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5 Answers

IFR Currency

Asked by: 2781 views FAA Regulations, Flight Instructor, General Aviation, Instrument Rating

Do you need to be IFR current to take your CFI initial checkride?

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5 Answers



  1. ayavner on Sep 10, 2018

    No. As far as I know, “currency” for IFR is only required to be PIC on an IFR flight plan. Believe the requirements only state that you be instrument rated.

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  2. KDS on Sep 10, 2018

    Not to put too fine a point on it, but “IFR flight plan” would be better replaced with “IFR clearance” in the answer.

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  3. Kris Kortokrax on Sep 10, 2018

    I\’ll put a fine point on it.

    61.57 requires instrument currency to act as PIC \”under IFR or weather conditions less than the minimums prescribed for VFR\”.

    Neither a flight plan nor a clearance are required to operate under IFR except in controlled airspace per 91.173.

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  4. KDS on Sep 10, 2018

    Yes, good point. In fact I clearly remember a fatal where a fellow killed himself and his wife blasting off into Class G airspace in IMC (although he was current and qualified). He took off with the idea that he would get a clearance once he got a little altitude. His first and last call to ATC was one requesting his clearance and ATC advising him that he was nose to nose with inbound traffic.

    Every accident is a tragedy, but they seem much worse when there is a passenger aboard.

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  5. Mark Kolber on Sep 23, 2018

    A simple “No” answers the question.

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