BFR Time? Lets exceed the standard!
Posted by Nathan Clarke on
So you have your BFR coming up? Let’s meet the standard. Some tips and tricks to make it enjoyable and successful for both instructor and candidate.
Communication
Make sure you communicate openly and honestly with your instructor with how you feel and what you want to achieve in the time frame you have in mind. Make sure you are insured for the flight and lay out how you operate your aircraft, especially regarding engine handling and emergencies.
An emerging problem is new instrumentation, this can be a real problem if you are not very familiar yet, talk this over with your instructor beforehand if this is an issue, your instructor can offer advise around work cycle and prioritisation.
Accidents, incidents or close calls in the previous period should be discussed prior to the flight. Your instructor can help you with preventative measures if required.
Your instructor most likely flies many different types and won’t necessarily remember the peculiarities of your individual machine. It pays to give him/her a briefing on any differences early on.
The flight portion requires you to verbalise what you are thinking to reassure the instructor that you are ahead of the aircraft and aware of the traffic around you. Practice this beforehand to familiarise yourself with talking and flying during the more critical phases of flight. Just make sure you don’t talk over critical radio calls.
Your instructor will work through any industry changes that are relevant so you are kept up-to-date.
Remember good education is based around trust, you instructor must trust you and vice versa for you to get the most out of it.
Sixty Day Rule
You have sixty days prior to complete you BFR and the original date stands. Your BFR is not “pass or fail” like the initial issue flight test. You get the chance to work on your flying during the BFR until the standard is met. If you would like to work on some flying that you are rusty on or unfamiliar with make sure the instructor is told in advance so provision can be made to upskill. The BFR is classed as a learning exercise not a flight test. Your BFR does not need to completed in one flight. Some BFRs I have done in the past have taken six months if they incorporate a type rating on an unfamiliar type. The BFR must be logged as dual.
Outside Your BFR Period?
If you are outside your BFR period you must not fly unless authorised by an appropriately qualified flight instructor. No passengers are allowed. You are also bound by student pilot rules. If for some reason your BFR goes overdue make sure you are insured for the flight and your instructor authorises you to fly to the aerodrome for your BFR in accordance with the student pilot rules.
Flight Test Standards Guide
The guide that is used by instructors is the Flight Test Standards Guide for PPL issue or BFR. This is available for PPL and CPL as required. My advice is to study this and bear in mind it is a “guide” and not absolutely set in stone. The instructor has some latitude for performance based on conditions on the day, flight experience, prioritisation tasks etc etc.
The form that is required to be filled in can printed off and top part filled out in readiness for your BFR. You should work through the form for revision prior to your flight. All exercises are mandatory.
https://www.aviation.govt.nz/assets/forms/24061-11.pdf
Good Aviation Practice Guides
CAANZ have some of the best free study material in the world in my opinion. This includes the GAP guides. If you are a little rusty I recommend studying the guides as required.
https://www.aviation.govt.nz/safety/education/good-aviation-practice-booklets/pilot-practice/
BFR Groundwork and Pre-Flight Actions
How it looks on the form.
Your instructor will set you some groundwork either prior to your BFR or on the day. CAANZ requires knowledge and correct interpretation on the following.
I’m Safe
https://www.aviation.govt.nz/assets/publications/posters/im-safe-poster.pdf
Current Licence and medical
https://www.aviation.govt.nz/assets/rules/advisory-circulars/ac061-3.pdf
Privileges, currency, limitations on your licence
https://www.aviation.govt.nz/assets/rules/advisory-circulars/ac061-3.pdf
Knowledge of Certificate of Airworthiness
Part 91.101 https://www.aviation.govt.nz/assets/rules/consolidations/Part_091_Consolidation.pdf
Knowledge of Flight manual, CAA forms 2173 (weight and balance) & 2129 (radio levels)
Part 91.111
https://www.aviation.govt.nz/assets/rules/consolidations/Part_091_Consolidation.pdf
Weather Interpretation and time conversion GRAFOR, TAF, METAR, , , Go/No go
https://www.aviation.govt.nz/assets/publications/products/weather-card-march-2021.pdf
NOTAMS
Gopreflight or IFIS to find NOTAMS
https://gopreflight.co.nz https://www.ifis.airways.co.nz/secure/script/user_reg/login.asp
aip.net for interpretation if required https://www.aip.net.nz/disclaimer?BackURL=
Aircraft performance and operating requirements: Flight manual and AIP NZ
https://www.aip.net.nz/disclaimer?BackURL=
P Charts, group rating, seasonal effects on performance
Flight manual and AIP for
Fuel management: required, quantity, consumption Flight manual and
https://www.aviation.govt.nz/assets/rules/consolidations/Part_091_Consolidation.pdf
Loading: MAUW, C of G position, load distribution flight manual and Part 91
https://www.aviation.govt.nz/assets/rules/consolidations/Part_091_Consolidation.pdf
NZAIP and supplements: NZ AIP
https://www.aip.net.nz/disclaimer?BackURL=
Threat and error management
Make a list of any threats that may catch you or your instructor out on the day with particular emphasis on your aircraft type.
