A couple of questions about IPC

Paul Tomblin wrote:
I've only done one approach in the last 6 months. I've let my
currency lapse, so as I read the regs I now have to do an IPC,
right?

No. If you're less than 6 months out of currency, you can go get
yourself current again by flying 6 approachs and a hold with a safety
pilot. If you let things go beyond 6 months (from the date you ran
out of IFR currency), *then* you need to do an IPC. You can elect to
do an IPC anyway.

What does an IPC consist of? Just 6 approaches and a hold, or is
there more to it? Can it be fewer than 6 approaches?

The IFR PTS lays out the details. To a reasonable approximation, it's
a repeat of your instrument checkride. In practice, what I want to
see is that you can fly a partial-panel ILS, a full-procedure GPS
approach, a hold, and still remember how to navigate without a GPS
(i.e. a VOR or LOC approach flown with just the nav radios).