How to Stay Current During Unpaid Leave — A Pilot's Complete Guide

Whether you have taken voluntary unpaid leave, been placed on seasonal leave, or are on a career break for personal reasons, staying current as a pilot requires deliberate effort. The regulations set minimum standards, but truly staying sharp goes far beyond checking boxes.

Understanding Currency vs. Proficiency

Currency is the legal minimum — you have met the regulatory requirements to act as pilot in command. Proficiency is whether you can actually fly safely and competently. They are not the same thing.

A pilot who has not flown for 6 months but meets all currency requirements on paper is legal but potentially dangerous. Your goal during unpaid leave should be proficiency, not just currency.

Regulatory Currency Requirements

FAA Requirements

• Flight review: Every 24 calendar months (61.56)
• Passenger currency: 3 takeoffs and landings in the preceding 90 days (61.57)
• Night passenger currency: 3 takeoffs and landings to a full stop at night in 90 days
• Instrument currency: 6 approaches, holding, and intercepting/tracking in 6 months (61.57c)
• Medical certificate: Valid Class 1 (12 or 6 months depending on age), Class 2 (12 months), Class 3 (60 or 24 months)

EASA Requirements

• License proficiency check (LPC): Annually in a full flight simulator
• Operator proficiency check (OPC): Every 6 months for airline pilots
• Line check: Annually
• Medical: Class 1 annually (6 months if over 60)
• Recent experience: 3 takeoffs and landings in 90 days on type or in simulator

What Happens If You Lapse?

If your currency expires, you cannot just jump back in. Depending on how long you have been out:

• Under 90 days: Usually just need to meet recency requirements
• 90 days to 1 year: May need additional simulator training or check ride
• Over 1 year: Likely need a full requalification program
• Over 3 years (EASA): May need to retake certain exams

The longer you wait, the harder and more expensive the return.

A Monthly Plan to Stay Sharp

Week 1: Theory Review

• Spend 30 minutes daily on ATPL theory questions in Rotate
• Focus on one subject per week: meteorology, navigation, flight planning
• Review recent regulatory changes and ADs for your type
• Read accident/incident reports from your aircraft type — lessons learned are invaluable

Week 2: Procedures and Flows

• Chair fly your aircraft type — sit in a quiet room and go through flows from memory
• Use cockpit poster apps or printouts
• Practice memory items: engine failure after V1, rapid decompression, emergency descent
• Review company SOPs if accessible

Week 3: General Aviation Flying

• Book 1-2 hours in a single-engine aircraft
• Practice basic instrument approaches
• Focus on manual flying skills — hand-fly approaches without autopilot
• This is the most effective way to maintain scan and decision-making skills

Week 4: Simulator and Study

• If available, book simulator time on your type
• Desktop simulators with realistic avionics (Zibo 737, ToLiss A320 in X-Plane) are surprisingly useful
• Review FCOM/QRH for your type
• Take a full ATPL mock exam on Rotate to identify weak areas

Budget-Friendly Ways to Stay Current

Keeping Your Medical Current

This deserves its own section because a lapsed medical is the single biggest obstacle to returning to flight.

• Schedule your medical renewal 1-2 months before expiration
• If you have any ongoing health conditions, address them proactively
• Keep records of all medications, even over-the-counter
• An Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) is your ally — communicate openly
• Consider a HIMS AME if you have any concerns about mental health

Mental Preparation for Return

Returning to the flight deck after extended leave triggers real anxiety. This is normal and expected.

• Acknowledge the rust — you will feel behind, and that is okay
• Review memory items daily in the week before your return
• Fly GA the week before your type training or check
• Talk to colleagues who have returned — they all felt the same way
• Remember your training — procedures are designed for exactly this situation

When Your Airline Calls You Back

The return process typically involves:

1. Medical renewal or confirmation
2. Ground school refresher (1-3 days)
3. Simulator sessions (2-4 sessions)
4. Line training (several sectors with a training captain)
5. Line check (observed flight with an examiner)

Pilots who studied during their leave consistently pass these checks faster and with less stress.

Start Today, Not Tomorrow

The difference between a pilot who returns sharp and one who struggles is daily consistency. Even 20 minutes of theory review per day keeps neural pathways active. Use Rotate's daily question feature — 10 questions across your weakest subjects keeps you in the game with minimal time investment.

Every day you wait is a day your skills fade. Open the app, answer 10 questions, and you are already ahead of 90% of pilots on leave who tell themselves they will start studying tomorrow.