How to Stay Current as a Pilot – #1 Ultimate Guide for Active & Inactive Pilots

Why Staying Current as a Pilot Matters

Flying is a perishable skill. Whether you hold a Private Pilot License, an Instrument Rating, or a Commercial certificate, staying legally and practically current is essential—not just for compliance, but for confidence and safety.

Understanding how to stay current as a pilot goes beyond ticking boxes on a pilot logbook. It’s about maintaining sharp reflexes, clear decision-making, and comfort in the cockpit, especially if you haven’t flown in weeks—or months.

The reality? Life happens. Work, family, weather, or finances can cause breaks in your flying schedule. But returning to the skies doesn’t have to be difficult. With the right plan, tools, and mindset, you can meet FAA currency requirements and regain full proficiency with ease.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know—from FAA regulations and recency rules to smart scheduling strategies and the best resources to stay current. Whether you’re flying part-time, rebuilding confidence after time off, or just aiming to stay sharp, this article is your go-to checklist to remain flight-ready.

FAA Rules on How to Stay Current as a Pilot

The FAA sets clear standards for maintaining pilot currency, but it’s up to you to apply them consistently. If you’re wondering how to stay current as a pilot, it starts with understanding the difference between legal currency and real proficiency—and knowing which rules apply to your license type.

Under FAR 61.56, all pilots must complete a flight review every 24 months. This is a non-pass/fail evaluation with a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) that covers maneuvers, regulations, and decision-making. It’s required regardless of how often you fly.

Additionally, to carry passengers, pilots must log:

3 takeoffs and 3 landings within the past 90 days
If flying at night: those landings must also be at night

Pilots with Instrument Ratings have added responsibilities. To maintain instrument currency under FAR 61.57(c), you must log:

6 instrument approaches
Holding procedures and intercepting/tracking courses
All within the previous 6 calendar months

If you haven’t flown under instrument conditions in over 6 months, you’ll need an Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC) with a CFII to restore currency.

Whether you hold a PPL, CPL, or CFI, these FAA standards are the baseline for staying current. But being legally current doesn’t always mean you’re truly flight-ready—especially after long breaks.

How to Stay Current as a Pilot Under Part 61 and 91

FAA parts 61 and 91 govern pilot certification and flight operations. Both outline the basic expectations for pilots to remain current, but how you maintain that currency depends on your flying habits and aircraft type.

Here’s what matters most:

90-Day Takeoff & Landing Rule (FAR 61.57(a))

To act as pilot in command while carrying passengers, you must have logged three takeoffs and landings in the same category and class of aircraft within the past 90 days. For night flying, those landings must be full-stop and completed between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise.

Flight Review Requirement (FAR 61.56)

As mentioned, you’ll need a biennial flight review to maintain active status. This doesn’t renew automatically with flying hours—it requires a dedicated session with a CFI.

What Happens If You Fall Out of Currency?

If your 90-day or 24-month window lapses, you can’t fly as PIC with passengers until you complete the necessary flights or review. For instrument-rated pilots, falling out of the 6-month IFR window requires either:

Logging 6 approaches in a sim or aircraft, or
Completing an IPC to reset currency

Whether you’re a weekend flyer or a seasoned professional, knowing how to stay current as a pilot under Part 61 and 91 ensures you’re legally cleared—and safer—in the skies.

Tools That Help You Stay Current as a Pilot Year-Round

Learning how to stay current as a pilot means using the right combination of technology, strategy, and community. Legal compliance is only the baseline—true readiness comes from consistent reinforcement. The tools you choose can help turn currency into confidence.

Start with digital logbooks. Apps like ForeFlight Logbook, LogTen Pro, and MyFlightBook do more than store flights:

They automatically track 90-day passenger-carrying currency
Send alerts for upcoming BFRs or instrument currency expiration
Help manage medicals, endorsements, and type ratings
Provide insights on flight frequency, sim time, and gaps

For instrument-rated pilots, FAA-approved Advanced Training Devices (ATDs) like the Redbird FMX offer a practical and cost-effective way to stay current. Under FAR 61.57(c), you can complete the six required instrument approaches in a simulator if:

It’s an FAA-approved ATD
The session includes holding procedures and tracking
You’re working with a Certified Instrument Instructor (CFII)

Sim time can’t replace the real thing—but it absolutely fills the gap between flights and keeps your procedural thinking sharp.

Don’t overlook community-based learning, either. Flying clubs and FAASTeam meetups provide peer accountability and low-pressure refreshers. Plus, the FAA WINGS Program allows pilots to:

Earn currency credits through online or in-person training
Replace their traditional BFR with WINGS participation
Stay connected to new regulations and best practices

These tools work best when used together. Currency is a moving target—but with the right system in place, you’re always prepared to meet it.

