Pilot Currency Rules: Flight Review, Day/Night Passengers and IFR (61.56, 61.57)
1. Flight review (61.56)
To act as PIC you need a flight review within the preceding 24 calendar months: at least 1 hour of ground training and 1 hour of flight training with an authorized instructor, covering the Part 91 rules and maneuvers the instructor chooses. A completed practical test for a new certificate or rating generally satisfies it. 14 CFR 61.56
2. Day passenger currency (61.57(a))
To act as PIC of an aircraft carrying passengers you must have made, in the preceding 90 days:
- 3 takeoffs and 3 landings,
- as the sole manipulator of the flight controls,
- in the same category, class and type (if a type rating is required),
- and in a tailwheel airplane, the landings must be to a full stop.
Approved simulators/FTDs can be used under the conditions in the rule. It's a passenger rule: you can fly solo without it.
3. Night passenger currency (61.57(b))
To carry passengers during the period beginning 1 hour after sunset and ending 1 hour before sunrise, you need 3 takeoffs and 3 landings to a full stop in that same period, within the preceding 90 days, as sole manipulator, in the same category, class and type (if required).
Three different "night" clocks
| Purpose | Time window | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Night passenger currency (and the takeoffs/landings that count for it) | 1 hr after sunset → 1 hr before sunrise | 61.57(b) |
| Logging night flight time | End of evening civil twilight → beginning of morning civil twilight | 14 CFR 1.1 (night) |
| Aircraft position lights on | Sunset → sunrise | 91.209 |
Worked example
Sunset at your airport is 18:40; evening civil twilight ends about 19:07 (check an almanac for your date and location).
- 18:40: position lights required.
- 19:07: you can start logging night time.
- 19:40: takeoffs and landings to a full stop now count toward night passenger currency.
A landing at 19:20 can be logged as night flight but does not count toward night passenger currency.
4. IFR currency (61.57(c))
To act as PIC under IFR, or in weather below VFR minimums, you must have performed and logged, within the 6 calendar months preceding the month of the flight, in actual or simulated instrument conditions (or approved devices):
- at least 6 instrument approaches,
- holding procedures and tasks,
- intercepting and tracking courses through electronic navigation systems.
"Calendar months" means the window runs to the end of the month. Example: tasks done on March 10 keep you current through September 30.
Regaining currency, and when an IPC is required (61.57(d))
- Within the next 6 calendar months after you lapse (the "grace" window), you may regain currency by completing the required tasks with an appropriately rated safety pilot in simulated conditions, or in an approved device. You can't act as PIC under IFR until you finish.
- After that window, you need an instrument proficiency check (IPC) from an examiner, an authorized instructor or another person the rule allows, using the instrument ACS tasks.
Currency vs proficiency
Someone who flew six approaches in perfect weather five months ago is legally current but may not be ready for a low-IFR approach today. Set personal minimums and fly with an instructor after layoffs.