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2 Answers

Conducting a Flight Review

Asked by: 3558 views Flight Instructor

I'm a CFI and was asked to give a Flight Review.  The pilot has a commerical rating.  He holds a current Third class medical.  He says he has no intention on upgrading his medical to a Second class and exercising any Commerical Pilot privileges.  I assume because of his age.  From what I read, the pilot is not required to have a current medical but the review is based upon their pilot certificate.  My question is...Should he be held to Commercial Pilot Standards (PTS)?  If he does not want to be held to Commercial PTS does he have to ask the FAA to downgrade to a Private Pilot Certificate.  To carrier a little futher, if a pilot held an ATP for their job, but has since retired and only flying their personal aircraft, what PTS are they held to(ATP/Private/Sport)?  Is it just a log book endorsement saying they meet the PTS for which the review was conducted?

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2 Answers



  1. John D Collins on Dec 14, 2015

    It is solely at the flight instructor\’s discretion as to what is accomplished on a flight review. You can only endorse the pilot as having met the requirements, there is no way to fail, but passing requires your concurrence and endorsement.

    It is solely at the pilot\’s discretion who the choose to perform the flight review.

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  2. Wes Beard on Dec 15, 2015

    If they have a commercial or ATP certificate you should use the commercial PTS as the standard. Just my opinion. The reason being they have no intention now to fly professionally but they could with your flight review signoff. See AC 61-98C for more info. That AC also says it is recommended to send in a completed 8710 at the completion of the flight review.

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