Instrument Currency and the Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC): What Every IFR Pilot Needs to Know
- wifiCFI
- Dec 18, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 19, 2025
Flying under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) is one of the most empowering—and demanding—privileges a pilot can hold. It allows you to operate in reduced visibility, through clouds, and in complex airspace environments that require precision, discipline, and constant proficiency. Two concepts sit at the heart of safe IFR flying: instrument currency and the Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC).
Although they’re often mentioned together, they serve different purposes. Understanding how they work, when they apply, and how to maintain them can make the difference between confident IFR flying and being legally or practically grounded.
This article breaks down instrument currency, explains the IPC in detail, and offers practical advice for staying sharp in the instrument environment.
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What Is Instrument Currency?
Instrument currency is a regulatory requirement that determines whether a pilot may legally act as pilot in command (PIC) under IFR or in weather conditions less than VFR minimums.
Under FAA regulations (14 CFR §61.57), a pilot must meet specific experience requirements within the preceding six calendar months to remain instrument-current.
The 6-6-HITS Rule
To maintain instrument currency, you must log the following within the last six calendar months:
6 instrument approaches
Holding procedures and tasks
Intercepting and tracking courses using navigational electronic systems
These tasks must be performed:
In actual IMC, or
In simulated IMC with a safety pilot, or
In an approved simulator or flight training device
This is commonly remembered using the mnemonic “6-6-HITS.”
Logging vs. Legality
It’s important to distinguish between logging instrument time and being instrument-current. You can log instrument time without becoming current if you’re not completing approaches, holds, and tracking tasks as required. Currency is about recency and task completion, not just time spent under the hood or in the clouds.
The Grace Period: Months 7–12
If you do not complete the 6-6-HITS requirements within six months, all is not immediately lost.
During the next six calendar months (months 7 through 12), you may regain instrument currency, but only if:
You complete the required tasks with a safety pilot, CFII, or
In an approved simulator or training device
During this period, you may not fly IFR as PIC until currency is restored.
Think of this as a “currency recovery window,” not an extension of your IFR privileges.
When Currency Is Fully Expired
If more than 12 calendar months have passed since you were last instrument-current, you can no longer regain currency simply by flying approaches with a safety pilot.
At this point, the only way back is an Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC).
What Is an Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC)?
An IPC is a formal evaluation of a pilot’s ability to safely operate under IFR. Unlike the currency requirements, which are quantitative (number of approaches), the IPC is qualitative—it assesses proficiency, judgment, and competence.
An IPC must be conducted by:
A Certified Flight Instructor – Instrument (CFII), or
An FAA-designated examiner
Regulatory Basis
The IPC is defined under 14 CFR §61.57(d) and references the Instrument Rating Airman Certification Standards (ACS) as the evaluation standard.
What Does an IPC Include?
There is no single “standard flight” for an IPC, but it must cover enough material to demonstrate safe IFR proficiency. Typically, it includes:
Ground Portion
IFR regulations and procedures
Weather interpretation and decision-making
IFR charts and flight planning
Lost communications procedures
Aircraft systems relevant to IFR operations
Flight Portion
The flight portion generally covers:
Aircraft control by reference to instruments
Navigation using ground-based and RNAV systems
Holding entries and procedures
Course intercepts and tracking
Unusual attitude recovery (if appropriate)
At least one precision approach
At least one non-precision approach
Missed approach procedures
Partial panel operations (when applicable)
The IPC is not a pass/fail checkride in the traditional sense. If a pilot is not proficient in certain areas, the instructor may provide additional training and complete the IPC once proficiency is demonstrated.
How an IPC Differs from a Checkride
Many pilots fear the IPC because they associate it with the pressure of a practical test. In reality:
There is no FAA examiner required
There is no temporary certificate
There is no permanent failure record
An IPC is best viewed as structured recurrent training, not punishment for being out of currency.
Logging and Endorsements
Once satisfactorily completed, the instructor will provide a logbook endorsement stating that the IPC was completed in accordance with §61.57(d).
This endorsement immediately restores your instrument currency.
Why Instrument Currency Isn’t Enough by Itself
A key misconception among pilots is that being “legal” equals being “safe.” Instrument currency is a minimum legal standard, not a guarantee of proficiency.
A pilot could, in theory:
Fly six approaches in one day,
Then not fly IFR again for five months,
And still be legally current.
This is why many experienced pilots voluntarily fly:
Regular practice approaches
Scenario-based IFR flights
Periodic training with a CFII—even when current
Practical Tips for Staying Instrument-Proficient
Fly IFR regularly, even in VMC
Use simulators to practice holds and approaches efficiently
Vary approach types (ILS, LPV, VOR, LOC)
Practice failures: partial panel, GPS outages, missed approaches
Schedule a mock IPC annually as a proficiency benchmark
Log carefully—incomplete logs can create currency confusion
Final Thoughts
Instrument flying is a perishable skill. Regulations like instrument currency and the Instrument Proficiency Check exist not to burden pilots, but to protect them from skill fade in a demanding environment.
Instrument currency keeps you legal in the short term.
The IPC restores legality when currency lapses and reinforces real proficiency.
Regular practice keeps you safe.
Treat IFR proficiency as an ongoing discipline, not a box to check—and you’ll be better prepared when the weather, the airspace, and the system demand your best.
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