Pilot Safety Simplified: Proficiency vs. Currency Explained

You might assume that staying legal means staying safe. In reality, though, that’s not always the case. You shouldn’t get complacent just because you’re legal. Ask yourself: Are your skills sharp enough to handle any situation?

Currency confirms that you’re legally allowed to fly, but proficiency keeps you safe and ready to fly confidently.

In this guide, we’ll break down what it means to be proficient and current. We’ll examine why they should always go hand-in-hand and how you can improve your skills to become a more capable pilot.

Key Takeaways

• Currency ensures a pilot meets FAA legal requirements to act as pilot-in-command.
• Proficiency is a pilot’s ability to fly skillfully and safely beyond legal minimums.
• A pilot can be current but not proficient, which can compromise flight safety.
• Training and simulators help maintain both currency and proficiency.

What Is Currency in Aviation?

If you haven’t flown in a long time, you could say you’re no longer “current.” Pilots use this term to simply mean being legally allowed to fly as pilot-in-command (PIC) under federal regulations. 

The FAA designed these rules to make sure that captains have recent flight experience and that they have at least a basic level of operational capability.

So, how can you become current? Let’s read the fine print together.

FAA Requirements for Currency

You can find one of the key regulations about currency in 14 CFR 61.57—Recent Flight Experience: Pilot in Command. Under these rules, there are specific requirements you’ll have to meet.

To act as PIC of an aircraft carrying passengers or cargo, you must have completed at least three takeoffs and landings within the last 90 days. And during these maneuvers, you need to:

• Act as the sole manipulator of the flight controls.
• Perform these takeoffs and landings in an aircraft of the same category, class, and type (if a class or type rating is required).
• Do your landings to a full stop in a tailwheel-equipped aircraft if you’re flying a tailwheel airplane.

If you plan to carry passengers at night, though, there are a few extra details. 

You must have completed three full-stop takeoffs and landings at night within the last 90 days. By night, this means between an hour after sunset and an hour before sunrise.

Recent experience requirements are also different for student pilots, recreational pilots, and sport pilots. It’s best to consult FAR 61.57 for a complete understanding of PIC qualifications.

Did you know you can perform the required maneuvers in a full-flight simulator? This is great news if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option. Just make sure that you are able to meet the recent flight experience requirements in an approved simulator or ATD. 

Consult FAR 61.57 for the specific requirements based on your aircraft and certificates/ratings held.

The Importance of Currency

You might be wondering, what’s the point of these rules? 

Well, their purpose is simple: so you have proof of recent flight experience before carrying passengers. This helps every pilot maintain a minimum level of operational capability. 

This precaution has really helped reduce mistakes from lack of practice. And because currency is defined in fine print, it’s a pretty straightforward concept.

However, just because you’re current doesn’t mean you’re actually proficient. Currency makes sure you’re following legal standards, but proficiency requires you to go beyond the bare minimum.

What Is Proficiency in Aviation?

Proficiency is more abstract and personal. It’s something that goes beyond legal requirements. Instead, it demands a deeper level of competence. Proficiency is about developing and maintaining the skills you need to handle a wide range of conditions in the cockpit.

As a private pilot, your proficiency is linked—to put it simply—to your budget. Fuel and maintenance costs are on a steady rise, and with it, the cost of your flight training.

So, what are you to do? The best choice is to fly smarter, and there are many ways to make the most of the time you fly.

Aircraft Owner’s Manual

First, there’s the aircraft owner’s manual. You can buy or borrow one of these books from your flight school.

Here are the areas you should read up on:

• Landing irregularities: Information on crosswind landings will help you escape a tight situation and get back on the ground safely. You’ll also find detailed information on flight maneuvers.
• Stall characteristics: Know the stall speed for various aircraft configurations and angles of bank. Commit these speeds (maybe two or three at most) to memory, or write them down on a note card for quick reference.
• Emergency procedures: The procedures are designed to help you safely recover the aircraft when trouble comes around.

Your Logbook

Take a look at your logbook. When was your last flight? What maneuvers did you practice? Are you preparing to fly with passengers? If it’s been a while since you’ve last flown, consider scheduling a session with an instructor. They’ll help you stick to proper procedures and correct any bad habits you may have developed.

Practice

If you don’t think an instructor flight is necessary, you can opt for a solo session instead. Make the most out of this opportunity to refine your skills. 

Practice stalls, execute steep turns, and fine-tune your maneuvers. As you return to the traffic pattern, focus on short and soft field approaches and landings.

