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Biannual check ride for part 91 pilots

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FAA Regulations

I am a ATP FAA rated pilot in a foreign country with that countries License as well.  I fly and N numbered registered aircraft.  Usually we visit Flight Safety once a year for recurrent training, and with the training I receive my Biannual sign off for my part 91 regulation FAA requirement.  This past year I was not able to receive my training at Flight Safety and there for did not receive my Biannual sign off.  I do receive an annual check ride here in the country under the foreign country regulation for that license.  My question is can that foreign check ride under a foreign instructor and foreign inspector be used as my Biannual sign off, or does the sign off need to be by an FAA rated Instructor?  Thank you.

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3 Answers



  1. Jeff Baum on Feb 26, 2021

    The short answer is, No.

    61.56 (c) states, “Except as provided in paragraphs (d), (e), and (g) of this section, no person may act as pilot in command of an aircraft unless, since the beginning of the 24th calendar month before the month in which that pilot acts as pilot in command, that person has—

    (1) Accomplished a flight review given in an aircraft for which that pilot is rated by an authorized instructor,”

    So a US CFI is the authorized instructor (authorized by the FAA).

    61.56 (d) states, “A person who has, within the period specified in paragraph (c) of this section, passed any of the following need not accomplish the flight review required by this section:

    (1) A pilot proficiency check or practical test conducted by an examiner, an approved pilot check airman, or a U.S. Armed Force, for a pilot certificate, rating, or operating privilege.”

    Receiving an annual proficiency check from a foreign check pilot would not meet the requirement of “an approved check airman” as that is a designation granted by an FAA certificated carrier (part 135 or 121 usually).

    On the up side, the Flight Review is only required every 24 months. So if you attend recurrent training in the US prior to the 24 month cutoff, you should be able to complete the Flight Review. And, if not, having a Flight Review sign off from a US CFI will reset the 24 month clock to the date which you completed the Flight Review. Unlike many foreign pilot licenses, a US pilot certificate does not expire. You simply are not allowed to exercise the privileges of that certificate until you have completed the Flight Review.

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  2. awair on Feb 27, 2021

    While you will always need a US Authorised Instructor for the Flight Review, there are a couple of exemptions.

    Have a look at the Wings program. This gives you flight review ‘status’ without necessarily completing a review. Most activities though are still US based.

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  3. Mark Kolber on Feb 28, 2021

    Awair, there was a very recent internal FAASTeam memo that training for Wings credit must be with a US CFI. That’s unfortunate and could have been handled otherwise.

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