On Thu, 24 Aug 2006 14:52:35 -0400, "Gary Drescher"
wrote:

"Ben Jackson" wrote in message
...
The way I read 61.57(d) (the requirement for an IPC), it's just an extra
requirement that kicks in under certain circumstances. It's not a subpart
of 61.57(c) (6 approaches etc in 6 months), and (c) does not have any
exceptions related to (d).

So if an IPC is essentially a checkride, it could be done by a proficient
pilot with (say) 3 approaches. Would that pilot be legal for IFR if he
had gone into the IPC needing it (no approaches within 6 months)?

Not as the regulation is written. As you note, 61.57d sets forth an
additional requirement, not a substitution for or exception to the
requirements of 61.57c. So an IPC might indeed include only three
approaches, but that wouldn't qualify the pilot to fly IFR unless the pilot
has flown three other approaches within the past six months.

--Gary



This is from the last set of FAQ's that we are not supposed to have
anymore. It used to be stated as FAA policy, but someone decided that
they didn't want to stick their neck out anymore. I believe it to be
accurate. Since an IPC is essentially an instrumet checkride given by
a CFII, and an instrument checkride consists of only 3 approaches
anyway, it stands to reason that an IPC and currency needs not be
something more than the original practical test consisted of. The
sucessful instrument applicant left the checkride current to fly IFR
in the system with only 3 approaches demonstrated.

QUESTION: A question has arisen about the "6 in 6" rule and the IPC as
they relate to pilots out of currency for more than 6 months.
Paragraph (d) says such pilots may not act as PIC under IFR until they
get an IPC. However, the way it is worded, one might conclude that
the pilot must also achieve the 6 approaches/intercept/track/hold
criteria in paragraph (c) before he can be PIC under IFR -- that the
IPC is a necessary but not sufficient criterion for returning to
currency after more than 6 months out of currency. So, is a
successful IPC sufficient for IFR currency regardless of the number of
approaches completed in the last 6 months? Does this change if you
are out of the 6 months-without-currency grace period?

ANSWER: Ref. § 61.57(d); An instrument proficiency check (IPC)
conducted in accordance with the § 61.57(d)/ Instrument Rating PTS
meets all the requirements to "start the clock" over for remaining
instrument rated current. Passing an IPC fulfills the requirement for
currency.
Back in 1997-1998 it was questioned what was meant by § 61.57(d) in
stating that passing IPC "... consisting of a representative number of
tasks required by the instrument rating practical test . . ." was
required. This question was answered by AFS-630 that write the PTS's.
In the Instrument Rating Practical Test Standards, FAA-S-8081-4C a
task table was added with "PC' as one of the columns in change #2, on
page 15 of the introduction portion of the PTS. Conducting an IPC in
accordance with this standard is a requirement now. When a pilot
completes such an IPC of at least 3 approaches (Area of Operation VI)
and in a multiengine airplane of at least one more approach (Area of
Operation VII), the person will then be considered to be instrument
rated current for that category of aircraft.
{Q&A-514}