I'm confused about Instrument Currency. I know that if you do not have the 66HIT then you lose currency. After you lose currency, do you have to do a whole new 6 approaches and hold? Or can you still use 2 approaches you did two months ago to count towards currency?

The break down for instrument currency is like this:

To be current (to act as PIC in IMC) you had to do 6 approaches, holding, tracking and intercepting with in the past 6 months.

If you did not do that, you have lost currency; you can not leagally file IFR. To regain currency you have 6 months to do 6 approaches, tracking, and holding. If you lapse that 6 months you need an instrument proficiency check.

Example: You did 2 approaches on 1JAN, another 2 approaches on 1MAR, and another 2 approaches on 1JUL. You want to file IFR on 1AUG; you can not. You only have 4 approaches with in the past 6 calendar months.

Long story short, to file IFR you need the 6 approaches, tracking, and holding with last in 6 months. The addtional 6 months is a buffer for the IPC.

61.57
(c) Instrument experience. Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, no person may act as pilot in command under IFR or in weather conditions less than the minimums prescribed for VFR, unless within the preceding 6 calendar months, that person has:
(1) For the purpose of obtaining instrument experience in an aircraft (other than a glider), performed and logged under actual or simulated instrument conditions, either in flight in the appropriate category of aircraft for the instrument privileges sought or in a flight simulator or flight training device that is representative of the aircraft category for the instrument privileges sought—
(i) At least six instrument approaches;
(ii) Holding procedures; and
(iii) Intercepting and tracking courses through the use of navigation systems.

Yes. Always make sure you count 6 months backwards from the current month. If there are not 6 approaches, tracking, intercepting, and holding, then no PIC under IFR.

Well in reality I had 5 approaches in December and 1 approach and 1 hold in May. Which means I lost currency at the end of June. Can I do 5 approaches now and be current again, or do I need to do 6 all new approaches.

Just do the 5 and hold, it'll cover the currency, but remember if you go 6 months past the 6(ie 12), you'll require an IPC. Personally, only shooting 4-6approaches in a 6 month period is pretty lax and you should probably think about doing an IPC anyways. Just my opinion, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

Erik
CFI-I

Crap....i've had single days were i had to shoot 6 real to mins in Europe......

JUST do it.... block the extra .2 on your flight and get that approach.

So is IPC difficult like Instrument check ride in terms of how through the flight/ground reviews are?Or is it similar to Biannual except it's instrument?

In IPC, Logbook endorsement by CFII is necessary, right? and not just record in your log book?

thanks!

Yes, an IPC is a BFR of sorts because it can be done by a CFI-I, and it is a logbook endorsement. I typically do 1.5 ground, 1.5 air, as a minimum. If someone's way out of currency, obviously the first flight and ground are probably not even done with the intent of signing off an IPC. Personally, I treat my IPC's as a instrument ride, because I feel that if you can't hold up to the minimums required by the PTS, then you shouldn't be flying IFR, and I don't want my name in your book

Here's a question, pertaining to IPC's and stuff:

So I got my CFI-I in March, then I got my CFI-A in June (Backwards, I know, that's Embry-Riddle for you). I found out today that the CFI-A does not count as a BFR, which makes sense considering the fact that the BFR is for my commercial license, seperate from my CFI-A license. What's concerning me now is does the CFI-I checkride count towards an IPC? If so, would I had to have the check airman sign my logbook for an IPC?

With regards to your CFI-I checkride counting as an IPC, it only counts as such if you received an appropriate endorsement in your logbook stating as such.