On Aug 2, 12:56*pm, "Mike" nospam @ aol.com wrote:
"a" wrote in message

...

I *can't speak for other pilots, but I want the ^%*% BFR to make me a
safer pilot, and if the CFI wasn't tough enough I'd fire his ass. *I
and another pilot do safety checks on each other every half year or so
for exactly the same reason -- the only time my airplane gets close to
FAA limits on pitch and bank is when he say "It's your airplane' when
I'm under the hood doing unusual attitude recovery work. *I want at
least that much work from a BFI.

The idea isn't to get a log book entry, folks, the idea is to
demonstrate you know what you're doing to an objective observer. Don't
waste the opportunity.

You have the right idea that the FAA minimum requirements doesn't mean
you're a safe pilot. *Personally I'm also doing a lot more than the 6
approaches every 6 months to keep myself IFR current also. *But not all
pilots have that attitude. *Many see the BFR as nothing more than a log book
entry, and there are CFIs out there who are more than willing to give a
drive by BFR.

Nothing is a sure thing, but these kinds of reviews can be used to
change the odds a little bit in your favor. I'm getting old: one CFI
with a fresh outlook told me, since I fly a reasonable amount of long
XC at night, usually at 11,000 feet eastbound, it would be wise to use
oxygen at altitude even though it's not required. He got a gold star
for reminding me of something I'd forgotten about night vision. He's
the same guy who made some wise, off the books, suggestions about
pattern flying at non-controlled airports (low winged guys should be
at pattern altitude way out on the entry leg, "Where are your clearing
turns in entry, dammit!", fly a bit faster and a bit lower -- low
wing airplane, vis is better upward -- if there's no one ahead of you
all the way to late on final, less chance of someone marring your
paint job -- those kinds of things.

A couple of hours with someone like that, who makes a study of
airmanship, even though he had a thousand hours less than I did, is
both instructive and humbling!

The least important part of that BFR was his signoff -- I'm sorry he's
moved away.