History of the BFR?

I got my certificate in 1978, and BFRs had just gotten started about
then. I was renting planes then, and it really wasn't much of a concern,
except for the time and expense, because the insurance companies
required renters to fly at least once a month or once every 3 months,
depending on the insurance company.

So, checkriding once every two years wasn't a big concern. Except,
again, that it was a needless expense for those who flew a lot. In fact,
our nickname for "BFR" was "Big F**king Ripoff."

But.... I also knew some people back then who owned their own planes,
and who would flew once a year or once every two years or so, and they
were as dangerous as a drunk driver on a freeway. If they returned in
one piece, it was out of sheer luck.

So, I support the BFR... as least, for everyone else except me. I, of
course, don't need it.

Joe

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In article MaPfd.16873$R05.14718@attbi_s53,
says...
Mary is off doing her BFR as I write this, which got me to wondering about
the history of the biennial flight review.

As I understand it, BFRs were not required until fairly recently (like, in
the last 30 years?). Given the current uproar over the creation of
relatively simple new requirements (like foreign pilots having to register,
etc.), I can barely imagine the howls of protest that must have ensued
during and after the creation of a rule that required every pilot to "prove
himself" with a CFI every 2 years!

(Although, I suspect, CFIs at the time must have thought they had died and
gone to heaven! Talk about a guaranteed money-maker! :-)

Was there a rash of incidents caused by rusty pilots before this rule was
proposed? What happened to bring about such a radical change?

For those who were flying back then, can you give us a brief history of what
happened?

So, checkriding once every two years wasn't a big concern. Except,
again, that it was a needless expense for those who flew a lot. In fact,
our nickname for "BFR" was "Big F**king Ripoff."

Yeah, the fact that they don't take into account currency or number of hours
in the last 12 months is one aspect of BFRs that I resent somewhat.

I mean, we fly every couple of days. Mary needs a BFR like I need an enema.

Oh well. I, too, know pilots who hop in their plane every sixth month, and
fly off to Timbuktu without a second thought. It's good to have CFIs
keeping a closer eye on those folks, I guess... And it's always kinda fun
to go up and scare the new instructors!

;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

On Thu, 28 Oct 2004 04:31:21 GMT, "Jay Honeck"
wrote:

So, checkriding once every two years wasn't a big concern. Except,
again, that it was a needless expense for those who flew a lot. In fact,
our nickname for "BFR" was "Big F**king Ripoff."

Yeah, the fact that they don't take into account currency or number of hours
in the last 12 months is one aspect of BFRs that I resent somewhat.

I mean, we fly every couple of days. Mary needs a BFR like I need an enema.

Oh well. I, too, know pilots who hop in their plane every sixth month, and
fly off to Timbuktu without a second thought. It's good to have CFIs
keeping a closer eye on those folks, I guess... And it's always kinda fun
to go up and scare the new instructors!

;-)
I understand your resentment because I know from reading your posts
for a long time that you are a constantly thinking pilot that is
always looking for a way to improve. I commend you for that.
Unfortunately, currency does not equal proficiency and they cannot
have a "Honeck" exception to the BFR requirement. I know of several
old codgers that fly several times a week. While their stick and
rudder skills are good, they are a menace to the aviation community.
They do not keep aware of the constant changes that are taking place
in the flying environment. They think we're still in the Sky King
days. There are probably as many like them as there are like you.
Think about them when you have to suffer through a BFR that I agree
you probably do not need.
Rich Russell

Jay Honeck wrote:
So, checkriding once every two years wasn't a big concern. Except,
again, that it was a needless expense for those who flew a lot. In fact,
our nickname for "BFR" was "Big F**king Ripoff."


Yeah, the fact that they don't take into account currency or number of hours
in the last 12 months is one aspect of BFRs that I resent somewhat.

I mean, we fly every couple of days. Mary needs a BFR like I need an enema.

You looked a bit constipated in the AOPA picture.

You looked a bit constipated in the AOPA picture.

Did you see the angle my legs were at? That wasn't a smile -- it was a
grimace!

Mike Fizer had me squat down a bit, so that I wouldn't tower over Mary too
much. After about 20 minutes, my legs were cramping up pretty good...

Meanwhile, Mary was relaxing in that big leather arm chair, wondering what I
was moaning and groaning about...

;-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Yeah, the fact that they don't take into account currency or number of hours
in the last 12 months is one aspect of BFRs that I resent somewhat.

I mean, we fly every couple of days. Mary needs a BFR like I need an enema.

To take that into account would fail to take into account those who fly incorrectly every day, for which a BFR offers an opportunity to show the pilot their error before it becomes even more ingrained.

Jose
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"Jay Honeck" wrote in message news:tC_fd.19613$R05.19233@attbi_s53...
So, checkriding once every two years wasn't a big concern. Except,
again, that it was a needless expense for those who flew a lot. In fact,
our nickname for "BFR" was "Big F**king Ripoff."

Yeah, the fact that they don't take into account currency or number of hours
in the last 12 months is one aspect of BFRs that I resent somewhat.

I mean, we fly every couple of days. Mary needs a BFR like I need an enema.

She needs one that bad?

I don't like to take them, but I figure they can't hurt. Even pilots
who fly a lot can sometimes pick up bad habits that a BFR might catch.
We who read these groups are constantly being reminded of things to
watch out for, but there are thousands out there who have little
contact with other pilots, instructors, or information of any kind
between their BFR's. It would be difficult to quantify how "isolated"
a pilot is.
--
Gene Seibel
Gene & Sue's Aeroplanes - http://pad39a.com/gene/planes.html
Because I fly, I envy no one.

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:tC_fd.19613$R05.19233@attbi_s53...

Yeah, the fact that they don't take into account currency or number of
hours in the last 12 months is one aspect of BFRs that I resent somewhat.

I mean, we fly every couple of days. Mary needs a BFR like I need an
enema.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"


That is EXACTLY the attitude that points out your need for a BFR, at
MINIMUM. I recall so many dead pilots that remind me of you.
You just don't like spending the money.

Karl

That is EXACTLY the attitude that points out your need for a BFR, at
MINIMUM. I recall so many dead pilots that remind me of you.
You just don't like spending the money.

Actually, I ALWAYS have a great time on my BFRs, enjoy them thoroughly, and
always learn a thing or three while I'm at it. You have obviously taken my
quote out of context.

Shoot, I'm always looking for new ways to stretch my skills, and -- although
I don't like spending money -- I don't see BFRs as anything but good.

Which is different than acknowledging the fact that they are "unnecessary"
for people like Mary and me who fly twice a week, into all sorts of
airspace.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Which is different than acknowledging the fact that they are "unnecessary"
for people like Mary and me who fly twice a week, into all sorts of
airspace.

Careful Jay. The moment you think that you don't need a BFR is the moment you will spiral into the ground wondering what happened.

Jose
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for Email, make the obvious change in the address