CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 11 Issue 3 - 5

FROM THE EDITOR
as it pertains to the type of flying I will do. So,
I'm going to have to hunker down and review
those items that will help improve my learning,
knowledge, and understanding.
Together with my CFI, I'll tailor the review
and choose profiles that will bolster my
stick-and-rudder skills and decision making,
and expand my awareness of loss-of-control
avoidance and understanding of technology
and aircraft performance limitations and
capabilities. Those flight profiles and lesson
plans are designed to pinpoint proficiency
gaps, commit time to study, fly, and debrief.
Pretty neat! But first, it's time to start honing
my knowledge.
How do you as a CFI use the program? Simple.
Next time your student or client needs to
schedule a training flight or a flight review,
let him or her know about the flight profiles to
choose from. For example, your client may want
to delve into mountain and backcountry flying or
sharpen takeoff, landing, and go-around skills.
Together, you can use this opportunity to review
the options and discuss your client's recent flight
experience, flight hours, and so on.
When you've agreed on the flight profile that best
suits your client's situation and needs, simply
go through the steps to complete the preflight

study, ground, and flight portions. It will also
be helpful to download and print the flight
profile and preflight study resources.
The program meets the flight review
requirements of FAR 61.56(a), which
specifies a minimum of one hour of ground
training and one hour of flight training.
However, covering all the material, ground
discussions, and flight maneuvers in any
one of the flight profiles will take anywhere
from 2.5 to 3.5 hours. That may sound
daunting, but you want to help your client
get the best value-not just to become current
again as quickly as possible. You want to instill
confidence, help them reach their full potential,
and be proficient and safe. I know that's what
I want out of my flight review before I take my
family and friends flying.
Machteld Smith is an aviation technical writer
for the AOPA Air Safety Institute. She holds a
commercial pilot certificate with multiengine,
instrument, and seaplane ratings. She loves flying
seaplanes and the adventure of landing on rivers
and lakes! Email: machteld.smith@aopa.org

Focused Flight Review Tips

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Choose from eight flight profiles: Positive Aircraft
Control; Weather and CFIT; Fuel, Engine, and
Other Systems; Instrument Proficiency; Takeoffs,
Landings, and Go-Arounds; Mountain and
Backcountry Flying; Seaplanes; and Helicopter. Each
covers problem and high-risk areas intended to
help drive down the accident rate.
Clients and CFIs should talk about the client's recent
(or lack of recent) flight experience-including
hours flown, takeoffs and landings, and instrument
procedures-and if applicable, the kind of flying the
client does most often, and the kind of flying he or
she would like to pursue.
Each flight profile is available in a printable PDF
that includes a kneeboard version of the flight
maneuvers.
All tasks and maneuvers should be performed to
the Airman Certification Standards for the client's
certificate or rating.

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CFIs may choose to add their own expertise, tasks,
and maneuvers to make the flight review unique
to their clients' certification level, background,
experience, proficiency, and the type of flying they
do most often.
If combining an instrument proficiency check
(IPC) with the Focused Flight Review's Instrument
Proficiency flight profile, CFIs must possess
an instrument rating on their flight instructor
certificate and should develop an action plan to
ensure all IPC tasks are included. Keep in mind that
each requires a separate logbook endorsement.
CFIs should be fully qualified in each aircraft make/
model in which they provide instruction. If a flight
instructor is not proficient in the aircraft being used
for the flight review, he or she should be honest and
decline the opportunity while finding an instructor
who is better qualified.
CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 11 Issue 3

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CFI-to-CFI Newsletter - Volume 11 Issue 3
