Flight reviews help make sure pilots maintain the knowledge and skills needed to conduct flights safely.
We use flight reviews for aircraft ratings and operational ratings and endorsements. For example:
- aircraft class ratings
- aircraft type ratings
- low-level ratings
- private instrument flight rules (IFR) ratings
- night visual flight rules (VFR) ratings.
To safely exercise the privileges of a rating, you must have completed a flight review for the rating within the last 2 years.
Pilots conducting flights for an operator will likely be subject to operator proficiency checks (OPC) to determine their competency. Completion of an OPC may satisfy the flight review.
Who does the flight review
You must complete a flight review with an instructor authorised to conduct flight training for the relevant aircraft or operational rating.
You can complete the review in
- an aircraft that you can fly under the relevant rating
- an approved flight simulator.
If the instructor determines you need refresher training, an authorised Part 141 or Part 142 flight instructor must conduct the flight review.
Assessment
Your flight instructor will design a flight review that will allow them to best assess your competence.
You can include assessment for more than one rating in the same flight review. However you must do the review in an aircraft included under the relevant rating.
We also recommend you include training as part of your review.
Once you demonstrate competence in accordance with the Part 61 Manual of Standards (MOS), the instructor will assess you as having completed the flight review.
The instructor may require you to complete additional refresher training. You can complete the flight review over multiple flights if needed.
When you pass the flight review, the flight instructor will inform us and we will update your pilot licence record. Your licence will show the codes for all your issued ratings as well as the details of your flight reviews.
A flight review is valid for 2 years from the day you completed it.
Logging flight time
If you do not receive training during the flight review, log the flight time as 'pilot-in-command under supervision' as per Part 61.095(3) of CASR.
If the flight review requires you to complete flight training, record the flight time as dual flight time.
Regulation for flight reviews
Part 61 of CASR includes details about flight reviews under the limitations on exercise of privileges for:
- certificates of validation – regulation 61.305
- pilot licences—flight review – regulation 61.400
- aircraft class ratings—flight review – regulation 61.745
- pilot type ratings – regulation 61.800
- private instrument ratings – regulation 61.925
- private instrument endorsements – regulation 61.945
- night VFR ratings – regulation 61.970
- low‑level ratings – regulation 61.1060
- glider pilot licences – regulation 61.1525.