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VFR REGULATIONS 22 / LEARN · EXPLORE · CHECK

Passenger-carrying currency

Three landings are not always the same three landings.

Checking your account…

Your learning goals

  • Apply the ordinary passenger check.
  • Recognize the limits and exceptions that affect this flight.
  • Explain a decision using the scenario and supporting rule.

The ordinary passenger check

Within the preceding 90 days, make at least three takeoffs and three landings as sole manipulator in the same category, class, and type if required. For a tailwheel airplane, they must be to a full stop in a tailwheel airplane. In an ordinary tricycle-gear airplane, daytime touch-and-goes can satisfy the general landing requirement. Log the experience.

14 CFR §61.57 · 14 CFR §1.1 · 14 CFR §91.209

Night passenger check

To carry passengers from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise, the preceding 90 days must include three takeoffs and three full-stop landings in that same nighttime period, as sole manipulator in the appropriate category/class/type. Daytime touch-and-goes do not qualify. This lesson covers the ordinary private-airplane case; special training/test and operator exceptions must meet the actual rule.

14 CFR §61.57 · 14 CFR §1.1 · 14 CFR §91.209

Three clocks for darkness

  • Position lights: sunset to sunrise (§91.209, with Alaska provisions).
  • Logging night under §1.1: end of evening civil twilight to beginning of morning civil twilight, using the Air Almanac times converted to local time.
  • Night passenger experience: one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise (§61.57(b)).

Civil twilight does not occur a fixed number of minutes after sunset. Do not use the passenger clock for fuel or lighting rules.

14 CFR §61.57 · 14 CFR §1.1 · 14 CFR §91.209

EXPLORE / APPLY THE RULE

Three clocks, one evening

Sunset → sunrisePosition lights
End of evening civil twilight → start of morning civil twilightLogging night
Sunset + 1 hour → sunrise − 1 hourNight passenger currency

Intervals are not to scale. Twilight varies with place and date. The position-light rule has Alaska provisions. Daytime touch-and-goes do not satisfy the night passenger requirement.

FLIGHT SCENARIO

What would change your plan?

You made three daytime touch-and-goes 45 days ago. May you carry passengers tonight at two hours after sunset?

  1. NoticeWhat does this situation require?
  2. VerifyWhat evidence is still missing?
  3. DecideWhat keeps an option open?
Compare your reasoning

Not on that experience alone. You need the qualifying night takeoffs and full-stop landings within 90 days, plus all other PIC qualifications. Train with an instructor if needed before taking passengers.

SUMMARY

Three landings are not always the same three landings.

Not on that experience alone. You need the qualifying night takeoffs and full-stop landings within 90 days, plus all other PIC qualifications. Train with an instructor if needed before taking passengers.

Before moving on, explain the decision in your own words: what would you verify, and what would make you change the plan?

PRACTICE

Flashcards and knowledge check

Six flashcards, then five questions with explanations.

Enable JavaScript for flashcards and the knowledge check. The lesson and scenario remain available without it.

Sources & lesson notes

Sources & lesson notes

  1. 14 CFR §61.57Verified against eCFR text current through September 15, 2026.
  2. 14 CFR §1.1Verified against eCFR text current through September 15, 2026.
  3. 14 CFR §91.209Verified against eCFR text current through September 15, 2026.

For U.S. private-pilot airplane study. Rules verified against eCFR text current through September 15, 2026, with linked FAA guidance. Scenarios isolate a rule; actual flight decisions require all applicable rules, aircraft limitations, and current information.