This question comes from David:

Hi, I am a medical student and I wish to become a pilot after I finish my college. I am considering to go to a flight school in the U.S. but am confused about chosing the best one since I am overseas. Hope to hear from you soon.

David, thanks for your question. This question actually prompted me to start a whole new project (more on that below) so I appreciate it!

To answer the question, “What is the best flight school?”, is about the same as asking, “What is the best airplane to fly?” A hard question to answer unless you know the mission. Every person has an individual need when choosing a flight school and there is not one easy answer for that question.

There are many options when it comes to choosing a flight school.

• Do you want a college degree?
• Do I need preparation for a professional career?
• Do I need flexible hours?
• What kind of airplane do I eventually want to fly?
• Do I need bank financing?
• What kind of airplane do I want to train in?
• Do you want or need a accelerated flight school program or would you like a smaller flight school?

In order to give you a recommendation I really need to know more information about your goals once you become a certified pilot. Not knowing this information, it is hard to give you a blank recommendation.

However, I will say that I would recommend a flight school that is governed by FAR Part 141. Part 141 refers to the federal regulations under which the school operates. I generally recommend a Part 141 flight school for international students because they are usually better prepared to deal with the security requirements to train students from foreign countries.

I have a couple of sites that I would encourage you to visit:

AOPA: How to Choose a Flight School

AvScholars: Learn how to choose a flight school

Flight School Reviewer

Now, my new project (work in progress…just started yesterday):

Aviation School Review.com

Basically offering similar services as Flight School Reviewer but with some added features such as a map where you can see where the flight schools are located, which can be important. You can then click the map marker, look at information about the flight school such as aircraft available, certificates given and then read the reviews. Like I said, work in progress. I would love it if you tried it out and let me know what features you would like to have added.

If you can give me some more information about your requirements for learning to fly, I might be able to better answer your question.

Fly (and train) Safe!

This question comes from Clayton:

I am a commercial pilot, single and multi engine ratings with instrument privilages. I am also a CFI single engine land.I recently received my CFI ticket and I’m confused on if the CFI ride counts as a biannual. Regs say that any additional rating qualifies as biannual but since the CFI is a different certificate will I still have to have a biannual?

To start let’s review the regulation that discusses flight reviews, 14 CFR 61.56. If you look at paragraph (d) it states that a “pilot who has passed a pilot proficiency check does not need to accomplish the flight review required by this section.” So does a CFI checkride count as a pilot proficiency check?

The answer is No. Why? Well, because the FAA specifically says so. Not in the regulation of course (that would be too easy) but in this recently released request for interpretation on 14 CFR 61.56(D) They specifically state that:

The answer is that a successful completion of a flight instructor practical test within the preceding 24 calendar months does not automatically relieve a pilot of the requirement to complete §61.56 flight review. A flight instructor practical test is not a pilot proficiency check for a pilot certificate, rating or an operating privilege, or any other acceptable substitute for a flight review specifically listed in § 61.56(d). A flight instructor practical test is not primarily focused on piloting skills but rather on one’s instructional skills. Thus, prima facie, it does not constitute a pilot proficiency check adequate to substitute for a flight review, as specified under § 61.56(d).

One way around this however (and the FAA ruling says so) is to request from your DE that your BFR and CFI checkride be done in conjunction. Acoording to the regs, a flight review requires one hour of ground and flight training. I don’t know about you, but my CFI checkride lasted A LOT longer than one hour on both the ground and flight portion of the practical test. Just be sure that your DE puts in an additional endorsement in your lookbook that attests to the fact that you have met the requirements of 61.56.

Congratulations on your CFI. Hopefully this helps you some.

Here is the link again to this FAA interpretation.

Fly Safe!

I don’t know about you, but an ICAO flight plan can be rather confusing and intimidating at first glance. However, once you go through it a couple of times, it really isn’t that bad. There are a couple of fields that are different and take a little explanation but that’s why I’m here!

In order to help you, I’ve created a short video tutorial describing and explaining the fields found on a FAA form 7233-4 or International Flight Plan form. I have to add a disclaimer. This is not a authoritative all encompassing, everything but the kitchen sink video. This is a very basic, here-is-how-I-did-it, kind of video. I ask that you check, use and consult all references provided by the FAA (not me).

Here are some links to references to use while watching the tutorial:

FAA Form 7233-4 International Flight Plan Form (pdf)

FAA Letter to Airman concerning the change (pdf)

Advisory Circular 90-100A - U.S. RNAV Operations (pdf)

Flight Services - ICAO Flight Plans (the FAA printed version of this tutorial)

Roger’s Runway - If you have a Garmin 430/530 there is some more information here pertaining to RNAV capability

Doc8643 - ICAO Aircraft Type Designators

Information about what to put in Box 18 when filing RNAV