Am I IFR current?

[oilcanbland]

Unfortunately I don't think I am, but I just want to double check. Here's the last few instrument entries in my logbook.

9/4 3 instr. approaches
6/14 IFR X Country (no approaches, all visual)
5/22 IFR X Country (4 instr. approach)
5/21 2 instr. approaches

Since it doesn't look like I am, how much do proficiency checks usually cost, or do they cost anything? And what do they usually consist of? Are they as strenuous as a checkride?

If only I'd a squeezed in a few more approaches before yesterday.

 

[jbud]

you know that you can go up with a safety pilot and do some approaches and holding under the hood right???

BTW...why does yesterday matter???

 

[oilcanbland]

Yes, I am aware of that, but unfortunately I have been running low on dough lately. Also, I've been lazy lately and haven't bothered to look into my logbook to check if I was current until now.

The reason I said yesterday, is becaues it was the first day of the month, and as of now, (I don't think) I haven't had the requirements in the last 6 calendar months.

 

[JCJ]

you are not presently instrument current

if any of your 7 approaches logged since 5/21 included a turn in holding, then you may regain your currency by bringing yourself up to the "six approaches, holding, and intercepting radial's etc" standard with a safety pilot (need not be a CFII, only a qualified safety pilot is required) before 5/21 2004 (within six months after your currency expired on 11/22/2004. If you regain currency in that manner, an Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC) is not required.

(If you haven't logged any holding procedures in that six month period you may have been out of currency for even longer. no specific amount of holds are required, just that you have performed "holding procedures" in IMC or under the hood. If an approach you have done in IMC or under the hood involves a holding turn, it counts - but be sure to log it.)

remember nothing counts unless it's logged.

If you remain out of IFR currnecy for six months or more, an IPC is required to regain currency. A CFII is required, and they are supposed to hold you to the initial PTS standards to pass you.

(ref: http://www.aopa.org/pilot/features/ii_9802.html)

usual disclaimer that currency does not equal proficiency, and meeting the FAA currency requirements is not sufficient for most pilots to be proficient in serious actual IMC

good luck jcj

 

[jbud]

If $ is the problem, I think it would be cheaper to go fly on your own with a friend. For an IPC you're probably looking at (at least for a sim and an instructor) the same, if not more of a cost.

 

[oilcanbland]

if any of your 7 approaches logged since 5/21 included a turn in holding, then you may regain your currency by bringing yourself up to the "six approaches, holding, and intercepting radial's etc" standard with a safety pilot (need not be a CFII, only a qualified safety pilot is required) before 5/21 2004 (within six months after your currency expired on 11/22/2004. If you regain currency in that manner, an Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC) is not required.

I did indeed execute holding procedures since 5/21/03, because my checkride was on 5/22. I misunderstood the regs. So what you're saying is that you have to be out of currency for six months before you have to take an IPC? I thought it was that as soon as you were out of currency, you had to take one. In that case, I'll just take my buddy up here in a few days and do some practice approaches. That's a relief.

Oh yeah, and don't worry, I know I'm not "proficient" even though I'll be current again soon. It's been since May that I've been in IMC so I'm not about to jump right into that again.

 

[midlifeflyer]

So what you're saying is that you have to be out of currency for six months before you have to take an IPC? I thought it was that as soon as you were out of currency, you had to take one.

There are two six-month periods in the regs. The way the regs are written are a bit confusing, but they come down to:

The first 6 months looks backward for basic instrument currency. We're all pretty familiar with that one.

The second 6 months looks forward from the day you stopped being instrument current. It is during this 6 month period that you may regain currency =without= the need for an IPC. After this second six months is over, you need an IPC to regain currency.

I hope that makes it clearer.

 

[great cornholio]

Just like midlife said there are really 2 different 6 month periods that the regs look at. The first 6 months is the one that keeps your current so that you can still be ifr current. The 2nd 6 motnts takes over the day that you become not ifr current. Now you have 6 months to get current by using a safety pilot and the hood. If you let that 6 months expire then you have to go up with a CFII and do the IPC. So for you the cheapest thing to do would be to take up a buddy and get under the hood and the min number of apporaches and the holding to get you current again. Although we all would agree that the safest thing to do would be to get enough done that you would be comfortable going back into acutal imc.

 

[wms]

In CFI renewal they mentioned some of the currency can be done in a FTD. I don't remember the details and I don't have the FARs on me but you could check it out. It would save some money if you could.

