A questionnaire survey was conducted of Army aviators who had experienced extended periods of nonflying or of flying only the minimum number of hours required by Army regulations to maintain proficiency, in order to determine the loss of flying ability experienced and the refresher training required for combat readiness. Analysis of the data obtained indicated that flight excusal followed by refresher training would provide operational units with better qualified aviators at less cost than the traditional flying program. A proficiency maintenance program based on very low-cost synthetic training devices seems to be the only alternative that might be less costly than excusal plus refresher training, but feasibility of these devices in the Army context is unknown at this time. (Author)