Currency & Logbooks

14 CFR § 61.57 — Recent flight experience

• Carrying passengers (day): 3 takeoffs and 3 landings within the preceding 90 days, in the same category, class, and type (if a type rating is required) — § 61.57(a).
• Carrying passengers (night): 3 takeoffs and 3 landings to a full stop within the preceding 90 days, in the period between 1 hour after sunset and 1 hour before sunrise — § 61.57(b). Cannot carry passengers at night without this currency.
• Tailwheel: Same 3-and-3 within 90 days, all to a full stop — § 61.57(c).
• Flight review: 1 hour ground + 1 hour flight every 24 calendar months with an authorized instructor — § 61.56. Can be substituted by passing a checkride for any pilot certificate or rating.

The night-currency rule means a pilot current for daytime passenger ops may legally fly at night solo without restriction, but cannot carry passengers at night without 3 night T/Os and full-stop landings logged within 90 days.

14 CFR § 61.57(c) — Instrument currency

For PIC under IFR (or VFR-on-top) in actual or simulated instrument conditions, in the preceding 6 calendar months:

• 6 instrument approaches
• Holding procedures & tasks
• Intercepting and tracking courses through the use of navigational electronic systems

If you let instrument currency lapse for > 6 months but < 12, you may regain it by performing the tasks within those 6 additional months. After 12 months total, an Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC) is required — must be administered by an authorized instructor or examiner per § 61.57(d).

14 CFR § 61.51 — Pilot logbooks

• You must log all training and aeronautical experience used to meet currency, recent experience, or eligibility for a certificate or rating.
• Logging not required for routine flights once you've met the requirements — but it's strongly recommended for insurance, employment, and audit purposes.
• Electronic logbooks (ForeFlight, MyFlightbook, LogShare, Logten) are acceptable as long as the records are accessible to FAA inspectors. The on-site RotaryXC Logbook exports JSON for backup.
• You must present your logbook on request from the FAA, NTSB, or law enforcement (§ 61.51(i)).
• Time logged must be specific to the operating conditions: solo time, dual received, PIC, SIC, XC, night, actual instrument, simulated instrument, instrument instruction — each has its own column and definition. See § 61.51(e)–(g).

Logging vs acting as PIC — the distinction

The most-tested logging nuance:

• Acting as PIC — you are the legally responsible pilot in command (only one person at a time).
• Logging PIC — defined in § 61.51(e). You may log PIC time when you are the sole manipulator of the controls and rated for the aircraft, even if not legally acting as PIC.
• Both pilots may log PIC simultaneously: one as the legal PIC, the other as sole manipulator (provided each is rated for the aircraft).
• Safety pilot arrangements (simulated instrument flight): the pilot under the hood may log PIC if rated; the safety pilot may log SIC time per § 61.51(f)(2).

This distinction trips a lot of CPL applicants on the oral. Drill it.

14 CFR § 61.60 — Change of address

Within 30 days of moving, notify the FAA in writing of your new permanent mailing address. Failure to do so prevents you from exercising the privileges of your certificate.

Notification options:

• Online via iacra.faa.gov
• Mail to FAA Airman Certification Branch, AFS-760, P.O. Box 25082, Oklahoma City, OK 73125-0082
• Email per the contact info at faa.gov/licenses_certificates/airmen_certification

Currency cliff notes — the windows you must memorize