Chapter AC 61-98
Introduction
Summary: FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 61-98E provides guidance for certificated pilots and flight instructors on meeting flight review and recent flight experience requirements under 14 CFR §§ 61.56 and 61.57. Issued by the FAA Flight Standards Service on October 30, 2024, the document focuses on maintaining pilot proficiency, currency, and instrument competency within General Aviation operations. The advisory circular also outlines limitations regarding simulator and flight training device use and clarifies that the guidance is informational only and does not carry the force of law.
This advisory circular (AC) provides information for certificated pilots and flight instructors to use in complying with the flight review required by Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 61, § 61.56 and the recent flight experience requirements of § 61.57. This AC is directed to General Aviation (GA) pilots and flight instructors.
This AC does not apply to training programs or proficiency checks conducted pursuant to 14 CFR part 121 or 135, nor to curriculums approved pursuant to 14 CFR part 142. Full flight simulators (FFS) and flight training devices (FTD) may not be used for logging airman experience or for any training, checking, or qualification credit unless qualified and approved by the Administrator (§ 61.4). Additionally, a flight review cannot be accomplished in an FFS or FTD unless it is used in accordance with an approved course conducted by a training center certificated under part 142 (§ 61.56(i)(1)). The contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way, and the document is intended only to provide information to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or
agency policies.
/s/
Robert Ruiz for
Lawrence Fields
Executive Director, Flight Standards Service