IFR Currency Clarification

[Penguinforce]

Asking on behalf of a friend. She asked me and I wasn’t 100% certain. She is out of currency but still within the second 6 months you have to get your ifr currency back before being required to do an IPC. Of her last 6 approaches, she has 5 done in the months of March and April but her 6th approach was back in December of last year. Specifically, December 9th.

If she went up tomorrow and completed one approach, would she then have until march to get the other 5 approaches done, or does she need to do all 6 before she lapses in a week?

I know when you are current, your approaches can be counted on a rolling basis. The actual language from the FAR is why I am slightly confused, as it states:

A pilot not meeting the instrument recency of experience requirement may not exercise the privileges of the instrument rating until the requirements are met. If the pilot fails to meet this recency of instrument experience for a period of one year, the pilot must pass an IPC in the category of aircraft involved

How I interpret this is that you must become completely current again to reset the expiration date, so to say. Since only completing 1 approach tomorrow would not make her current, since her last 5 were in March and April, this would still make her lapse. That’s how I interpret it but I want to see what you all think/know so that I can advise her what to do to avoid doing an IPC

 

[midlifeflyer]

It’s simple. If you can look back 6 months and have qualifying approaches you are current until you have gone a year without currency.

It is now December. Looking back 6 months brings us to June. The approaches last December, in March and April dropped off the count.

If she is within the second 6 months, but she needs another 5 6 approaches and a hold before the end of the month. But in terms of advice, unless your friend is a very experienced instrument pilot, I’d advise an IPC after going this long. They can be very efficient and they do not have to be difficult. Nor lengthy for a competent pilot.
[Edits - good catch, @BillTIZ]

 

[po1212]

The approaches can be done in a simulator if cost is an issue.

 

[BillTIZ]

Midlife, redo your count. She had approaches in March/April 2024 and Dec 2023. LAST YEAR.
All approaches have dropped off the count. Counting Dec 2023 forward, I agree, she dropped out of the first 6 mos in June 2024. She has until the end of Dec 2024 to accomplish all 6 and holding to not REQUIRE an IPC.

I do agree, that after this long a span, an IPC is the recommended solution. RedBird FMX simulators are great for all except the "Circle to Land" requirement of the IPC. Everything else can be accomplished in a RedBird, with a CFII. Then go grab an airplane for the approach with circle to land.

 

[midlifeflyer]

Midlife, redo your count. She had approaches in March/April 2024 and Dec 2023. LAST YEAR.

Good catch. I missed that it was 2003. In which case she needs all 6 this month. I'm going to fix my reply.

We are also assuming that this pilot was actually current last December.

 

[Martin Pauly]

But in terms of advice, unless your friend is a very experienced instrument pilot, I’d advise an IPC after going this long. They can be very efficient and they do not have to be difficult.

I second that advice. If she is a competent instrument pilot, an IPC can be done in less time than six approaches plus one hold. If not, an IPC and possibly some instruction to shake the dust off would make her a lot more proficient than simply flying approaches with a safety pilot.

Flying by reference to instruments is a very perishable skill; thus, currency and proficiency should be taken seriously.

Regards,
Martin

 

[mandm]

IPC is easier, 3 approaches and a hold and done. Plus an instructor is helping you out.

 

[midlifeflyer]

IPC is easier, 3 approaches and a hold and done. Plus an instructor is helping you out.

Also need unusual attitude recovery.

I agree that an IPC is usually more efficient but not necessarily easier. If your usual currency or for that matter real world flying consists of flying fully coupled approaches you know like the back of your hand, you might get a bit of an awakening when asked to do something different. If the only holds you ever fly are HILPT or the end of a published missed, you might not be able to do a random one. Not that many pilots I know do loss of primary flight instruments with their safety pilot. And if the instructor is helping you, it should take longer.

I think I'm actually pretty easy. I don't make up silly tasks to try to catch anyone. Never had to. But I do have the list of "GPS Tasks Pilots Do Not Know How To Do" I've mentioned other times. I typically only pull out only one of them for the flight portion of an IPC (as opposed to a ground review), but my list is there for a reason based on my experience.

 

[asicer]

I missed that it was 2003.

Pre-WAAS?

 

[midlifeflyer]

Pre-WAAS?

More like incompetent typist.

 

[po1212]

IPC is easier, 3 approaches and a hold and done. Plus an instructor is helping you out.

The ACS specifies what what must done on an IPC, it's more than 3 approaches and a hold.

 

[midlifeflyer]

The ACS specifies what what must done on an IPC, it's more than 3 approaches and a hold.

That's right. Minimum 3 approaches, a hold, and unusual attitude recovery.

 

[frfly172]

The simulator makes it much easier to maintain currency.

 

[flyingron]

IFR currency comes in many mulitples of 100 dollar notes.

 

[MauleSkinner]

IFR currency comes in many mulitples of 100 dollar notes.

I can name that approach in five notes.

 

[frfly172]

I can name that approach in five notes.

But can you fly it in five notes?

 

[MauleSkinner]

But can you fly it in five notes?

That would be the $64,000 question, wouldn’t it?