Currency while instructing

[DGdaPilot]

I have heard from a few friends (other pilots in the industry) that the airlines/FAA don't like dual-given instruction flights to be counted toward 90 day currency. Now that would mean that the only way I could become current would be to go up solo and do my landings or just go up with a buddy and not log instruction and physically do 3 landings. Is all of this true? What is the difference between personally landing the airplane 3 times with a student (before you're out of currency) or going up with a buddy, doing the landings, and then not log it as instruction?
Thanks

 

[avbug]

There is no animosity or prohibition against maintaining currency while flight instructing. Whomever told you that was incorrect.

You must perform the landings as sole manipulator of the controls. You can do that on your own, with a student on board, while ferrying large quantities of sick birds to a leper colony, or while naked, carrying your mother in law, on national television. Your choice, all equally valid.

I don't advocate flying with the mother in law.

Unless you have a means to push her out enroute over a sparsely populated area.

Filled with fire ants.

 

[DGdaPilot]

I don't advocate flying with the mother in law.

Unless you have a means to push her out enroute over a sparsely populated area.

Filled with fire ants.

Hahaha....thanks for the reply....but do I sense some tension?

 

[avbug]

Not at all. Watching fire ants ooze from my ex-mother-in-law's ragged bleeding eye sockets is perhaps the most relaxing thing I can imagine. Short of the immense pleasure of seeing her drawn and quartered and then slowly dissolved in concentrated sulfuric acid, of course.

But that goes without saying.

 

[chuychanga]

Maybe what your friends meant was not to count the landings and approaches that your students do. If it's a new student who isn't learning landing yet and you land it for them, then that definitely goes toward your currency.

The key is "sole manipulator of the controls."

 

[Astra Guy]

avbug,

It sounds like you are not to fond of your ex-mother-in-law. But I could be wrong. I have trouble reading between the lines sometimes! LOL

 

[JediNein]

Avbug, I know where the fire ants are. . .

How do y'all log the landings where there was no sole manipulator of the controls? (I said, MY AIRPLANE!)

Fly SAFE!
Jedi Nein

 

[midlifeflyer]

How do y'all log the landings where there was no sole manipulator of the controls? (I said, MY AIRPLANE!)

If we're both on the controls, I have the student log the landing. The "sole manipulator" requirement is for landings used for passenger-carrying currency. A student pilot can't carry passengers.

 

[A Squared]

I have heard from a few friends (other pilots in the industry) that the airlines/FAA don't like dual-given instruction flights to be counted toward 90 day currency. Now that would mean that the only way I could become current would be to go up solo and do my landings or just go up with a buddy and not log instruction and physically do 3 landings. Is all of this true? What is the difference between personally landing the airplane 3 times with a student (before you're out of currency) or going up with a buddy, doing the landings, and then not log it as instruction?
Thanks

I think that you've been misinformed. Obviously you wouldn't use your students' landings to comply, but I doubt that there are many instructors out there who don't demonstrate at least 3 takeoffs and landings in a 90 day period. Make sure you log it as such when you do.

As far as the airlines....ummm why would they care? Certainly they wouldn't be impressed with a candidate who was flying passengers without being in compliance with 61.57, but if the FAA's satisfied, the airline should be satisfied. I know that many airlines have a different view of what is legitimate PIC time than does the FAA, but that is a differnet question; it speaks to what type of experience you have, not whether you abide by the rules.

 

[bobbysamd]

Currency v. too much dual given

I have heard from a few friends (other pilots in the industry) that the airlines/FAA don't like dual-given instruction flights to be counted toward 90 day currency.

Baloney. Plenty of active flight instructors who do nothing but instruct get interviews and are hired. When I started my first full-time instructing job at ERAU fifteen years ago, the commuters (regionals) were picking up Riddle instructors left and right. I had interviews 1½ years later after I built up my multi.

(As an aside, I have gathered that regionals do not like it if you have too much instructing time. How much is "too much" instructing time? Who knows? Let's say that in a bad economy you have remained employed as a pilot by way of flight instructing while others have not been flying. You are completely current and proficient. That should be to your credit, right? Apparently not. Another situation of being d@mned if you do and d@mned if you don't. But that's how the great minds of pilot recruiters operate.)

Just keep doing what you're doing. Work with your students. Make your three takeoffs and landings every ninety days per the FARs (to a full stop at night to cover that base as well). Demonstrating takeoffs and landings is very much a part of giving instruction. Practice a hold and shoot your approaches or take a comp check (IPC) so you're instrument current. Instrument currency is something they do want to see. Good luck with your job search.