Cross-country flying brings an entirely different set of challenges, and you best be prepared for them. The longer it’s been since your last cross-country, the more planning you’ll need. 

Familiarize yourself with your aircraft, review your intended route, and assess the latest weather conditions.

Weather

Weather is no small factor in flying, and it has caused many accidents. Oftentimes, these could have been prevented if the pilot simply turned back instead of pushing ahead.

Clouds can hide mountains and other obstacles. They can also cause icing and hinder aircraft performance. Since weather can change quickly, always check the reports before takeoff. 

Winds at high altitudes can be unpredictable. At these heights, you could get into turbulence and gusty crosswinds.

Has it been a while since you’ve flown in these conditions? Is the forecast not looking too promising? If so, you should consider a different route. Or, if possible, wait a day or two until the weather picks up.

Survival

In case of an emergency landing, you’ll want to have a survival kit ready. You can choose what to include, but it’s a good idea to bring the essentials like water, high-energy snacks, and a first aid kit.

Traffic

You can prevent close calls when you know where traffic congestion is most likely. You can find this at busy airports, airways, and navigation points. 

No matter how well-prepared you are, you should always monitor the surrounding aircraft. Scan for traffic and communicate clearly.

Be respectful at the traffic pattern, especially at nontowered airports. Clear and timely radio calls help everyone stay coordinated. Give way when appropriate and maintain proper spacing. Remember that you’re responsible for creating a safer, smoother experience for everyone in the airspace.

Professionalism

The words “proficiency” and “professionalism” come from the same Latin root proficere, which means “to make progress” or “to advance.”

You’ll have to define what these words mean to you. You’re a pilot. You are a professional. And with this comes responsibility—to your fellow aviators, to your passengers, and to yourself.

Key Differences Between Proficiency and Currency

Currency proves you’ve complied with FAA regulations in performing certain maneuvers within a given timeframe. But even so, it doesn’t necessarily guarantee mastery.

Proficiency, on the other hand, focuses on actual flying ability. You might be current, but can you fly safely in tough situations?

Beyond legal requirements, there are important distinctions between the two that you need to understand. Let’s take a look at some of them now.

Safety Implications

Even when you’re current, you’d still be at a greater risk of making errors if you’re not proficient. And during an emergency, these errors can have serious consequences. Proficiency sharpens your decision-making and overall confidence in flying.

Mandatory vs. Self-Managed

FAA currency requirements are legally mandated, but proficiency is something you direct for yourself. Staying proficient means taking the initiative to train beyond just the minimum legal requirements.

Accident Prevention

Skill and mastery play a big part in preventing accidents caused by disorientation and poor aircraft handling. You’d be far less likely to lose control in unexpected situations when you stay proficient.

Loss of Control

Why does loss of control happen in general aviation (GA)? These five are the most common root causes. Let’s dig into them:

1. Disorientation: Flying into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) without proper training is a very dangerous move. To illustrate how serious this is, more than 90% of GA accidents that happened during this phase were deadly.
2. Distraction: Many pilots lose control when they shift their focus on objects outside the aircraft, such as wildlife or photography. Alaskan pilots even have a word for this: “moose stall.” Many of their fellow pilots have lost control while trying to get a better view of a moose on the ground.
3. Startle Response: A lack of capability can result in poor reactions when an emergency suddenly happens.
4. Rusty Skills: Loss of control is oftentimes caused by a lack of skills in handling an aircraft, especially during crosswind conditions.
5. Inadequate Risk Management: Many pilots who fail to assess the risks in their flight have found themselves in situations beyond what they can handle. 

Managing Your Training Environment

How can you make sure this doesn’t happen to you? Well, it takes real hard work. Proficiency flights should challenge you with maneuvers like stalls, slow flights, and landings in varying conditions. 

You don’t get to build your skills as effectively with just routine flights to familiar destinations. You need to get out of your comfort zone, and an expert should evaluate you. 

Hire a flight instructor as a coach; you’ll get expert feedback and training tailored to your skills.

Building a Pilot Performance Baseline

Tracking your personal performance will help you set a realistic benchmark for your progress. Keep a record of your crosswind landings, takeoff distances, and approach speeds under actual conditions. You get to establish a baseline for your capabilities, and you’ll have a clear direction for your next flying goals.

Expanding Your Horizons

That’s because mastery isn’t just about maintaining the skills you currently have; it’s also about growth. Consider training in multi-engine operations, seaplane ratings, or instrument refreshers. 

Exposure yourself to new environments, like major metropolitan airports or remote airstrips in the backcountry. When you’re in the habit of learning something new, you’ll constantly be challenged to improve.

