My flight review (BFR) is up next month. Every two years I have gone back to my original flight school in Anchorage (Aerotech- Dick Ardaiz's outfit), and end up doing a pretty stock BFR drill with a newly-minted, young CFI, in the same old C-150 or C-172.

It is always helpful in terms of brushing up, but each time I wonder if there isn't some alternative way to satisfy the flight review requirement that would also expand my flying experience. For instance, I'd love to get some spin training, actual IFR exposure, more night experience, high-performance, complex, or float experience.

In a perfect world I'd go pursue these things anyway, but the fact is I haven't gotten around to it before now, so if there's a chance to roll something like that into a mandatory BFR, It's a lot more likely I'll actually do it.

I know the FARs are pretty cut and dried about flight reviews, but I'm wondering if there are some creative ways to satisfy the requirements while also learning something new.

Practical limitations are that this has to happen in february in either Anchorage, Fairbanks, or somewhere in between, so I'm afraid floats are probably out...

Thanks, happy aviating!

-DP

Go see Don Lee in Talkeetna, and see if he'll give you some ski dual in his Pacer, or take your plane down there. Tell him up front you want a FR.

Or, go to ANC can give Arctic Flyers a call. Don't know if they have their T-Craft on skis, but that could be a possibility as well.

Skis are more fun than floats. Till you get stuck.

MTV

mtv wrote:Go see Don Lee in Talkeetna, and see if he'll give you some ski dual in his Pacer, or take your plane down there. Tell him up front you want a FR.

Or, go to ANC can give Arctic Flyers a call. Don't know if they have their T-Craft on skis, but that could be a possibility as well.

Skis are more fun than floats. Till you get stuck.

MTV

Good advice, but I'm on skis already, and feel pretty comfortable on them. Still, I have heard great things about Heidi, and I suppose Don is in the same category of knowledgeable, long-time AK flier??

Thanks

DP,

for what its worth, the wings program may offer a little more flexibility. Too late if your due next month since there are several requirements to meet.

I did it for my last review, my tailwheel endorsement counted as part of the "flight" requirement, there is also credit for complex, high-performance endorsement. You can get credit for training that is not already "set" in the site, but as with any good government program, it take approval (most helpful is a CFI willing to help you with the process).

It's not the easiest way to get your BFR, but it did allow me credit for flight time i was getting with the CFI that wasn't a typical flight review.

here's the web site http://www.faasafety.gov/default.aspx

Chris

Whenever I do a FR, I tell the person receiving it that in addition to covering the basics, I'll cover anything that he or she would like to cover. I tell them that a FR is their chance to cover things that either they never felt like they learned, never understood, or new things that they would like to learn. Most are looking for a good FR review and aren't just interested in meeting the FAA minimums and checking a box. A good insructor, in my opinion, should taylor to the needs of the person receiving the FR.

Are you Multi rated?if not and you have some extra $$ laying around that may be a good one,already being on skiis you are all set there.More float flying sounds good.I like the route of a new rating myself. Maybe just look @ who does instruction in a really cool airplane you want some time in an see if that works

You could satisfy your BFR and probably finish a flight lesson laughing out loud to yourself as you drive away, if you do a little aerobatic or unusual attitude recovery. I did mine with Marc Paine, owner and operator of Unusual Attitudes in Anchorage. He is on Merrill over at the Hanger.net. The number I have is 907-279-2002.

I have been thinking of that also, fr due in Feb.
Thinking about aerobatic or unusual attitude recovery. Mountain training would be good but nothing local that I know of.

Another option is to fly your bird to Anchorage and see Dean Paulsen. He is not part of, but can be contacted through Land & Sea at Merrill. He flies primarily tailwheel, floats. etc. He can also do airbatics, mountain flying, gravel bar work, etc. I imagine he can come up with something to test your mettle that you will enjoy. He is anything but one of the young CFI's. He is a CFI because he loves it, not because he is trying to build time to go commercial. His primary job is at the King career center teaching photography. I recommend him with no reservations at all.

Last summer, I went to him and got my high performance endorsement because I now fly a 182, since I ground looped the buzzard. Counted as a FR also. This summer I'll probably get with him to do some gravel bar work in the 182.