Instrument Currency / Recency

A very pleasant day flying at Langley while renewing my instrument rating recency at SkyQuest Aviation.

The instrument rating no longer expires.  Once you have it that is good for life.  However, just like with any other rating, you need recency.  For example, the night rating requires six takeoffs and landings in the preceding six months to carry passengers.

The instrument proficiency check renews your recency requirements to fly IFR for 24 months.  This is basically the IFR test.  However, there is another requirement that kicks in 12 months after your IPC, which is the six approaches and six hours in the previous six months.

If a pilot doesn't fly enough for the 6, 6, and 6 recency then he needs another IPC before the 1st day of the 13th month following his last IPC.  This all sounds more complex than it actually is.

This requirement has changed quite a bit over the last little while.  Also, passed my first recurring IPC today.  A hold at Whatcom VOR with a rather fussily flown entry (I need to be more practical), an ILS approach into Bellingham (I leveled off a bit too high and too early), and an NDB approach at Abbotsford.

Aside from some electrical landing gear issues caused by the load from the pitot heater the flight was trouble free and I felt rather pleasant.  I actually felt well ahead of the aircraft and the radio procedures, even under the hood, so all the practice is paying off.  My control technique is too "jerky" and harsh while under the hood and that needs more work.

I still need more practice staying on the glide slope right to the minimums, and need to work on a stabilized constant descent angle for the non-precision approaches.