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4 Answers

CFI Landing Currency

Asked by: 10504 views , ,
FAA Regulations, Flight Instructor

II know what is prudent, but does a CFI really need to accomplish his/her 3 Takeoff's and Landings in the past 90 days to be legal to fly with a student?  I believe I read somewhere that students are not considered passengers, but FAR 61.57 A(2) states, "For the purpose of meeting the requirements of paragraph (a)(1) of this section, a person may act as a pilot in command of an aircraft under day VFR or day IFR, provided no PERSONS or property are carried on board the aircraft, other than those necessary for the conduct of the flight.

Is a student necessary for the conduct of the flight?

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4 Answers

  1. Best Answer


    Wes Beard on Aug 16, 2012

    I think you are missing another key word in in 61.57(A)(2). “For the purpose of meeting this requirement”. If your intent is to fly for the sole purpose of meeting this requirement, then you must be solo. The student is not necessary for the flight.

    If in the duties of your instructing (here the student is necessary) you demonstrate a landing to a student and that brings back to within currency that is also OK. As you stated, pilots receiving instruction are not considered passengers and therefore the instructor does not have to be landing current to teach.

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  2. Kris Kortokrax on Aug 17, 2012

    ” If your intent is to fly for the sole purpose of meeting this requirement, then you must be solo.”

    Not necessarily. If my student has other than a “Student” pilot certificate, has a medical, flight review and is 61.57 current, I can reagain currency during a flight with him.

    If I am a CFI and choose to regain currency with another CFI in the aircraft (who is able to act as PIC), I don’t need to be solo.

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  3. Bomber Jack on Aug 19, 2012

    Thank you for your responses. It is nice to have access to so many intelligent people!

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  4. Sam Dawson on Sep 21, 2012

    As a CFI you do not need to be current to conduct night instruction:

    http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/agc/pol_adjudication/agc200/interpretations/data/interps/2007/Olshock%20inter1.pdf

    http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/agc/pol_adjudication/agc200/interpretations/data/interps/2006/Kortokraxinterp.doc

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