Watch this exciting stall recovery video recorded by Aerocadet using Extra 330XL aircraft – a required training segment for CPL pilots pursuing flight instructor ratings, and recommended training segment for bi-annual flight review (BFR):
For commercial and general aviation pilots, the Flight Review required under FAR 61.56 every 24 calendar months is often viewed as a regulatory hurdle—a routine check-box to maintain currency. However, viewing the Flight Review purely as a legal requirement misses its primary intent: a targeted, risk-mitigating intervention against skill decay and complacency.
According to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) data, Loss of Control In-Flight (LOC-I) remains a leading cause of fatal general aviation accidents. The overwhelming majority of LOC-I accidents stem from undetected or mismanaged aerodynamic stalls, often at low altitudes during takeoff, departure, or landing patterns. A thorough Flight Review provides a controlled environment to re-sharpen aerodynamic awareness and hone emergency reflexes.
Unlike commercial air transport pilots who undergo rigorous recurrent simulator training every six to twelve months, general aviation pilots often fly infrequently or stick exclusively to benign conditions—local cross-countries in fair weather. Over time, subtle habits creep in:
-
Elevated landing entry speeds to mask poor energy management.
-
Over-reliance on visual cues without active cross-checking of airspeed and pitch attitude.
-
Hesitation or incorrect muscle memory during unexpected flight regime changes.
The Flight Review bridges this gap by introducing structured ground and flight instruction tailored to a pilot’s typical operations while pushing them beyond their comfortable routine.
Understanding Angle of Attack and the Stall
A stall is purely an aerodynamic phenomenon: an aircraft stalls when the wing exceeds its critical Angle of Attack (AoA), causing airflow separation over the upper surface and a sudden loss of lift. It can happen at any airspeed, any altitude, and any power setting.
During a Flight Review, instructors emphasize four distinct sensory cues: