IFR Currency Scenarios

[SoCalPilotGuy]

I am trying to figure out if instrument currency works with blocks of time or more like with passenger landing currency. I want to give a few different scenarios and ask questions to follow. Thanks in advance to all who reply.

FAR 61.57
(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.

In all scenarios, the pilot took an IPC on Jan 15 which makes him current and legal to fly IFR for 6 calendar months (through the end of the month of July).

1. The pilot was happy to get current again and went out on January 16 and did 6 instrument approaches, holding, and tracking.
a. Without doing any other IFR flights, when is the currency up for the pilot?

2. The pilot went out on February 1 and did 6 instrument approaches, holding, and tracking.
a. Without doing any other IFR flights, when is the currency up for the pilot?

3. The pilot was busy for most of his currency time and was not able to get up to practice approaches until July 20 on which he did all 6 approaches, holding, and tracking.
a. With no other IFR flights, when is the currency up for the pilot?

4. The pilot decided to go flying on the first of each month and do 1 instrument approach each flight. He also did holding and tracking on one of those flights. His first approach was on February 1 and his 6th approach was on July 1.
a. When is the currency up for the pilot?

[MidlifeFlyer]

I'm not sure what you are asking. Passenger currency is measured in "days." Instrument currency is measured in "calender months."

Like landing currency, however, instrument currency is a "lookback." Currency expires when you can no longer look back over the past 6 calendar month and not find 6 approaches, a hold (and the redundant interception and tracking).

So long as you understand the "calendar month" concept (forget the days altogether), you should be able to asnwer the question.

[mooneyguy]

Originally Posted by MidlifeFlyer

I'm not sure what you are asking. Passenger currency is measured in "days." Instrument currency is measured in "calender months."

Like landing currency, however, instrument currency is a "lookback." Currency expires when you can no longer look back over the past 6 calendar month and not find 6 approaches, a hold (and the redundant interception and tracking).

So long as you understand the "calendar month" concept (forget the days altogether), you should be able to asnwer the question.

That is the only way to look at it. Dont get yourself confused trying to figure out how to strech it out over six months and no if you flew 1 APP per month for six months you would not be legal for another 6 months! If you didn't fly your 1 app on the 7 month your now not current! Look at this calendar month count back to the sixth cal month and find your 6 app's/hold/tracking.

[mojo6911]

Originally Posted by SoCalPilotGuy

1. The pilot was happy to get current again and went out on January 16 and did 6 instrument approaches, holding, and tracking.
a. Without doing any other IFR flights, when is the currency up for the pilot?

2. The pilot went out on February 1 and did 6 instrument approaches, holding, and tracking.
a. Without doing any other IFR flights, when is the currency up for the pilot?

3. The pilot was busy for most of his currency time and was not able to get up to practice approaches until July 20 on which he did all 6 approaches, holding, and tracking.
a. With no other IFR flights, when is the currency up for the pilot?

4. The pilot decided to go flying on the first of each month and do 1 instrument approach each flight. He also did holding and tracking on one of those flights. His first approach was on February 1 and his 6th approach was on July 1.
a. When is the currency up for the pilot?

1. June 30th
2. July 31st
3. January 31st
4. January 31st

[MidlifeFlyer]

Originally Posted by mojo6911

4. January 31st

Really? It think you may be off by a month on one or two of the others, but this one really is really off. Did you miss that there have been =no= approaches since July? And that he doesn't tell you in which month he did the holds?

[mooneyguy]

Originally Posted by mojo6911

1. June 30th
2. July 31st
3. January 31st
4. January 31st

Read midllifers reply, two of your dates are wrong!

[mojo6911]

Originally Posted by MidlifeFlyer

Really? It think you may be off by a month on one or two of the others, but this one really is really off. Did you miss that there have been =no= approaches since July? And that he doesn't tell you in which month he did the holds?

I guess that is what I get when I come on here first thing in the morning while I am eating breakfast...

[exleardriver]

3. december 31st

4. july 31st..he can count approaches backwards to january 31st and find six. as long as he tracked/intercepted courses and did his holding, as was indicated as done during one of these flights. #4 is a good example of 'counting backwards' to determine currency. were he to think august 31st, he could only count 5 approaches were no others flown.