121 AQP and 61.56, 61.57

Chief Captain

Chief Captain

Well-Known Member
Question for those in the know.

For an airline pilot operating under AQP, is he/she in compliance with 61.56 and 61.57?

.56(d)(1) specifically mentions "proficiency check", but does an AQP event still meet this requirement?

What about IFR currency in 61.57? The old school 121 PC would satisfy IFR currency, so you'd basically have an IPC every time you go to sim.

Does anyone know how the FAA views those 2 issues? A reference would be appreciated as well [emoji3]

Thanks!
 
Chief Captain said:
Question for those in the know.

For an airline pilot operating under AQP, is he/she in compliance with 61.56 and 61.57?

.56(d)(1) specifically mentions "proficiency check", but does an AQP event still meet this requirement?

What about IFR currency in 61.57? The old school 121 PC would satisfy IFR currency, so you'd basically have an IPC every time you go to sim.

Does anyone know how the FAA views those 2 issues? A reference would be appreciated as well [emoji3]

Thanks!
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Won't a 121 pilot always be in IFR currency simply based on approaches, holding, etc?
 
Not necessarily. An RJ pilot in ORD isn't likely to have an issue. A 777 pilot in Miami may not be current with landings, let alone IFR.
 
Chief Captain said:
Question for those in the know.

For an airline pilot operating under AQP, is he/she in compliance with 61.56 and 61.57?

.56(d)(1) specifically mentions "proficiency check", but does an AQP event still meet this requirement?

What about IFR currency in 61.57? The old school 121 PC would satisfy IFR currency, so you'd basically have an IPC every time you go to sim.

Does anyone know how the FAA views those 2 issues? A reference would be appreciated as well [emoji3]

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Strangely, the 135.297 instrument check subs for 61.57 instrument currency ONLY if you are flying for the 135 operation. If you work as a professional pilot, but you are just flying yourself, part 91, you must still meet 61.57 requirements for instrument currency regardless of your 297 status. I find that strange looking at it from either the 135 or the 91 perspective.
 
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Not to be blunt, but who cares. You are a "professional pilot" at the airline level. FAA regulations are ridiculous and they should have bigger fish to fry. Just my opinion of course.
 
Cptnchia said:
He's right though. The FAA couldn't care less how you log stuff at the 121 level. As long as the company shows you in compliance, they don't look.

FWIW, the AQP covers my BFR for my plane insurance.
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At "this level," I still log enough and in enough detail to demonstrate currency for Part 61, even though the currency issue at work is "work's problem," and mostly not mine.
 
Autothrust Blue said:
At "this level," I still log enough and in enough detail to demonstrate currency for Part 61, even though the currency issue at work is "work's problem," and mostly not mine.
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Demonstrate currency to who? When flying outside of work do you carry your logbook with you?
 
Cptnchia said:
Demonstrate currency to who? When flying outside of work do you carry your logbook with you?
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What does carrying a logbook have to do with being current? If he's ever ramp checked, or heaven forbid, something should happen, he may need to prove that he was current on the day in question.
 
Cptnchia said:
Demonstrate currency to who? When flying outside of work do you carry your logbook with you?
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To the FAA in the event I fly GA. Haven't been SE-current in forever, but I do fly the family light twin every once in a while.

Chief Captain said:
What does carrying a logbook have to do with being current? If he's ever ramp checked, or heaven forbid, something should happen, he may need to prove that he was current on the day in question.
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Correct.
 
Chief Captain said:
What does carrying a logbook have to do with being current? If he's ever ramp checked, or heaven forbid, something should happen, he may need to prove that he was current on the day in question.
Click to expand...

Easy. Just print out your flight time record from work. Every year, the insurance company wants a record of flight time. I just print out a yearly sum total and send it to them. As long as you can prove you're current, it doesn't matter the format. And AQP recurrent sims satisfy BFR requirements.
 
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