An Instrument Proficiency Check is a necessary method, or sometimes an optional way, of continuing to maintain one's legal ability to fly under instrument flight rules. Of all the pilots who have an instrument rating on their pilot certificate, probably 80 do not keep their IFR capability in operable condition. Thus, there is quite often a need to obtain an endorsement from a CFI-I (Certified Flight Instructor, Instrument, often referred to as a CF-Double-I) to regain the lost privileges. Instrument flying skills are quite perishable. "Use it or lose it" was never more apropos than when applied to one's ability to fly in the clouds. This fragility was long recognized by regulatory agencies; at its 1958 genesis, the FAA inherited the old Civil Air Regulations rules that required pilots flying under IFR to have logged six hours of instrument flight in the previous six months. If that wasn't done, the regs allowed one to regain instrument currency by flying six hours of simulated instruments with a safety pilot. No signoff was needed.
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