A sample of some other questions you may be required to answer:
- Min heights
- Cruising levels
- Emergencies
- VA interpretation
- Passing rules
- VNC interpretation
- Joining procedures
- Met minima
- Controlled aerodrome ops
- Defect process for your aircraft
- Medical issues
- Incidents and accidents
Aerodrome
Make sure you re-familiarise yourself with the aerodrome the BFR will take place at. Some subtle changes may have taken place. Remember your instructor will probably watch you join and land from the ground because he/she is waiting for you.
Look up any resources that are available eg. safety manual, AIP plate, ask local pilots, instructors, or safety managers (local knowledge), cameras, ground movements, fuel availability, local weather phenomena, NOTAMS.
Make sure you are signed up for vector magazine and rule change notifications from CAANZ. Any campaigns the CAANZ are running will be published through these channels.
https://www.aviation.govt.nz/safety/education/vector-magazine/
The flight/s
There is quite a list to tick off for the BFR but an experienced instructor with a proficient candidate without too far to go should be able to complete everything in an hour and a half on a nice day.
Flight Revision
My advice to people is to go for a flight or two and practice all the manoeuveres required for the BFR. If you have a mate that flies you can work together and maybe turn it into a competition so you can both practice in your own aeroplanes and help each other marking limits as you go. Remember there are rules around emergencies, my advise is to practice your forced landing without power on your own and terminating not below 500 feet for practice. Engine failure after takeoff should not be practiced without an instructor on board. Low flying should not be practiced below five hundred feet without an instructor.
It doesn’t hurt to go through the flight prepeartion fully by doing a weight and balance calculation and performance charts for take off and landing. A good weather and operational brief including any threats noted should also be carried out to look for any holes that may come up on your BFR itself.
The flight itself
You will be assessed on the following so look up the flight test standards guide for an indication of the competencies required.
If you are unable to remember how a particular manoeuver should be carried out look up the Good Aviation Practice instructor guide to familiarize yourself.
Radio calls
Look up the Good Aviation Practice guide ( https://www.aviation.govt.nz/assets/publications/gaps/caa-gap-plane-talking.pdf ) on radio work and brush up on your calls. Traditionally this is one of the main areas of concern. Always put your feet in the other pilots shoes and have a think what they need to hear, don’t just repeat what you have always said as if by “rote”. The times are changing as things get busier, clear concise consistent correct is the only way.
I insist on a flight test or BFR that all incoming calls that other pilots make that indicate a potential loss of separation need to be briefed by the candidate with actions to prevent a collision. Practice saying “no threat” or something similar so that the instructor knows you have heard the call and no action is required.
If a pilot is unaware of another aircraft on a flight test the result is a fail. If this occurs on a BFR further revision will be required, you will need to reassure the instructor that it won’t happen again by demonstrating good situational awareness and airmanship.
Lookout
Get into the habit of pointing out aircraft to your passengers and have them point out aircraft to you. Normalising this habit will be beneficial to both the passengers and pilot, the passengers feel a sense of engagement and the pilot knows that any aircraft sighted will be verbalised. Your instructor for your BFR will be expecting you to point out any aircraft sighted so they know you have seen them and will take avoiding action as required.
Aging Pilot?
Start the discussion with your instructor around age and cognitive function if you are falling into the aging pilot population. Discuss how you intend hanging up your headset for the last time and make sure you have plans for retiring from aviation in a graceful manner. Remember the knowledge you have built up is valuable to other less experienced pilots so there is no need to distance yourself from the industry, you can still be involved either flying dual or flying as a passenger with other pilots in an advisory role.
A gem cannot be polished without friction, nor a man perfected without trials.Lucius Annaeus Seneca
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- Tags: Aviation Success, Aviation Tips, BFR, Biennial Flight Review, Flight Candidate, Flight Instructor, Flying Skills, Pilot Training