Endorsements, Currency Training & Checkouts

At Skyfarer Academy, we help pilots stay safe, proficient, and legally current. Whether you’re returning to the cockpit after time away, pursuing new aircraft privileges, or maintaining instrument currency, our network of certified instructors and flight schools is ready to support you.

Table of Contents

• Recurrent Training: Flight Reviews and Instrument Proficiency Checks
• Endorsements
• Checkouts

§61.56 Flight Review

"Biennial Flight Reviews" (BFRs)

Every pilot must complete a flight review every 24 calendar months to maintain the privilege of acting as pilot-in-command.

Through Skyfarer, you can connect with instructors who conduct flight reviews that go beyond the minimum FAA requirements, focusing on your knowledge of regulations, your proficiency with maneuvers, and your overall decision-making skills.

A typical review consists of at least 1 hour of ground discussion and 1 hour of flight, but your instructor may recommend additional time to ensure you feel fully prepared. The goal is not just to remain legally current but to leave the session safer and more confident than when you arrived.

§61.57 Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC)

Critical instrument safety training.

For instrument-rated pilots, an Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC) is required to restore IFR currency if the required instrument experience lapses.

CFII instructors will guide you through approaches, holds, navigation procedures, and ATC communications, and they emphasize handling real-world weather scenarios and abnormal situations. Depending on your proficiency, the IPC may take more than one flight, and it is designed to help you exceed minimum standards so you can return to the instrument environment with confidence.

Complex Endorsement

To fly a complex aircraft — one with retractable landing gear, flaps, and a controllable-pitch propeller — you must complete specialized training and receive an endorsement from a CFI.

• Covers aircraft systems, emergency procedures, and proper gear/flap management.
• Includes multiple flights to practice takeoffs, landings, and configuration changes.
• Focuses on energy management and aeronautical decision-making for complex operations.

High-Performance Endorsement

A high-performance endorsement is required to operate aircraft with an engine of more than 200 horsepower.

• Reviews high-power operations, engine management, and performance considerations.
• Emphasizes power settings, fuel flow, and risk management during takeoff, climb, and cruise.
• Typically requires several lessons depending on pilot experience and proficiency.

Tailwheel Endorsement

Tailwheel training teaches classic “stick and rudder” skills that improve precision and coordination for any pilot.

• Covers ground handling, directional control, and tailwheel-specific taxi techniques.
• Includes takeoffs, landings, and recovery from common issues such as ground loops.
• Builds confidence in crosswind operations and improves overall pilot skill.

Pre-flight Review

A good checkout begins with the “Limitations” section of the aircraft’s Pilot’s Operating Handbook. This section defines what is and isn’t approved for that model, sometimes revealing surprising requirements like mandatory fuel additives or operating restrictions. After reviewing limitations, pilots and instructors should carefully go through the normal and emergency checklists before ever boarding the aircraft. This pre-flight review allows time to visualize procedures, discuss questions, and build a shared understanding of the airplane’s systems.

Types

Checkouts can be tailored for many scenarios:

• Aircraft Transition Training: Moving into a new make, model, or avionics suite (e.g., Cessna 172, Cirrus SR20/SR22, or G1000-equipped aircraft).
• Insurance or Rental Requirements: Meeting minimum standards to rent or fly club or FBO aircraft safely and legally.