Tpinks

The way I interrupt it...

Today I want to fly... Within the last preceding 90 days (dates) I must have made 3 landings within that period. So as long as I have 3 landings within those previous 90 days, I am legal to fly on the 91st day (today)

Since we don't log the precise time of landings, we are dealing with dates. Therefore, today's date can not be used towards the preceding dates as it is not in the past.

HybridSurfer

If that was the intent, then they would have used "previous" instead of "preceding".

Tpinks

They both mean the same thing, both are adjectives. The only difference comes in how you want to word your sentence.

From Merriam-Webster dictionary

"Simple Definition of precede
: to happen, go, or come before (something or someone)
: to do or say something before (something)"

"Simple Definition of previous
: existing or happening before the present time
: earlier in time or order
: immediately before in time or order"


I think people are looking into this too hard and then are forgetting what this range of days is actually for.

"(1) Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, no person may act as a pilot in command of an aircraft carrying passengers or of an aircraft certificated for more than one pilot flight crewmember unless that person has made at least three takeoffs and three landings within the preceding 90 days, and—"

The part I have bolded, which is where the 90 days comes into play, is referring to the time period in which the three takeoff and landings that are being used for currency purposes must be logged. It IS NOT the range of days that the flight you are trying to determine if your legal to fly or not (lets refer to this flight as flight x) must be within.

Now keeping those bolded parts in mind. You must be current prior to a given flight (flight x) commencing, therefore flight X could never be used in determining currency until the flight is completed. Therefore Flight X, by logic, could never actually be within the 90 day range used to determine currency.

Example: (For simplicity, let's imagine all months are 30 days long)

I fly June 1st and log 1 landing (1st day of 90 day period)
I fly July 1st and log 1 landing
I fly August 30th and log 1 landing (90th day of 90 day period)

I WOULD be legal to fly September 1st because I have made 3 landings within the preceding 90 days. September 1st would be the 91st day if you counted from and included the date of your first of three landings or day 0 if it is the same date as flight X and you are counting backwards 90 days.