Instrument Currency Refresher Lesson Plan

Special Cases • 14 CFR 61.57(c)

The Instrument Currency Refresher Lesson Plan provides tailored recurrent training for instrument-rated pilots who need to rebuild proficiency or complete recent instrument experience without requiring an IPC.

Instrument Currency Refresher Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Schedule

    Topic:
    Time:
    Currency and Experience Review:
    0:30
    IFR Knowledge Refresher:
    0:45
    Instrument Flight Training:
    1:30
    Debrief and Practice Plan:
    0:15
    Planned Time:
    0:00

  • Attention Getter:

    • Present a pilot who is legally current after six approaches but has not managed actual weather, complex automation, or a missed approach in months.

  • Motivator:

    • Logging recent experience restores currency; deliberate recurrent training restores the proficiency needed to use it safely.

  • Objective:

    • Rebuild instrument knowledge, procedural accuracy, aircraft control, and risk management while completing only those recent-experience tasks that are conducted and documented.

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Instrument Currency Refresher Lesson Plan

Materials

  • Required Materials:

    • Pilot logbook and instrument-experience record.
    • Aircraft, simulator, or training device documents and approvals as applicable.
    • Current charts, procedures, weather, checklists, and flight-planning resources.

  • References:

Instrument Currency Refresher Lesson Plan

Instructor Actions

  • Assessment:

    • Verify the pilot’s instrument currency timeline, logged tasks, equipment experience, and whether an IPC is already required.
    • Identify proficiency needs beyond the minimum recent-experience tasks.

  • Ground and Flight Training:

    • Refresh weather, alternates, clearances, navigation, procedures, lost communications, automation, and approach planning.
    • Practice instrument flight, holding, intercepting and tracking, approaches, missed approaches, and representative abnormal procedures as appropriate.
    • Use realistic scenarios and require sound workload, automation, and risk management.

  • Documentation:

    • Log only tasks actually performed under conditions and with safety-pilot, instructor, simulator, or device requirements satisfied.
    • Clearly explain that this lesson does not substitute for an IPC when §61.57(d) applies.
Instrument Currency Refresher Lesson Plan

Student Actions

  • Provide an accurate instrument-experience record.
  • Prepare assigned weather, route, alternates, and procedures.
  • Demonstrate safe instrument control, procedural accuracy, and aeronautical decision-making.
Instrument Currency Refresher Lesson Plan

Completion Standards

  • The pilot demonstrates safe proficiency for the operations practiced.
  • Recent-experience entries accurately reflect tasks and conditions completed.
  • An IPC is recommended or required whenever the pilot’s status or performance calls for one.
Instrument Currency Refresher Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Regular instrument practice makes legal currency a byproduct of proficiency rather than its substitute.

  • Closure:

    • Review logged experience, personal minimums, remaining currency needs, and the next practice interval.