Rex says
Money math without the spreadsheet headache. Plug in your numbers and I'll show you exactly where the dollars land.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
2 per 6-month cycle is typical minimum
Result
Annual IFR currency cost
$1,380
Cost per practice session
$345
Aircraft cost per session
$248
CFII/safety pilot cost per session
$98
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How to use this
- 1Enter practice sessions per year — 2 per 6-month cycle is typical minimum.
- 2Enter aircraft hours per session.
- 3Enter aircraft rental rate ($/hr).
- 4Enter safety pilot or cfii?.
- 5Enter cfii rate (if used) ($/hr).
- 6Enter safety pilot cost per session (if used) ($).
- 7Read your annual ifr currency cost on the right — it updates as you type.
- 8Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
Instrument currency under 14 CFR 61.57 requires 6 approaches, holding procedures, and intercepting/tracking courses within the preceding 6 calendar months, or you need an instrument proficiency check with a CFII. Staying current isn't free even if you never fly actual IFR — you need aircraft time and either a safety pilot (who flies free in exchange for the right seat, but you may still owe them something) or a CFII. This calculator totals the realistic annual cost of maintaining currency through periodic practice sessions.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Practice sessions per year: 4
- Aircraft hours per session: 1.5
- Aircraft rental rate: 165 $/hr
- Safety pilot or CFII?: CFII
- CFII rate (if used): 65 $/hr
- Safety pilot cost per session (if used): 0 $
Results
- Annual IFR currency cost: $1,380
- Cost per practice session: $345
- Aircraft cost per session: $248
- CFII/safety pilot cost per session: $98
What each field means
Inputs
- Practice sessions per year
- 2 per 6-month cycle is typical minimum
- Aircraft hours per session
- The aircraft hours per session used in the calculation. Starts at 1.5 so you have a working example on load.
- Aircraft rental rate ($/hr)
- The aircraft rental rate used in the calculation, measured in $/hr. Starts at 165 $/hr so you have a working example on load.
- Safety pilot or CFII?
- Pick the option that matches your situation — the maths changes per option. Choices: Safety pilot (swap/low cost), CFII.
- CFII rate (if used) ($/hr)
- The cfii rate (if used) used in the calculation, measured in $/hr. Starts at 65 $/hr so you have a working example on load.
- Safety pilot cost per session (if used) ($)
- The safety pilot cost per session (if used) used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 0 $ so you have a working example on load.
Results
- Annual IFR currency cost
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Cost per practice session
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Aircraft cost per session
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- CFII/safety pilot cost per session
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
Can I stay current without a CFII at all?
Yes — a safety pilot who holds at least a private pilot certificate with the appropriate category/class rating can log the required approaches, holds, and course tracking with you under simulated instrument conditions (a view-limiting device). Many pilots trade seats with another instrument-rated pilot so both log the flight and neither pays cash, dropping the cost to just aircraft rental split two ways.
What happens if I lapse past 6 months?
You get an additional 6-month grace period (12 months total from your last approach) to become current again just by flying the required approaches/holds with a safety pilot, without needing a CFII. Past 12 months total, you need an Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC) with a CFII, which is a longer, more expensive session, typically 1.5-2x this calculator's per-session cost.
Does simulator time count toward currency?
Yes — an FAA-approved simulator, FTD, or even a BATD/AATD (like many Redbird or similar units) can be used for some or all of the required approaches and tasks under 61.57, often at $40-80/hr versus $150-250+/hr for a real airplane, meaningfully cutting the total in this calculator if you swap some hours to synthetic training devices.
Is staying current cheaper than getting an IPC after lapsing?
Almost always. Four small maintenance sessions across the year (the default here) typically total less than a single IPC even though the IPC covers everything in a compressed session, because IPCs run longer (often 2-3 hours) at CFII rates plus aircraft time, and often include ground instruction billed separately.
Accuracy and limitations
- Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.
- Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.
- This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant.
Related tools
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). IFR Currency Cost Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/ifr-currency-cost
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/ifr-currency-cost" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IFR Currency Cost Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [IFR Currency Cost Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/ifr-currency-cost) (2026).