How to Maintain Currency and Proficiency

Becoming current and proficient is just the beginning; establishing both is an ongoing process. To make sure you’re always at your best, you need to go beyond the basics.

You’ve spent good money, and you gained a lot of skills in the process. How can you make sure you retain them?

The best way to stay sharp is to fly consistently. This will reinforce your muscle memory and will improve your decision-making skills.

But is flying alone enough to keep you sharp? No. Your flights should be accompanied by regular training. Instrument proficiency checks are just as necessary to refine your IR navigation skills. And to level up your mastery, additional training courses help sharpen you as a pilot even further.

The FAA’s WINGS Pilot Proficiency Program is an excellent way to structure your ongoing training. You can select your aircraft category and class and then complete specific training subjects and maneuvers. 

The program encourages year-round training with an authorized flight instructor, where you’ll get to experience flying in different seasons and conditions. 

You’ll also get access to online courses, seminars, and third-party training resources like AOPA, Sporty’s, and Gleim Publications, which count toward WINGS credit.

If your actual flight time is limited, you can always practice different scenarios in a flight simulator. They give you the option to refine your skills without leaving the ground. Plus, you can have valuable training in a safe and controlled environment.

What Is a Proficiency Check?

If you take a look at 14 CFR 61.58, you’ll find that the FAA also requires certain pilots to take a regular pilot-in-command proficiency check. 

Who does this apply to? If you operate: 

• Certain complex aircraft, like large aircraft (more than 12,500 pounds maximum certificated takeoff weight);
• Turbojet-powered airplanes; or 
• Other aircraft requiring more than one pilot by type certificate, 

then you fall under this regulation.

Pilots operating under Part 121, 125, or 135 have their own proficiency check requirements as described in their respective regulations. 

The required frequency under 61.58 is within the preceding 12 calendar months in the particular category of aircraft, and within the preceding 24 calendar months in make and model if a type rating is required. 

The check must include the maneuvers and procedures required for a type rating, if appropriate.

The check evaluates your ability to operate an aircraft safely. As a pilot, you need to prove that your skills are sharp and up-to-date. This test is your way of demonstrating your capacity to handle different flight scenarios confidently.

What to Expect on Your Proficiency Check

What can you expect on your check? Well, it typically goes the same way your checkride does. 

Like your checkride, it can be conducted by a designated pilot examiner (DPE), a pilot proficiency examiner with authorization for the type in question, or a Part 142 simulator training organization. 

It’s usually divided into two parts: an oral exam and a flight evaluation.

Oral Exam

The oral exam will focus on your theoretical knowledge and decision-making skills. Take time to review these areas:

• Aircraft Systems: Be prepared to discuss the operation and limitations of your aircraft.
• Emergency Procedures: You should know how to handle engine failures, electrical malfunctions, and other in-flight emergencies.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Refresh your knowledge of key FAA regulations, like airspace rules, operational limitations, and recent updates.
• Weather and Flight Planning: You’ll plan a short cross-country flight, and the examiner will ask you questions as you progress with the planning. You need to show your ability to read weather charts and NOTAMs.

Here are some tips to perform well: Study your aircraft’s POH (Pilot’s Operating Handbook) and FAA regulations in advance. 

Use real-life scenarios to think through how you’d respond to unexpected situations. Another important thing is to practice explaining your thought process clearly. 

Flight Evaluation

The flight evaluation will assess your ability to safely and effectively operate an aircraft under both normal and emergency conditions. You’ll be focusing on takeoffs, landings, precision maneuvers, stall recovery, engine failure procedures, and instrument approaches.

How can you set yourself up for success? Be familiar with the characteristics of your aircraft. If you’ve already studied your POH, this will also come in handy during the flight evaluation.

Practice emergency maneuvers beforehand; you’ll feel more confident when you know them by heart. Use your checklists, but simply following the procedures won’t be enough. 

You should maintain smooth and controlled inputs throughout. And with every phase of flight, you should demonstrate sound decision-making.

Practice simulated emergencies with your instructor either in the air or in a flight simulator. Execute them precisely, and your professionalism will shine.

Conclusion

Just because you meet the FAA’s requirements doesn’t mean you’re fully prepared for every challenge. Staying legal is one thing, but staying proficient keeps you safe. 

The FAA set these standards to see whether you can do the job. But real professionalism? It comes from continuous learning and practice.

Make the most out of every flight and go beyond the bare minimum. You can use simulators and flight reviews. Hands-on experience will sharpen your skills. The best pilots don’t just settle for meeting regulations—they strive for excellence.