Flight Crew Recency Requirements Self-Paced Study Program

[arrow203]

I'm just finishing off the most recent self-paced study program published in last quarter's ASL. As per the instructions on the form itself, I intend to retain it among my records. One thing I'm not entirely clear on, however, is whether or not I need to make an associated entry in my log book stating that I've completed it. I took a PDM a couple years back, and as part of that particular process, the people in attendance wrote a blurb about the course in their logs and had the instructor sign it off - anything similar required here?

Thanks in advance

[Big Pistons Forever]

Strictly speaking you should carry it with you in case you get ramped. The sad part is the self paced study program asks questions that are so utterly irrelevant to anything that would actually be of value in safely and effectively operating any aircraft that it is a complete waste of time. My advice is ignore the stupid exam and meet the requirement by taking an hour of dual with a good experienced instructor and practicing all the things you don't usually do. Make up your own training syllabus appropriate to the type of flying you do and the kind of aircraft you usually fly.

[aluwings]

Strictly speaking "it is to be retained by the pilot." I don't know of anyone who carries it with them... I thought the usual procedure was to keep it on file - wherever.

As for a log book entry, I've never noted a requirement for an entry. Feel free to make one for yourself if you like. Can't see that it hurts anything.

[Adam Oke]

Rather than starting a new thread, I will piggyback off an old one;

Is the 2015 program out? I can only find the 2014 program.

EDIT: Bolded for emphasis in case it was missed.

[POATC]

Strictly speaking you should carry it with you in case you get ramped. The sad part is the self paced study program asks questions that are so utterly irrelevant to anything that would actually be of value in safely and effectively operating any aircraft that it is a complete waste of time. My advice is ignore the stupid exam and meet the requirement by taking an hour of dual with a good experienced instructor and practicing all the things you don't usually do. Make up your own training syllabus appropriate to the type of flying you do and the kind of aircraft you usually fly.

You do not have to a copy of the SPSP if you are ramped checked, just be able provide it if requested, just as you do not need to have your log book when flying. Of course you can carry it with you if you want. You need to enter the details of having completed it in your log book as this is how you prove your timely compliance with the recency requirements. It must be the most recent SPSP too, you can't complete one from a few years back.
I would suggest that it is a good method of meeting the recency requirement if done diligently. The purpose of the SPSP is to provide a cheap and easy means of complying, for pilots not in the commercial stream, who meet the requirements in the course of their job (usually), or in the training stream. It's intended that the SPSP gets a pilot to sit down with the books for an hour or so and in looking for the answers, gleans other useful tidbits in the process. Again this is intended for the rec pilots that are not doing any other form of recurrent training.
As for going up with an instructor for an hour I think this is a great idea and should be encouraged, however this does not meet the 24 month recency requirements. There are seven ways to meet the 24 month requirement and they are:
(from the TC website)

complete a flight review with an instructor;
attend a safety seminar conducted by Transport Canada;
participate in an Transport Canada approved recurrent training program;
complete the self-paced study program in the Transport Canada Aviation Safety Newsletter
complete a training program or PPC required by Part IV, VI or VII of the CARs;
complete the requirements for the issue or renewal of a licence permit or rating; or
complete the written exam for a licence, permit or rating.

TC has a very clear definition of a flight review. It is process used for pilots who do not meet the 5 year recency requirement. Basically it is a flight test conducted by an instructor. All items required for the issuance of the licence held must be successfully demonstrated to the flight test standard before the pilot is allowed to exercise the privellages of the licence held. Further the pilot must successfully write a PSTAR exam and the instructor must make an entry in the pilots logbook quoting the wording in the CAR's. As this requirement meets or exceeds the level of recurrent training required by the 24 month requirements, it is deemed to meet the 24 month requirements too. Again I think this is a great way to meet the requirements but it is not a simple as going up for an hour with an instructor.

[AirFrame]

Rather than starting a new thread, I will piggyback off an old one;
Is the 2015 program out? I can only find the 2014 program.
EDIT: Bolded for emphasis in case it was missed.

The 2014 test was issued late in 2014, and is valid for 2015. There has not been another test published, and the ASL has been terminated so it's not clear where another one would be found.

[Adam Oke]

The 2014 test was issued late in 2014, and is valid for 2015. There has not been another test published, and the ASL has been terminated so it's not clear where another one would be found.

Thanks very much AirFrame. I'll use the 2014 one. Would it be valid 2 years from the date a pilot wrote the "exam"?

[Taiser]

COPA usually has one in their rag, I'm assuming one will show up soon. On another note, I attended a "safety seminar" last year, just because my club had one going on. Wasn't much there to sing about. You would actually get more information doing the SPSP for all the info I got out of the seminar, BUT the beer after with the boys was fun and I did get a spiffy sticker for my logbook!

[praveen4143]

Last time I spoke to a TC inspector he told me something to the effect of being able to find it on the TC website.