blue slopes because of the kids (8 & 12)
 
murphey said:
Counts as a BFR and as a bonus, you get the certificate for landing at Leadville.
Of course the way the weather is happening (it's 65F right now in Denver) we'll probably have snow storms all summer. Friends went to Vail yesterday...a few bare spots but they keep to the blue slopes because of the kids (8 & 12)
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Didn't know Leadville was part of the xc. Hell yeah!

I remember you said once before it counts as a flight review, that's what made me look into it.
 
Depends what you mean. The last time I was due for a FR, I got a new rating. Have done that several times. The last time I was actually signed off for a FR specifically, it was combined with a HP endorsement and check out in a new tow plane.
 
whats this flight review thing you speak of? never had one. now, ive given a bunch of them, i alwas review the pilots logbook to see what type of flying they do and stress the areas that they never do along with all the basic airwork and just for fun i turn off the GPS.
 
Dana said:
I do mine in a J-3 Cub, so not much to do but basic airwork, takeoffs, and landings.
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If you're flying a cub, any maybe anything VFR only, those kinda seem like the most important things to me.

I fly out of a relatively short field w/ obstacles, so short field is every flight, and I value that. BFR's that I've had have been around the basics - slow flight to the edge of stall, actual stalls, and steep turns. Probably a simulated power off circle to land, and probably an unusual attitude recovery simulated instrument.

One year I think I combined the review with a complex checkout in an Arrow. That was a lot of fun, and more than one flight. The main thing with that one was learning and practicing manual gear extension to the point that it was completely routine as a practice exercise.
 
Reviewed stalls, spins, and basic rolls, loops and hammerheads. Loads of fun. Next year I'll ask for all the stuff in an instrument proficiency check and call that a flight review.
 
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