So if I expire, they’d make me do all of that and then bring me back for my scheduled CQ less than a week later? Doesn’t seem like a very efficient way to handle it.

They would probably just wait until your CQ if you expire with 1 week to go.

Since you are asking these questions im guessing you are new?

Some categories come with 'built in' recency sims because its a mathematical impossibility to maintain recency for every pilot.

Otherwise i personally would not advise letting recency lapse. If you havent been used on reserve ys is one option. So is calling cpo and asking about a trip buy.

And unless you are well experienced in the airframe, showing up for cq after not flying for 90 days isnt very smart. Or usually fair to the other pilot you are training with.

Just my 0.02..

I’ve had this happen before. Call your chief pilot, they can buy a trip off someone to get you current again. Much easier and much less PIA than heading into the sim.

I had this once and they called two days before my vaca week asking if I’d come in during vaca or I’d have to go uncurrent.
I declined and then they put me in a sim a week after my vaca to regain currency and it lasted nearly 2 hrs as we went through all the approaches and critical maneuvers. Went from 11pm to 1am. Pretty much a pia as I had declined a hotel room as they told me it was during the “d” period when in reality I was after a student doing the d period and didn’t start till after 11. The only upside in the deal was burning four days of avail due to unqual post vaca until the sim ride.

What he said. Having the chief pilot office buy a convenient trip is a much less painful way to stay current than the sim. Green slips are another option, since you'll get the extra $ and days off back. I wouldn't yellow slip for free unless it is a trip you REALLY just want to fly.

Believe me, I know what the currency sim is like. I've been twice in the last six months, and going again in the next 30 days... it's not as bad as you're making it out to be if it hasn't expired. Reserve on a wide body makes it hard to get landings. Even when you try. Captains won't give them up, even if THEY are fine.

Not sure where you based. My experience is that most CA's give the landings to those that need them. They are actually required to give up the landings for a pilot with a currency issue. If you go non current tell the CP you asked for landings and were refused. They will have a chat with the Captains involved.

I express my lack of currency and that I'm on reserve, and well... I'm off to the sim for landings a-gain. I would really prefer to get them on the airplane. From my experience, some bases's Captains are better about it than others. Also, a lot less flying in my category since the summer ended.

Had a short domestic leg a couple of months ago, and DH back, I was 4 weeks away from going non-current, I told him that I needed a takeoff and landing. He said, "I think I'll do the leg..." Three weeks later I'm in the sim for recency.

Then throw some 4 man crew in there, other pilots doing the landings.

Every time I have been to the sim for currency on reserve it has been a good deal. Extra pay, less availability for trips and short call. Going non current is a non issue. Nearly identical sim profile. Non current is possibly my favorite status.