FAA Flight Instructor Airplane (FIA)Regulations (14 CFR 61/91)Medium
A private pilot last logged 3 takeoffs and landings to a full stop in a single-engine airplane 95 days ago. The pilot now wants to carry a passenger on a daytime flight in the same category and class of airplane. According to 14 CFR 61.57(a), may the pilot act as PIC while carrying the passenger?
- AYes, because the 90-day recency requirement applies only to night flights
- BYes, because completing a flight review within the preceding 24 months satisfies all recency of experience requirements
- CNo, because a private pilot must complete 3 takeoffs and landings within the preceding 60 days, not 90
- DNo, because more than 90 days have elapsed since the pilot's 3 takeoffs and landings
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. No, because more than 90 days have elapsed since the pilot's 3 takeoffs and landings
14 CFR 61.57(a) requires a pilot to have made 3 takeoffs and landings within the preceding 90 days (day currency) to act as PIC carrying passengers. Since 95 days have elapsed, the pilot is not current and may not carry passengers until currency is reestablished.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. The 90-day rule applies to day currency; night currency has its own separate 90-day requirement with different criteria (full-stop, at night).
- B. A flight review does not substitute for the specific 61.57(a) recency of experience requirement.
- C. The day currency window is 90 days, not 60 days.
Day Passenger Currency (61.57(a))
A pilot must have made 3 takeoffs and landings in the preceding 90 days in the same category, class, and type (if required) to carry passengers during the day.
- 90-day window for day currency
- Landings may be full-stop or touch-and-go (day only)
- Separate, stricter rule (full-stop, at night) applies for night passenger currency
Memory trick: 90 days by day, 90 days by night, but night needs full-stop.