Q: I gave a private pilot a Cessna 182 checkout recently. In reviewing his logbook after the flight, I noted a flight review entry from a few months ago that stated only “flight review.” Is this pilot legal to fly as pilot in command or solo?
A: No. Endorsement A.65 in Advisory Circular 61-65J notes that for unsatisfactory performance on a flight review, no logbook entry is required. If the performance was satisfactory, the endorsement should read something like this: “I certify that Ima Goode Aviator, private pilot certificate number 9876543, has satisfactorily completed a flight review of 61.56(a) on 02/21/2025.” The instructor would then sign his or her name, certificate number, and recency end date.
Since unsatisfactory performance requires no endorsement, yet an endorsement was made, one could argue that the flight review was satisfactory. But I think that argument is thin, as the outcome was not clearly stated.
While an endorsement is not required to read verbatim as in the AC, it should include enough words to convey the same meaning, so that when an FAA inspector, pilot examiner, or flight instructor reads it, they know for certain and without hesitation or confusion.
Since a flight review can end unsatisfactorily, simply noting “flight review” in the pilot’s logbook does not truly convey the fact as to how it is was accomplished, satisfactorily or unsatisfactorily. Even if the instructor used a very simplified version of the AC endorsement like “flight review satisfactory,” the meaning is conveyed to the reader that the pilot is legal to solo or act as PIC.
Be sure all endorsements convey exactly what you expect when they are read, but do not assume or read anything into those that do not.
Craig Brown is a senior aviation technical specialist in the AOPA Pilot Information Center.
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