I've been flying over 30 years, and I have no problem staying current by FAA
standards. The problem I have with IFR currency is that when I fly my own
plane, it is just too easy to turn on that autopilot. Even though I fly
about 500 hours a year and dozens of actual IMC approaches, my hand-flying
skills are not what they should be. I have to force myself to hand-fly
enough approaches to stay safe even though that's not required by the FAA.
This usually amounts to two or three hand-flown approaches every three
months or so. That's not really enough to stay perfect, but it is enough,
coupled with the ones flown with the autopilot, to stay safe.

Russ


"Paul Folbrecht" wrote in message
...
Anyway, the question I find floating around my head a lot now is just how
much instrument flying, sim or actual, do I need to do to stay current?
Of course I'm not talking about what the regs say - I know what they say
and I know that 6 approaches every 6 months is not likely to keep me at a
level of currency that I'm comfortable with.

I'm looking for input from you guys that have had your rating for awhile
and who do stay current and fly in IMC regularly. What does it take,
realistically, for you to feel proficient and safe flying and shooting
approaches in actual? If you don't get actual time, do you still
regularly practice approaches simulated with a safety pilot? As your
overall time increases, does it take somewhat less flying to maintain that
same level of comfortable currency?