Hey All,

Its been about 10 years since I have flown. I have my PPL and about 83 Hours. In the next month or two the plan is to pick up where I left off and start working through my Instrument Rating.

As its been some time since I have been around aviation, does anyone have any recommendations on best way to refamiliarize myself before I start flying again? It looks like sportys has some online "Get Current" programs that would be useful.

I appreciate any advice.

Thanks!

Since you're going to have to do your BFR, it wouldn't be a bad idea to refresh your memory with the Flight Review guide from ASA.

https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Flight-...ustomerReviews

Although I haven't used that particular one, I have found those Prep guides to be excellent for the Instrument and Commercial orals. Get a few stacks of flash cards as well to help with the questions you're having issues with.

I was in a very similar situation a while back. Definitely don't recommend jumping back into flying by starting the Instrument Rating.

You don't have to do a BFR (they're called Flight Reviews now) as training for an additional rating "resets the clock" on the review. However, I was not at all ready for flying, especially instrument training) after such a long break.

I've used the Sporty's stuff and found them great for the knowledge portions. Many other great resources out there too. The flight review will be of tremendous value to you as you're concentrating on getting your rusty skills back into shape without the added pressure of learning new skills at the same time.

My CFI told me that, in his experience, it takes roughly two hours of flying for every year a pilot has been inactive. Like you, I was inactive for nearly 10 years and by the time I was signed off, had logged about 20hrs of flight time.

Thanks for the replies! Yes i did figure it would take some time to get back into the swing of things but I am very excited and motivated to get current again.

Thanks,

The more experienced you were when you stop, generally the easier it comes back.
Work hard, and don't worry. Learning best happens when relaxed a bit, not stressed.

I agree. I got back into flying after an 11 year layoff last July. But I did do a flight review. Then I went into training for my commercial (already have an instrument rating) and I realized I just needed to fly some instead of training. This March I joined a flying club and just flew. I've flown between 40-50 hours since March and I can say that nothing builds your confidence more than just flying...a lot.

So when they came down with doing away with needing a complex plane for the commercial ride I started training for the commercial again.

I would go ahead and do the flight review just to get checked out and just to get flying again and getting confident again. Then when you have your confidence back, then start training for the instrument.

A checkride for a new rating/certificate would reset the clock for a Flight Review, not the training portion itself (61.56). A CFI would still need to give a Flight Review. Besides, if the OP wishes to fly solo or with pax which I assume he will, he will definitely need to have a Flight Review done to be able to act as PIC.

[QUOTE=Ecotone;2653119]A checkride for a new rating/certificate would reset the clock for a Flight Review, not the training portion itself (61.56). A True, the review hasn't been completed until the endorsement is made by the CFI.

Check out the AOPA “Rusty Pilot Program”. Good luck!