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BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW

two men in plane

To maintain competency, skills and to keep your knowledge up-to-date, a Biennial Flight Review (BFR) is mandated for pilots by the aviation authorities of many countries. A regular flight review is also a practical way to assess changes in competence, ensure an updated understanding of changes to regulation or procedure and forms an important part of ongoing safe flight.

For holders of a Recreational Pilot Certificate as issued by Recreational Aviation Australia, the Biennial Flight Review is required of every active holder of a RAAus Pilot Certificate, every 2 years.

The RAAus Operations Manual Section 2.07 paragraph specifies that the review must include:

  • A review of the current general operating and flight rules, and
  • A review of those manoeuvres and procedures that, at the discretion of the person giving the review, are necessary for the pilot to demonstrate the safe exercise of the privileges of the pilot certificate.

 What you need to bring to your BFR

Pilots must bring their logbook and have current RAAus membership. 

If a navigation exercise is planned, you will need appropriate maps, ERSA and means of obtaining weather and NOTAMs. The CFI may be able to spend some time with you revising your understanding of Electronic Flight Bag information, GPS or tablets as these change regularly. 

Feedback from Examiners reveals common problem areas for review (usually linked with lack of currency or recent practice by the pilot) include:

  • Aircraft – lack of knowledge of Pilots Operating Handbook
  • Attitude flying (Partially cover the panel to simulate limited panel).
  • Over controlling the aircraft
  • Passenger briefing
  • Pre take-off safety brief – a “what if” plan
  • Weather forecast – obtaining and interpreting (valid for local and cross country flights)
  • Fuel management – use of a fuel log
  • Unusual circuits – low level or right hand circuit
  • Short field approach and landing – rarely practiced
  • CTAF procedures – circuit entry/departure, in circuit calls and SA
  • Identifying controlled airspace or frequency change boundaries
  • Crosswind take-off and landing
  • Engine failure after take-off (part of the pre take-off safety brief – have a plan, fly the plan) Common areas which require review
  • Engine failure in the circuit
  • Management of simulated emergencies – partial power loss, failure of a system such as flaps, trim or electrics, diagnosis or troubleshooting of issues, etc.
  • Go-arounds
  • Practice forced landing (away from the circuit)
  • Flight at slow speed
  • Precautionary Search and Landing
  • Understanding of pressure height and density altitude
  • Stalls – (typically only last practiced at the last BFR)
  • Turns – steep
  • Weight and Balance calculations

BFRs – not a pass or fail exercise
While Examiners cannot fail you as a BFR is not a test (there are no pass or fail criteria), the examiner providing the BFR may decline to endorse your logbook. This may be on the basis that a flight review is not completed until appropriate competencies (minimum standards) are met and demonstrated.

If you would like to access all our helpful online videos and theory books, sign up here: www.gofly.online/register  

Please find below some questions for your oral quiz/chat on the day.  These questions are provided to ensure you understand the regulatory landscape in which you operate under as well as the significant changes in legislation that have recently occurred.

1. Can you define what Part 91 is?

2. How do CAO 95.55/ 95.32/ 95.10 fit into the legislation landscape? What CAO do you

operate under?

3. Where would you find the exemptions to Part 91 that apply to RAAus?

4. When are you required to obtain a weather forecast?

a. For the above question what minimum documents must you obtain?

5. What are the alternate aerodrome requirements prescribed in CASR Part 91?

6. What are the specified VFR Cruising Requirements?

a. What are the exceptions to the above question?

7. What are the VMC requirements for operations in Class G?

a. Below 3000ft AMSL or 1000 AGL

b. Below 10000ft AMSL

8. What is now required to carry a firearm onboard an aircraft?

9. Describe the steps required to carry an animal onboard your aircraft

10. What are the minimum mandatory radio calls required in the vicinity of a non-

controlled aerodrome?

11. When is a flight notification required to be submitted?

12. What matters must a pilot check before take-off?

13. Can you accept a phone call whilst refuelling your aircraft?

14. What requirement does a pilot have to comply with the POH or Flight Manual?

15. When are you required to check your fuel for contamination?

 

Question References (where to find the answers)

1. Civil Aviation Safety Regulations – General Operating and Flight Rules

2. Refer to Legislation Structure for RAAus Members

3. CAO 95.55/95.32/95.10 (as applicable to the CAO the member operates under)

4. CASR Part 91.230 & CASR Part 91 MOS Chapter 7.02

5. CASR Part 91.235 & CASR Part 91 MOS Chapter 7.02

6. CASR Part 91.275 & CASR Part 91 MOS Division 2.5

7. CASR Part 91.280 & CASR Part 91 MOS Chapter 2.07

8. CASR Part 91.160

9. CASR Part 91.620

10. CASR Part 91.630 & CASR Part 91 MOS Chapter 21

11. CASR Part 91.240 & CASR Part 91 MOS Chapter 9 (9.02)

12. CASR Part 91.245 & CASR Part 91 MOS Chapter 10 (10.02/10.05/10.06)

13. CASR Part 91.170 – 91.175 & CASR Part 91 91.485

14. CASR Part 91.095

15. CASR Part 91.465 

 
Further information can be obtained from Recreational Aviation Advisory Publication (RAAP5) here.