Pilot Currency
Monitor your regulatory currency status with automatic calculations from logged flights.
Overview
5-by-5 automatically calculates your pilot currency based on the flights you log. The currency section on the home dashboard shows your status at a glance — so you know immediately if you’re current to fly.
What’s Tracked
5-by-5 tracks the following currency requirements:
Day Passenger-Carrying Currency
- Regulation: 14 CFR 61.57(a)
- Requirement: 3 takeoffs and landings in the preceding 90 days in the same category/class
- Landings: Touch-and-goes count for tricycle gear aircraft. Tailwheel aircraft require full-stop landings.
- Based on: Day landings logged in your flights
- Status: Shows current count vs. required (e.g., “5/3 landings”)
Night Passenger-Carrying Currency
- Regulation: 14 CFR 61.57(b)
- Requirement: 3 takeoffs and landings to a full stop in the preceding 90 days, during the period beginning 1 hour after sunset and ending 1 hour before sunrise
- Based on: Night landings logged in your flights
- Note: Night landings also count toward day currency
Medical Certificate
- Tracked by: Expiration date entered in Settings
- Status: Shows days remaining, with warning when approaching expiry
Flight Review (BFR)
- Regulation: 14 CFR 61.56
- Tracked by: Date of last flight review entered in Settings
- Status: Shows expiry date (24 calendar months from last review)
Instrument Currency (Paid plans)
- Regulation: 14 CFR 61.57(c)
- Requirement: 6 approaches, holding procedures, and intercepting/tracking within the preceding 6 calendar months
- Based on: Instrument approaches and holds logged in flights
- Grace period: 6-month grace period per FAA regulations
- IPC: An Instrument Proficiency Check resets your instrument currency
Free vs. Paid Currency Tracking
| Free | Solo (paid) | Club (paid) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency display | Current / Not Current | Full details | Full details |
| Day/Night landings | Status only | Count vs. required, days remaining | Count vs. required, days remaining |
| Medical & BFR | Status only | Expiry date, days remaining, warning | Expiry date, days remaining, warning |
| Instrument currency | Not tracked | Full tracking with approaches, holds, grace period | Full tracking with approaches, holds, grace period |
How Currency Updates
Currency is recalculated automatically whenever you log a flight with landing counts or currency events. You don’t need to manually update anything — just log your flights and 5-by-5 handles the rest.
Color Coding
Currency items are color-coded on the dashboard:
- Green (Current) — you meet all requirements
- Orange (Warning) — approaching expiry or minimum counts
- Red (Expired) — you are no longer current
Managing Your Certificates & Dates
You can set and update all currency-related information from the Settings screen under Pilot Dates & Certificates. This includes:
- Certificate type and ratings
- Medical certificate expiration date
- Flight Review (BFR) date
- Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC) date (paid plans)
Any changes you make here are immediately reflected in your currency status on the home dashboard.
Important: 5-by-5 currency calculations are approximate aids only. The pilot in command is solely responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations before every flight.