Minimum number of hours to pass FAA Flight Review?

Question

I was thinking of taking flight lessons for getting a Private Flight License. As I was searching through different instructors, I came across something called "flight review" which happens every 24 months. If I don't fly much or even more than half a dozen hours a year or two, could I lose my flying license? Also, what in general does the FAA Flight Review look for in me?

Answer 1

A private pilot certificate does not expire, even if you don't fly at all. Inactivity will not cause you to lose it.

However, you must meet recent experience and flight review requirements in order to continue exercising the privileges of the certificate.

Recent Experience

You must have logged three takeoffs and three landings within 90 days in order to take passengers. If it has been more than 90 days, you don't lose your certificate, but you must complete the takeoffs and landings before you can take passengers again.

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/tex...

Flight Review

In order to act as pilot in command at all, you must have completed a flight review within 24 months. You can do the flight review with any flight instructor. It does not have to be done with the FAA. The flight review must include at least one hour of flight and one hour of ground. You will typically go over basic pilot knowledge, such as regulations and safety procedures. Your flight will cover any basic maneuvers and emergency procedures required for safe flight. The idea of the flight review is simply to make sure you are not rusty, and that you are still proficient to act as a private pilot. You cannot 'fail' a flight review, but it may take more than one hour of flight and ground to pass it.

http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/tex...

Don't worry at all about flight reviews. They are typically fun and it is something you would want to do anyway to maintain proficiency. Just think of it like a refresher course.

Note: The 40 hours is only to get your certificate initially.

Answer 2

If you currently do not hold a Private Pilot certifiace or higer , then the flight review does not apply to you.

A flight review is required every 24 months to show compentency to fly an aircraft, and consists of a minimum of 1 hr of ground instruction and 1 hr of flight, and it is up the instructor adminstering the flight review to tailor it to the type of flying that the pilot normally does, but their is some exceptions around not having to do a flight review, and this if you obtained a new certifacte or rating, or completed a approved refresher couse such as the FAA Wings program.

It appears that you have not recieved your PPC, and in this case would have to complete a min of 40hrs of flight time, which includes all the items in FAR 61 Subparts C and E. (Student Pilot and Private Pilot Requirements).

Answer 3

Just to add to what everyone else has said, very infrequent flying is dangerous. It would be extremely hard to maintain proficiency flying that little. If you don't plan to fly at least 25 hours a year, you probably should consider doing something else.

You cannot lose your license, but you cannot act as pilot in command if you have not had a BFR in the past 24 months. You also cannot carry passengers if you haven't had 3 takeoffs and 3 landings in the previous 90 days. (Though you can just do these alone right before your passengers get on the plane. It takes about 20 minutes.)

A BFR only takes two or three hours if you've kept up with any changes in the regulations and still remember how to fly. But it's very hard to retain proficiency without flying at least 30 or 40 hours a year. If you're willing to brush up with an instructor every time you get into a plane after having not been in one for a few weeks, then I guess you should be fine.

Answer 4

If you are refering to a checkride it 40 hours good luck