Instrument Currency

[vheissu]

The reg for instrument currency calls for within the past 6 months, 6 approaches, holding patterns, and intercepting and tracking of a course. For some reason I am having a hard time understanding this completely. If I passed my instrument ride in december, it is now been 6 months. Ever since then, most notably in February, I have done at least 6 approaches, holding patterns, and intercepting and tracking a course. Does that mean I am good to go until December?

 

[Grabo172]

Nope,

If you want to file and fly IFR, in the 6 months previous to the date you want to fly you have to have the 6 approaches, holds, and tracking...

So, if you only did 6 in Feb, you'll be good til August...

 

[MikeOH58]

Remember, those are the legal mininums, and should not determine personal mininums....I personally know that if it's been 5 months since i've flown an approach, a hold, or tracked an airway, although I am legal, I wouldn't be within my personal mins.

 

[MidlifeFlyer]

within the past 6 months, 6 approaches, holding patterns, and intercepting and tracking of a course.

Grabo has it. The rule, just like passenger landing currency and the flight review requirement is a "look back" rule.

If I want to fly with a passenger in IMC today, I need to know that

1. I had a flight review in the past 24 calendar months;
2. I had three sole manipulator takeoffs and landings over the past 90 days; and
3. I have done 6 approaches, holding patterns, and tracking in the past 6 calendar months (or had an IPC)

BTW, I almost hate to mention this, but for some reason there are still people who don't know it, but those 6 approaches, holding patterns, and tracking need to have been done in actual or simulated instrument conditions.

 

[planejay]

I often find that people can read back the reg but don´t know how it applies. Is what it comes down, with reference only to the instrument requirements, if you have been out of currency for more than 6 monthes an IPC is required, if you have been out of currency for less than 6 monthes than you have the opportunity to get yourself current ie safety pilot or sim/FTD.
For example:
You get your IR today, you have until Dec 31 to fly 6 instrument approaches, hold and intercept and track because come Jan 1 you are no longer current. You have until June 30 to get yourself current, that again 6 instrument approaches, holding, and tracking and intercepting with a safety pilot or in a sim/FTM. Anytime on or after July 1 an IPC is required, assuming you didn´t get current from Jan 1 until present.

hopefully that makes sense and doesn´t add to the confusion.

 

[Holding Short]

I often find that people can read back the reg but don´t know how it applies. Is what it comes down, with reference only to the instrument requirements, if you have been out of currency for more than 6 monthes an IPC is required, if you have been out of currency for less than 6 monthes than you have the opportunity to get yourself current ie safety pilot or sim/FTD.
For example:
You get your IR today, you have until Dec 31 to fly 6 instrument approaches, hold and intercept and track because come Jan 1 you are no longer current. You have until June 30 to get yourself current, that again 6 instrument approaches, holding, and tracking and intercepting with a safety pilot or in a sim/FTM. Anytime on or after July 1 an IPC is required, assuming you didn´t get current from Jan 1 until present.

hopefully that makes sense and doesn´t add to the confusion.

Excellent breakdown guy !!

The only thing I would add, would be that those 6 approaches,holding and tracking and intercepting, would have to be in the same " category and class ".

Let's say you're rated in both single and multi engine aircrafts, but you did those currency requirements in a seminole. You can't legally file and fly IFR in a C-150.

I think.

HS

 

[Fly_Unity]

Excellent breakdown guy !!

The only thing I would add, would be that those 6 approaches,holding and tracking and intercepting, would have to be in the same " category and class ".

Let's say you're rated in both single and multi engine aircrafts, but you did those currency requirements in a seminole. You can't legally file and fly IFR in a C-150.

I think.

HS

hmmm I never heard that... I never did an instrument approach in a single engine airplane, does that mean I cant fly IFR in a Cessna 152? what about if I only did the approaches in a sim? does that cover multi or single or both? I know many guys at my school who did all their training in the Seminole then flew IMC in a Cessna without an IPC check

 

[MidlifeFlyer]

Excellent breakdown guy !!

The only thing I would add, would be that those 6 approaches,holding and tracking and intercepting, would have to be in the same " category and class".

Nope. Go back and read the reg. Category only for instrument currency (category and class for landing currency).

 

[MidlifeFlyer]

I often find that people can read back the reg but don´t know how it applies. Is what it comes down, with reference only to the instrument requirements, if you have been out of currency for more than 6 monthes an IPC is required, if you have been out of currency for less than 6 monthes than you have the opportunity to get yourself current ie safety pilot or sim/FTD.
For example:
You get your IR today, you have until Dec 31 to fly 6 instrument approaches, hold and intercept and track because come Jan 1 you are no longer current. You have until June 30 to get yourself current, that again 6 instrument approaches, holding, and tracking and intercepting with a safety pilot or in a sim/FTM. Anytime on or after July 1 an IPC is required, assuming you didn´t get current from Jan 1 until present.

hopefully that makes sense and doesn´t add to the confusion.

I think there's a problem with trying to "simplify" it that way.

So here's a scenario - based on yours.

You get your IR today. On November 2 you are on an IFR flight and do two countable approaches and a hold. On December 5 you are on an IFR flight and get another approach in. On February 15, 2008 you go up with a buddy as safety pilot and fly three under the hood. It's now April 30 and you want to fly on an IFR flight plan. Are you current.

The reg says that in order to be current you had to
==============================
within the preceding 6 calendar months.."
...performed and logged under actual or simulated instrument conditions -
(i) At least six instrument approaches;
(ii) Holding procedures; and
(iii) Intercepting and tracking courses through the use of navigation systems.
==============================

So you look back those 6 calendar months (the same type of months that apply to everything from your flight review to most aircraft inspections) and say, "Now it's April. Six months ago it was November." You go to last November in your logbook and start counting. Yep. I'm current.

I never quite understood what was hard about counting backwards to six. And I'm not sure how you would analyze it with your alternative.

 

[planejay]

I completly agree midlife...my point is that if you are not instrument current for 6 monthes you have to complete an IPC...if you are not current and it has been less than 6 monthes you can get current using a safety pilot and/or sim/FTD