Recency to carry passengers (FCL.060)

Recency for Carrying Passengers — FCL.060

Holding a valid licence, rating and medical is not yet enough to take friends or family flying: you must also be recent on the aircraft. The 90-day rule of FCL.060 is one of the most practically relevant rules for a PPL pilot — and one of the most reliably examined. It exists because landing skills degrade quickly without practice, and passengers are entitled to a pilot in current practice.

The 90-day rule (FCL.060)

A pilot may only operate an aircraft to carry passengers if, within the previous 90 days, he or she has completed at least 3 take-offs, 3 approaches and 3 landings in an aircraft of the same type or class.

Key details:

• The take-offs and landings must be flown in the same aircraft type or class as the intended passenger flight — currency on a C172 (SEP class) covers other SEP aeroplanes, but not a different class or type.
• The pilot must have performed them personally — as PIC or during dual instruction with an instructor.
• Night passengers: to carry passengers at night, additionally at least 1 take-off, approach and landing at night within the preceding 90 days is required.

When recency has lapsed

Losing recency does not affect the licence itself:

• The pilot may continue to fly solo — only carrying passengers is prohibited.
• Recency is regained simply by flying the missing take-offs and landings without passengers: 3 take-offs and landings (e.g. touch-and-goes) flown solo restore the 90-day currency immediately.

Practical example: you last flew 4 months ago and want to take a friend along on Saturday. Fly a short solo session with 3 circuits first — afterwards you are current again and may carry passengers.

LAPL holders — a different system (FCL.140.A)

For the LAPL(A) the 90-day passenger rule is replaced by a rolling 24-month requirement: holders of a LAPL(A) may only exercise their privileges if, within the previous 24 months, they have completed at least 12 hours as PIC including 12 take-offs and landings, and refresher training of at least 1 hour of total flight time with an instructor (see the "Pilot Licences" lesson).

Germany (national)

The EU recency requirements apply directly in Germany; there are no significant national deviations.

Exam essentials

• To carry passengers, a pilot must have completed at least 3 take-offs, 3 approaches and 3 landings within the preceding 90 days (FCL.060).
• The take-offs and landings must have been performed in an aircraft of the same type or class.
• To carry passengers at night, additionally at least 1 take-off, approach and landing at night within the preceding 90 days is required.
• A pilot who has lost recency may still fly solo but may not carry passengers.
• Recency is regained by flying 3 take-offs and landings without passengers.
• LAPL(A) holders follow FCL.140.A instead: 12 hours as PIC including 12 take-offs and landings plus 1 hour of refresher training with an instructor within the preceding 24 months.