On Sat, 12 Feb 2005 17:18:02 GMT, Paul Folbrecht wrote:

Hi Paul,

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?

You will probably get answers all over the page, so responses will be
interesting! For me, if I dont' fly AT LEAST once every two weeks, I feel
rusty on approaches.

Looking at my logbook, this year, I have flown 5 flights in actual
conditions. 4 of the flights were local IFR to keep the rust off, and one
was a cross country IFR trip.

regularly practice approaches simulated with a safety pilot?

YES, but not necessarily with a safety pilot so to speak. I know I will
maintain currency based on the regs, but I will fly practice ILS approaches
fully VFR in Class C airspace with NO hood.

I figure that tracking the localizer and glide slope VFR will keep me in
tune with the airplane so when IFR conditions come about, only difference
would be that I can't see outside. Something would be better then
nothing...

Since my own airport is uncontrolled, I would never do this without a
safety pilot since my head needs to be on a swivel OUTSIDE the cockpit
under VFR / MVFR conditions.

overall time increases, does it take somewhat less flying to maintain
that same level of comfortable currency?

For me, no, I need to keep practicing. and practicing. As you already
know, every approach is different with weather / winds the way it is.

In some ways, I wish I was based at an airport with an ILS, as I would love
to work my way downt to ILS minimums, but I only have a VOR alpa approach
back to my airport, so my personal minimums are 1000 foot ceilings. (100
feet above MDA).

Allen