RAAP 5 What to expect from your BFR What to expect from your Biennial Flight Review (BFR) Recreational Aviation Advisory Publication (RAAP) 5 For other RAAPs see www.raa.asn.au Version 1, August 2017 1
What to expect If you recently achieved your RAAus Pilot Cer7ficate, congratula7ons, you have become part of a group of like-minded individuals who enjoy the fun and challenge of flying a RAAus aircrac. To maintain competency, skills and keep knowledge up to date a Biennial Flight Review (BFR) or a form of periodic flight review is mandated for pilots by the avia7on authori7es of many countries. The reviews take different forms in different countries. A regular flight review is also a prac7cal way to assess changes in competence, ensure an updated understanding of changes to regula7on or procedure and forms an important part of ongoing safe flight. For holders of a Recrea7onal Pilot Cer7ficate as issued by Recrea7onal Avia7on Australia the Biennial Flight Review is required of every ac7ve holder of a RAAus Pilot Cer7ficate conducted, as the name implies, every 2 years. The RAAus Opera7ons Manual Sec7on 2.07 paragraph specifies that the review must include: A review of the current general opera7ng and flight rules, and a review of those manoeuvres and procedures that, at the discre7on of the person giving the review, are necessary for the pilot to demonstrate the safe exercise of the privileges of the pilot cer7ficate.
Conduct of a flight review and who is in command during the flight A BFR can be completed by a Senior Instructor or Chief Flying Instructor (CFI) (known as the Examiner). As they will direct you to manoeuvre the aircrac in specific exercises or flight sequences the Examiner is the Pilot in Command and the flight must be logged in your logbook as dual 7me. It is cri7cal to nominate prior to the flight taking place, who will be pilot in command should a real emergency occur. While the Examiner generally has greater experience overall, if the BFR is being conducted in the pilot s aircrac, the pilot may have greater familiarity with the aircrac systems and competence flying the aircrac. Regardless of the specific circumstances, as for any emergency, it is easier and simpler to manage if a plan has already been discussed and can then be implemented. Pilots are also encouraged to consider comple7ng BFRs with a different Examiner to the CFI or Senior Instructor who completed their basic training or issued the Pilot Cer7ficate. The opportunity to learn something new from another Instructor is invaluable. It s your BFR, so work with your Examiner to get the best from this mandatory review and improve your skills as a pilot
Other accepted methods of mee:ng your RAAus BFR requirements Alterna7vely, you could consider using the BFR due date as a prompt to add to your skills by training for a Forma7on, Tail Wheel, In-Flight Adjustable Propeller or other endorsements. Try flying different aircrac at different aerodromes, as we can all become complacent and fly in a comfort zone. Issue of an endorsement which required a flight assessment (excludes Radio and Human Factors endorsements) conducted by an appropriately qualified RAAus Examiner will be accepted as a subs7tute for a flight review. This will change the date of your previous BFR which was based on the date you achieved your Pilot Cer7ficate, so make sure you create a reminder or use your RAAus Member Portal to check this. Likewise, if you have been issued a CASA Licence or endorsement requiring flight assessment this will also be accepted as sufficient to complete your RAAus BFR requirements. This relates to flights conducted in single engine aircrac up to a Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) of 1500 kg under day Visual Flight Rules (VFR). BFRs not a pass or fail exercise Whilst 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 un7l appropriate competencies (minimum standards) are met and demonstrated.
What you should expect as part of the BFR The Examiner should discuss the objec7ves of the BFR with you prior to flying, to ensure you gain the maximum benefit from the review, acer all, it is your review! To gain the most benefit you should be honest about the sort of flying you have done in the past and the type of flying you expect to do in the future. Each review should therefore be individually tailored to meet, at the reasonable discre7on of the Examiner, your flying plans. The primary objec7ve of any review should be to assess your competencies and ability to conduct safe flight opera7ons. You should expect to be asked to demonstrate similar manoeuvres and procedures as you did during your flight test, however rather than simply flying from and to an aerodrome, comple7ng upper air work and circuits you should par7cipate posi7vely to ensure you gain the maximum benefit from the review. The Examiner should sit down with you and ask you about expected radio calls, procedures at non-towered aerodromes, changes in other rules or requirements, review areas of aerodynamics and Human Factors (HF), your or the schools aircrac (Pilot Opera7ng Handbook (POH), weight and balance calcula7ons, weather forecasts obtaining and interpre7ng, ERSA references, NOTAMs, fuel management and more. None of us can remember everything we were taught, so try to view these reviews as learning opportuni7es rather than cri7cism or the Examiner trying to show off their knowledge. What you need to bring to the BFR Pilots must bring their logbook and RAAus membership informa7on, although it is possible for the CFI to confirm your membership and endorsement informa7on along with your aircrac registra7on using a RAAus online CFI Portal. If a naviga7on exercise is planned, you will need appropriate maps, ERSA and means of obtaining weather and NOTAMs. The CFI may be able to spend some 7me with you revising your understanding of Electronic Flight Bag informa7on, GPS or tablets as these change regularly.