Monthly Plan: How to Stay Current as a Pilot With a Busy Schedule

Even licensed pilots with thousands of hours can fall out of currency if they lack routine. The key to how to stay current as a pilot—especially when you’re balancing flying with work, family, or other commitments—is to follow a simple, sustainable monthly rhythm.

Here’s how you can break it down:

Week 1: Solo or Dual Flight Focus on fundamentals—landings, stalls, pattern work, or slow flight. If possible, fly in varying weather or light night conditions.

Week 2: Study & Admin Review your aircraft’s POH, refresh your weight and balance knowledge, and complete one or two FAA Safety Briefing articles or online modules.

Week 3: Fly With a CFI or Safety Partner Use this flight to sharpen high-stakes skills—emergency drills, instrument failures, radio work, or decision-making under stress.

Week 4: Simulator or Scenario Session Whether on a Redbird ATD or home-based sim, practice cross-country planning, IFR holds, or systems management in real-time. Add tools like ForeFlight or checklists for realism.

This routine doesn’t require flying 20 hours a month—just 3 to 6 hours total, plus review and sim work. The outcome? Better retention, smoother maneuvers, and greater confidence when it counts.

Flight readiness isn’t built in bursts—it’s built through repetition. And a monthly cycle like this keeps you sharp, legal, and always one step ahead of the next checkride.

Pro Tips on How to Stay Current as a Pilot

Meeting FAA minimums is one thing—flying with confidence and control is another. Legal currency ensures you’re allowed to fly, but proficiency ensures you’re ready to handle what the sky throws at you. If you’re focused on how to stay current as a pilot, you need more than a checklist—you need habits that keep your head in the game.

Start by reviewing your checklists monthly. Even if you aren’t flying that week, sit in the cockpit or simulator and go through your aircraft’s pre-flight, takeoff, cruise, and emergency procedures. This mental rep keeps muscle memory alive and ensures that key steps never fade from recall.

Quarterly, dedicate a flight or simulator session to emergency procedures. Simulate engine failures, electrical loss, radio outages, and forced landings. Work with a CFI or fly solo with a scenario in mind. You don’t want your first real emergency to be the first time you think it through.

Engagement with the larger aviation community also reinforces proficiency. Attending FAA webinars, safety briefings, or local pilot meetups exposes you to new techniques, regulatory updates, and shared experience. The FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) regularly hosts free online sessions that count toward WINGS credit, making them a smart and accessible option for staying sharp.

Staying current isn’t just about flying—it’s about practicing the mindset of a pilot. Your brain, not just your hands, needs to stay in the cockpit.

Conclusion

Learning how to stay current as a pilot isn’t just a regulatory requirement—it’s a professional commitment to safety, confidence, and ongoing skill mastery. Whether you’re an active pilot looking to maintain your edge or returning after time away from the cockpit, the difference lies in structure and consistency—not just flight hours.

The skies demand readiness. And readiness comes from habits: routine practice, regular check-ins, and using every available resource to stay sharp and in command.

At Florida Flyers Flight Academy, staying current isn’t left to chance. With flexible scheduling, FAA-certified instructors, year-round flying conditions, and access to Redbird simulators, the academy empowers every pilot—recreational or career-track—to fly confidently and compliantly, no matter how full their calendar is.

How to Stay Current as a Pilot – FAQ Section

What’s the easiest way to learn how to stay current as a pilot?

The easiest way to learn how to stay current as a pilot is to create a consistent monthly routine. Flying once or twice a month, logging 90-day landings, and completing your 24-month flight review ensures both legal currency and strong proficiency.

Can simulator hours help with how to stay current as a pilot?

Yes, simulator hours—especially with an FAA-approved ATD—are an effective part of how to stay current as a pilot, particularly for instrument-rated aviators. They allow you to log approaches and holding procedures under supervision, helping maintain IFR currency.

What should I do if I haven’t flown in a year but want to stay current as a pilot again?

If you haven’t flown in over 12 months, your first step in how to stay current as a pilot is to complete a flight review with a CFI under FAR 61.56. It’s also smart to log dual flights and simulator sessions to rebuild confidence.

How often is a flight review required for staying current as a pilot?

To legally satisfy how to stay current as a pilot requirements, a flight review is required every 24 calendar months. Completing FAA WINGS program credits can substitute for this review.

Does night flying count toward how to stay current as a pilot?

Yes, it plays a direct role in how to stay current as a pilot. To carry passengers at night, you must log three full-stop takeoffs and landings during night hours within the previous 90 days. This is separate from daytime currency.

Contact the Florida Flyers Flight Academy Team today at (904) 209-3510 to learn more about how to do the foreign pilot license conversion in 4 steps.