Definition
A specific subsection of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 61, Section 61.56, paragraph (c)(1), which sets one of the requirements for the flight review every pilot must complete to act as pilot in command. Paragraph (c)(1) requires that, within the preceding 24 calendar months, the pilot must have accomplished a flight review given in an aircraft for which that pilot is rated by an authorized instructor.
Plain English
It is the rule that says you must have done a flight review with an instructor in the last 24 calendar months in order to act as pilot in command.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA training material when discussing the flight review requirement and how the FAA WINGS Program may help satisfy it.
Derivation
This is a legal citation, not a normal word origin. “61” points to the FAA rules for pilot certification and training, “.56” identifies the flight review rule, “(c)” points to a specific paragraph, and “(1)” points to the first item inside that paragraph.
Why Pilots Care
It gives pilots a flexible, ongoing way to stay current and legally meet the flight review mandate through structured safety education rather than a single biennial check.
Grounding Statement
This citation points to the exact FAA rule that controls whether a pilot has met the basic flight review requirement to act as pilot in command.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as a page number or handbook section. It is a regulation citation: it points to a specific FAA rule in the federal aviation regulations.
Example Sentence 1
Completing a phase of the WINGS program satisfies the flight review requirement of section 61.56(c)(1).
Example Sentence 2
Before logging the activity, she verified that the WINGS training met the three-hour ground and three-hour flight minimums stated in section 61.56(c)(1).