Common areas which require review Feedback from Examiners reveals common problem areas for review (usually linked with lack of currency or recent prac7ce by the pilot) include: AircraC lack of knowledge of Pilots Opera7ng Handbook Aftude flying (Par7ally cover the panel to simulate limited panel). Over controlling the aircrac Passenger briefing Pre take-off safety brief a what if plan Weather forecast obtaining and interpre7ng (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 prac7ced CTAF procedures circuit entry/departure, in circuit calls and SA Iden7fying controlled airspace or frequency change boundaries Crosswind take-off and landing Engine failure acer take-off (part of the pre take-off safety brief have a plan, fly the plan)
Engine failure in the circuit Management of simulated emergencies par7al power loss, failure of a system such as flaps, trim or electrics, diagnosis or troubleshoo7ng of issues, etc. Go-arounds Prac7ce forced landing (away from the circuit) Flight at slow speed Precau7onary Search and Landing Understanding of pressure height and density al7tude Stalls (typically only last prac7ced at the last BFR) Turns steep (flying by aftude) Weight and Balance calcula7ons The Examiner may request you prepare a flight plan for a cross country (although they may not ask you to fly the whole plan), then request you to conduct specific manoeuvres, both in the circuit and away from the aerodrome. Considera7ons could include: Prepara:on Pilot s prepara7on for flight (e.g. Cross country flight plan) Managing expecta7ons pilot and passenger Medical considera7ons use of IMSAFE Personal minimums discuss crea7on of minimum weather, visibility, maximum wind, personal standards for flight tolerances
Ground Review AircraC systems knowledge POH, aircrac limita7ons ASIC requirements (if appropriate) Assessment of risk management and personal minimums Cross country planning the candidate should be requested to prepare a cross country flight plan and review the plan considering weather and NOTAMS on the day of the flight. Instructor recommenda7on: Request the candidate prepare a flight plan that can be used as part of the review and allows assessment of the pilot s departure procedures then divert to training area for air work. Assess the use of electronic devices to assist naviga7on and determine the candidates understanding of requirements. Opera7ons at non-towered aerodromes - CTAF procedures and radio ERSA references and special considera7ons using a local example Fuel management as relevant to all flights IMSAFE Interpre7ng weather forecasts Pilots history and currency Pre take-off safety brief Review applicable regula7ons
Flight Review AircraF Pre-flight Inspec7on Current aircrac registra7on AircraC serviceability and cleanliness Compliance to scheduled service, comple7on of SBs and ADs AircraC opera7ng competency management of the aircrac within minimum tolerances such as airspeed, height maintenance, heading maintenance, etc. Pilot CTAF radio and procedures recommended calls In flight decision making Situa7onal awareness and lookout Minimum requirements Complete 3 landings combining par7al/full flap (if available) and clean, go-around Stall entry and recovery Prac7ce forced landing Sa7sfactorily demonstrated ability to conduct radio communica7on and circuit procedures De-Brief In flight observa7ons Plan for con7nuous prac7ce - future proficiencies (Tail wheel or APA, crea7on of personal minimum expecta7ons for flight tolerances) Retraining plan (if required) Future development of candidate Ground review Reflect the Redirect This could be summarised as The ALtude to Flying and Flying the ALtude Once the review is completed, you and the Examiner should debrief the review and agree on what standard you demonstrated for specific areas. If you are not to a competent standard the Examiner will not complete the paperwork or make a logbook entry un7l required retraining is completed. Enjoy the BFR, you can gain benefit from the review as well as making sure you stay safe flying RAAus aircrac across this beau7ful country.
provide clear plain English guidance for members to conduct safe, professional and compliant operations consistent with RAAus Manuals and Policies. About RAAPs These provide information for members to publications interpretive better RAAus has developed advisory publica7ons to provide clear plain English guidance for members to conduct safe, professional and compliant opera7ons consistent with RAAus manuals and policies. These publica7ons provide interpre7ve informa7on for members to beker understand and conduct flight or ground opera7ons whether they fly or maintain an aircrac, or teach other members to fly or maintain an aircrac. RAAPs DO NOT replace specific requirements contained in the Opera7ons or Technical Manuals or Opera7ons Bulle7ns, Service Bulle7ns or Technical Advisories that may be issued.
THAT S A WRAP