The Flight Review (61.56)
What a flight review is, the 24-calendar-month requirement, what it must include, and the alternatives that satisfy it.
A flight review under 14 CFR 61.56 is what keeps your pilot certificate exercisable. Unlike passenger or instrument currency, it is not tied to carrying passengers — no one may act as pilot in command unless they have completed a flight review within the preceding 24 calendar months.
What it is
A flight review is a minimum of one hour of ground training and one hour of flight training given by an authorized flight instructor. It is a review, not a test — there is no pass/fail. The instructor endorses your logbook when satisfied; if not, you simply get more training. The ground portion covers the current general operating and flight rules of Part 91; the flight portion covers manoeuvres and procedures the instructor considers necessary for you to exercise your certificate safely.
Calendar months
"24 calendar months" means the review is valid through the last day of the 24th month after the month it was given — a review done any day in March 2026 is good through 31 March 2028.
Alternatives that count
You do not need a separate flight review if, within the period, you have:
- passed a practical test (checkride) for a new certificate or rating, or
- completed one or more phases of the FAA WINGS pilot proficiency program, or
- satisfied certain other checks listed in 61.56.
Track it
The currency tracker counts your flight review in calendar months and shows the expiry date.
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*Reference and training only — not for navigation or as legal advice. Always consult the current 14 CFR, the AIM, your aircraft’s POH/AFM and a certificated flight instructor.*