FAR 61.57 governs pilot currency for passengers and IFR flight - here's exactly what counts, what doesn't, and where certificated pilots quietly get it wrong.
FAR 61.57 sets the minimum recent flight experience to carry passengers legally - here's what the regulation actually requires and where pilots commonly miss it.
FAR 61.57 sets legal minimums for carrying passengers and flying IFR, but currency and proficiency are not the same thing - and that gap is where accidents happen.
FAR 61.57 requires three takeoffs and landings within 90 days to carry passengers - but night, tailwheel, and instrument rules add critical layers every pilot needs to know.