 

[JCJ]

True but an FTD would require an "authorized instructor" as FTD/Sim time is only loggable as training time (must be endorsed by an instructor).

depending on the hourly cost of a FTD vs an airplane, an FTD might not be much less expensive

Compare hourly rate of FTD + instructor vs. hourly rate of airplane plus cost of one of your buddies who is a private pilot w/ a current medical (maybe a few cheap beers afterwards)

If you choose to use a safety pilot be sure and write his/her name in your logbook for the flight. A signature or endorsement from the safety pilot is not necessary, just the name.

 

[JCJ]

Just to put it another way, for the first six months after your IFR currency expires, you are not IFR current but you may regain IFR curency by doing the 6 IAP's, holding ect) with a safety pilot. You must, of course, do them under the hood in VFR since you are not IFR current and therefore cannot accept an IFR clearance.

After you have been non-current for six months, you must get an IPC to regain currency

 

[midlifeflyer]

depending on the hourly cost of a FTD vs an airplane, an FTD might not be much less expensive

A fairly inexpensive way is to take up a buddy and split safety pilot duties and cost (especially if one of you wants to do the approaches from the right seat). The largest time waster in the process is from engine start until you get into position for the first approach. If you figure the arithmetic, you'll find that splitting the time for the approaches and holds you need will usually cost less than the cost of just using a the other pilot as a safety pilot and paying for the time yourself. A friend and I do this regularly.

 

[bobbysamd]

Instrument currency

14 CFR 61.57(c) and (d) set forth the requirements for determining, maintaining and acquiring instrument currency. 14 CFR 61.57(c) must be applied to determine if you are presently instrument current:

(c) Instrument experience. Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, no person may act as pilot in command under IFR or in weather conditions less than the minimums prescribed for VFR, unless within the preceding 6 calendar months, that person has:

(1) For the purpose of obtaining instrument experience in an aircraft (other than a glider), performed and logged under actual or simulated instrument conditions, either in flight in the appropriate category of aircraft for the instrument privileges sought or in a flight simulator or flight training device that is representative of the aircraft category for the instrument privileges sought --

(i) At least six instrument approaches;

(ii) Holding procedures; and

(iii) Intercepting and tracking courses through the use of navigation systems.

(2) For the purpose of obtaining instrument experience in a glider, performed and logged under actual or simulated instrument conditions --

(i) At least 3 hours of instrument time in flight, of which 1 1/2 hours may be acquired in an airplane or a glider if no passengers are to be carried; or

(ii) 3 hours of instrument time in flight in a glider if a passenger is to be carried.

As of today, 1/2/04, the six preceding calendar months would be 12/03, 11/03, 10/03, 9/03, 8/03 and 7/03. During that period, you shot only three approaches, in September. So, you are SOL by virtue alone of not having shot six approaches during the six preceding calendar months. 14 CFR 61.57(c)(1)(i). The good news is you still have time to reacquire currency via the safety pilot methods discussed above. Or else, 14 CFR 61.57(d) sets forth the means for you to reacquire instrument currency via IPC:

(d) Instrument proficiency check. [A] person who does not meet the instrument experience requirements of paragraph (c) of this section within the prescribed time, or within 6 calendar months after the prescribed time . . . [must pass] an instrument proficiency check consisting of a representative number of tasks required by the instrument rating practical test.

(italics supplied)

Ouch!! That means you must essentially take your instrument practical again as your instrument comp check (IPC). But it might be better simply to do so to provide a clear line of demarcation for your instrument currency.

Fortunately, you have a choice of people with whom you can take your IPC, including a CFI-I of your choice. 14 CFR 61.57(2)(iv).

Cost will depend on how much of an oral your CFI-I will give you (he/she really should charge ground time - sorry) and the time it takes to complete the flight. As I read 14 CFR 61.57(d)(ii), you can complete the flight portion in a Frasca, AST or like flight training device. After you reacquire your instrument currency, maintain it by the methods suggested above.

Hope that helps. Good luck with your IPC.

 

[midlifeflyer]

Re: Instrument currency

As of today, 1/2/04, the six preceding calendar months would be 12/03, 11/03, 10/03, 9/03, 8/03 and 7/03. During that period, you shot only three approaches, in September. So, you are SOL by virtue alone of not having shot six approaches during the six preceding calendar months. 14 CFR 61.57(c)(1)(i)

Clearly he is not current now, but he does not need an IPC.

Assuming that he was current back in May, based on the 4 approaches in May and the three approaches in September, he was current as of 11/30/03. He has until the end of May 2004 to get recurrent without an IPC.

(d) Instrument proficiency check. [A] person who does not meet the instrument experience requirements of paragraph (c) of this section within the prescribed time, or within 6 calendar months after the prescribed time . . . [must pass] an instrument proficiency check...

In fact, assuming the holding requirement is fulfilled, if he does 3 approaches today, he'll be current until March 31.