The EASA 90-day rule (FCL.060): when may you carry passengers?
3 take-offs and landings in 90 days: what counts, how night recency works, and how to work out your exact date.
If you have not flown for a while, the question before every flight with friends or family is the same: am I allowed to take passengers? Under EASA rules the answer is in Part-FCL, FCL.060 Recent experience.
The rule in one sentence
To carry passengers as pilot in command or co-pilot, you need at least 3 take-offs, approaches and landings in the preceding 90 days, flown as the sole manipulator of the controls, in an aircraft of the same type or class, or in a full flight simulator (FFS) of that type or class (FCL.060(b)(1)).
Three points matter in practice:
- Per class or type. Landings in a SEP aeroplane do not make you current on a helicopter type, and landings in one helicopter type do not cover another.
- You fly them yourself. Landings where someone else had the controls do not count, even if you were on board.
- It is about passengers. Without passengers you may fly to get current again.
The extra rule for night
Carrying passengers at night as pilot in command also needs at least 1 take-off, approach and landing at night in the preceding 90 days (FCL.060(b)(2)). Holders of an instrument rating are exempt from this extra night requirement.
The night landing is in addition to the 3 day landings: one night landing does not replace the general 3-in-90 requirement.
How to calculate your date
Your recency lasts 90 days from your third most recent landing in that class or type.
| Flight | Landings |
|---|---|
| 2 August | 1 |
| 20 August | 1 |
| 15 September | 1 |
The third most recent landing is on 2 August, so you may carry passengers until 31 October (2 August + 90 days). If you fly a circuit with 3 landings on 1 October, the clock restarts and you are current until 30 December.
For night: one night landing on 10 October keeps you night-current until 8 January.
You can check your own dates with our free 90-day currency calculator.
Getting current again
If your 90 days have run out:
- Fly 3 take-offs, approaches and landings yourself, without passengers. Many pilots do a short circuit session.
- If you plan to fly passengers at night, add 1 take-off and landing at night (unless you hold an IR).
- Consider flying with an instructor if it has been a long time. Recency is the legal minimum, not a measure of proficiency.
Sailplanes, balloons and commercial operations
- Sailplanes fall under Part-SFCL. SFCL.160 requires 3 launches as PIC in sailplanes (not TMG) in the preceding 90 days before carrying passengers. On top of that, general sailplane recency needs 5 hours, including 15 launches and 2 training flights with an FI(S), in the last 24 months, or a proficiency check with an FE(S).
- Balloons follow Part-BFCL.
- Commercial air transport crews also have to meet their operator’s recency requirements under Part-ORO.
Keeping track without spreadsheets
Recency is easy to lose track of once you fly several classes or types. A digital logbook can work it out for you: flightlogbook.cloud checks FCL.060(b)(1) per class and type, night recency and SFCL.160 from the flights you log, and shows the date each one runs out on your dashboard.
Frequently asked questions
Can I fly solo if I am not current under FCL.060?
Yes. FCL.060(b) only restricts carrying passengers. You may still fly solo (within your licence and rating privileges) to regain recency.
Do touch-and-goes count?
Each take-off, approach and landing you fly yourself as the sole manipulator of the controls counts, so a circuit with a touch-and-go counts as one.
Do landings in another aircraft class count?
No. The 3 take-offs and landings must be in an aircraft of the same type or class, or in a full flight simulator representing that type or class.
Does the night requirement apply if I hold an instrument rating?
No. FCL.060(b)(2) exempts holders of an instrument rating from the extra night landing.
This guide explains the rules in plain language and is not legal advice. Regulations change and national authorities may add requirements, so always check the current text in EASA’s Easy Access Rules for Aircrew and ask your authority if in doubt.