14 CFR 61.57 — Recent Experience: Pilot in Command
Requires 3 takeoffs and landings within 90 days to carry passengers. Night currency requires 3 full-stop landings at night. IFR currency requires 6 approaches, holding, and intercepting/tracking within 6 calendar months.
Regulation Text
No person may act as pilot in command of an aircraft carrying passengers unless that person has made at least 3 takeoffs and 3 landings within the preceding 90 days in an aircraft of the same category, class, and type (if a type rating is required). For night: 3 takeoffs and landings to a full stop during the period beginning 1 hour after sunset and ending 1 hour before sunrise. For instrument currency: within the preceding 6 calendar months, performed and logged at least 6 instrument approaches, holding procedures and tasks, and intercepting and tracking courses.
Note: This is an excerpt. Refer to the full regulation in eCFR for the complete text.
Plain-English Explanation
To carry passengers, you need 3 takeoffs and landings in the last 90 days in the same category and class of aircraft. To carry passengers at night, those 3 landings must be full-stop landings made at night (1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise). To fly IFR, you need 6 instrument approaches, holding, and tracking within the last 6 months. If you fall out of IFR currency, you have a 6-month grace period to get current with a safety pilot before you need an IPC.
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Related Regulations
14 CFR 61.56 — Flight Review
Requires a flight review every 24 calendar months to act as PIC. Must include a minimum of 1 hour ground and 1 hour flight training.
§61.5114 CFR 61.51 — Pilot Logbooks
Specifies what flight time must be logged and how to log it, including PIC, SIC, instrument, night, and cross-country time.
§91.16714 CFR 91.167 — Fuel Requirements for Flight in IFR Conditions
IFR fuel: enough to fly to destination, then to alternate (if required), then 45-minute reserve at normal cruising speed.
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