Definition
A voluntary FAA pilot proficiency program that promotes ongoing currency and safety through structured training activities. Pilots earn credit by completing a combination of approved knowledge topics and flight tasks, organized into phases. Completing a phase satisfies the flight review requirement under 14 CFR 61.56.
Plain English
An FAA program that lets pilots stay current and sharp by completing a mix of online learning and flight activities. Finishing one full set counts as your required flight review.
Context Anchor
Pilots encounter the FAA WINGS program during recurrent training, on the FAA Safety Team website, and when planning how to meet flight review requirements.
Derivation
“FAA” comes from “Federal Aviation Administration,” the U.S. government agency that regulates civil aviation. “WINGS” is used as the program name because wings are a familiar aviation symbol for pilot skill and qualification; in this context it is not about the physical wings of an airplane.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots who participate can demonstrate ongoing proficiency, which may qualify them for insurance discounts and helps reduce the risk of skill degradation.
Intuition Check
WINGS does not mean training about airplane wings. Here, it means the FAA’s ongoing pilot proficiency program.
Example Sentence 1
She enrolled in the FAA WINGS program to stay current and decided to complete a phase in place of her next flight review.
Example Sentence 2
Many flight instructors recommend the FAA WINGS program to their students as a structured way to build good habits for lifelong learning.