Guide: The 90-day rule for carrying passengers

To carry passengers, you need landings of your own from the last 90 days. This guide puts EASA FCL.060 and FAA 61.57(a) side by side, works through an example and links to the official text.

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Reviewed on 7 November 2026. This guide does not replace the official regulation text.

In short

EASA: as PIC or co-pilot with passengers or in commercial air transport, you need at least 3 take-offs, approaches and landings as pilot flying in the preceding 90 days, on the same type or class.

FAA: as PIC with persons on board, you need at least three take-offs and three landings as sole manipulator in the preceding 90 days, in the same category, class and, where required, type.

EASA: FCL.060(b)(1)

FCL.060(b) covers aeroplanes, helicopters, powered-lift aircraft and airships. Under (b)(1), you may only fly as PIC or co-pilot in commercial air transport or with passengers after at least 3 take-offs, approaches and landings as pilot flying in the preceding 90 days, in an aircraft of the same type or class or an FFS representing it.

Depending on your privileges, these count in multi-pilot or single-pilot operations. To fly as PIC at night, (b)(2) also requires at least 1 take-off, approach and landing at night as pilot flying in the preceding 90 days, unless you hold an IR.

FAA: 14 CFR 61.57(a)

Under 61.57(a)(1), you may only act as PIC of an aircraft carrying persons, or of one that requires more than one pilot, after at least three take-offs and three landings in the preceding 90 days: as sole manipulator of the controls, in the same category and class and, if a class or type rating is required, the same type. In a tailwheel aeroplane, only full-stop landings count.

To get those landings, (a)(2) lets you fly as PIC by day under VFR or IFR with nobody on board beyond those needed for the flight. Under (a)(3), landings also count in an FFS or FTD the FAA has authorised for landings, used in an FAA-authorised course at a Part 142 training centre.

The differences at a glance

Both rules ask for landings from the last 90 days but differ on role, simulators and night flying.

FCL.060(b) and 61.57 compared
Topic	EASA FCL.060(b)	FAA 61.57
Applies to	PIC or co-pilot in commercial air transport or with passengers	PIC with persons on board, or where the aircraft requires more than one pilot
Period	Preceding 90 days	Preceding 90 days
Number	3 take-offs, approaches and landings	3 take-offs and 3 landings
Role	Pilot flying	Sole manipulator
Aircraft	Same type or class	Same category and class, plus type where a rating is required
Simulator	FFS representing the type or class	FFS or FTD authorised for landings, in a Part 142 course
Tailwheel	No separate requirement	Full-stop landings in a tailwheel aeroplane
Night	As PIC: 1 take-off, approach and landing at night, or an IR	With persons on board: 3 take-offs and 3 full-stop landings at night

An example

Pia (fictional) flies a single-engine piston aeroplane and lands once each on 3, 10 and 17 March. Her third-most-recent landing is on 3 March. Add 90 days, that is 28 to the end of March, 30 in April, 31 in May and 1 in June, and you get 1 June.

That is how far her status runs in Log-K. If Pia lands again on 20 May, the landings on 10 March, 17 March and 20 May count, and the status runs to 8 June (10 March plus 90 days).

How Log-K shows your status

Log-K counts your landings of the last 90 days, grouped by rating or type. It does not check take-offs, whether you were pilot flying or sole manipulator, or full-stop landings. Log-K does not count simulator landings, even though FCL.060 and 61.57 allow them under certain conditions.

You see the status in the iOS app and in the web logbook (currently in German) under Currency, with the date it lasts until without new landings. The other requirements are yours to check.

Sample data in the iOS app

Sources

EASA: Easy Access Rules for Aircrew (Part-FCL), FCL.060. FAA: 14 CFR 61.57 in the eCFR.

Special cases such as the extension for commercial air transport under FCL.060(c) are not covered.

Frequently asked questions

Does the 90-day rule apply when nobody else is on board?

Under EASA FCL.060(b)(1), the rule applies to commercial air transport and passengers; an instructor or examiner flying with you to regain recency is not a passenger. Under FAA 61.57(a), it applies to flights carrying persons and to aircraft that require more than one pilot.

Can I make up the landings in a simulator?

Under EASA, take-offs, approaches and landings in an FFS representing the type or class count. Under the FAA, an FFS or FTD authorised for landings counts when used in a course at a Part 142 training centre. Log-K does not count simulator landings, so check your status yourself.

Is there a separate rule for night flights?

Yes. Under EASA FCL.060(b)(2), as PIC at night you need at least 1 take-off, approach and landing at night as pilot flying in the preceding 90 days, or an IR. Under FAA 61.57(b), with persons on board it is three take-offs and three full-stop landings between 1 hour after sunset and 1 hour before sunrise. Log-K does not work this out.

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