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3 Answers

Do 6 approaches need to be completed on an IPC

Asked by: 2564 views Instrument Rating

I already know what is required for an IPC (61.57 and the ACS), although it doesn’t say if there needs to be at least 6 approaches done. If someone hasn’t done an approach in a couple years, had to get an IPC and only did 5 approaches in the IPC. Does that make them current? Or do they still need the 6th approach?

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3 Answers



  1. Russ Roslewski on Jul 29, 2022

    If you know what’s required for an IPC, you know that an IPC doesn’t required 6 approaches. Rather, it requires a bare minimum of 3:
    One “precision” approach
    One “non-precision” approach
    One circling approach

    And 61.57d(1) says that passing an IPC makes you instrument current.

    Therefore, no, you do not need to have 6 approaches if you have an IPC. However, it’s rare that I’ve seen someone who is not instrument current actually pass an IPC after only 3 approaches – but if you do, you’re current.

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  2. John Scarry on Aug 01, 2022

    Refer to AC 61-98D Currency Requirements and Guidance for the Flight Review and
    Instrument Proficiency Check, Chapter 5 for details.

    https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/acs/media/instrument_rating_acs_change_1.pdf

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  3. Mark Kolber on Aug 02, 2022

    There’s a lovely chart in the Instrument ACS which tells you what the FAA wants accomplished in an IPC. When you read it with the commentary, it’s one precision approach and two nonprecision ones.

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