Improved Controls Needed Over Private Pilot Licensing

The National Transportation Safety Board, reporting on general aviation accidents from 1966 to 1974, cited pilot error as the causal factor in over 80 percent of the cases investigated. The Federal Aviation Administration is responsible for initial licensing of private pilots, who must pass medical and written examinations, receive formal training under supervision of an FAA licensed instructor, and pass a flight-test by an FAA designated pilot examiner. Beginning in November 1974 a biennial flight review was required of all active pilots to demonstrate continued competency.

The FAA does not have an effective system for determining whether the tests and reviews conducted by these examiners and instructors comply with FAA standards. Many examiners indicated that their flight-tests did not comply with the flight-test guide used. Guidance on the conduct of flight reviews has been inadequate, and those conducting the reviews have widely varying opinions on what procedures, maneuvers, and other matters should be reviewed. The FAA does not monitor flight reviews or know which pilots have taken the required review; and it is not making an appreciable effort to enforce the requirement.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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