The 6 HITS in Instrument Flying: What They Mean, the Regulation Behind Them, and Why Currency Is Not Proficiency

The 6 HITS in Instrument Flying: What They Mean, the Regulation Behind Them, and Why Currency Is Not Proficiency

By Charles M. CFII

If you’re working on your instrument rating—or you already have it—you’ve heard the phrase:

“I just need my six HITS.”

As a CFII, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had that conversation on the ramp. The problem? Most pilots can quote the rule… but don’t really understand what it means, what regulation it comes from, or why simply being legal doesn’t make you safe.

Let’s break it down clearly and practically.

What Are the “6 HITS”?

“6 HITS” is shorthand for the instrument currency requirements in:

14 CFR 61.57(c)

To act as PIC under IFR or in weather less than VFR minimums, you must have logged, within the preceding 6 calendar months:

  • 6 instrument approaches

  • Holding procedures and tasks

  • Intercepting and tracking courses using navigational electronic systems

That’s it. That’s the rule.

But let’s unpack what that really means.

The Regulation: What 14 CFR 61.57(c) Actually Says

Under 14 CFR 61.57(c), you must complete the required tasks:

  • In actual IMC, or

  • In simulated instrument conditions (under the hood with a safety pilot), or

  • In an approved flight simulator or FTD

These tasks must be logged.

Notice what the regulation does not say:

  • It does not require a CFII.

  • It does not require actual IMC.

  • It does not require a checkride.

  • It does not require a specific type of approach.

It requires experience, not evaluation.

Breaking Down Each Piece of the 6 HITS

1. Six Instrument Approaches

These can be any combination of:

  • ILS

  • LPV

  • LNAV/VNAV

  • VOR

  • RNAV (GPS)

  • LOC

  • Even a circling approach

They must be flown to published minimums (or the DA/MDA), and logged properly.

Common misconception:

“Can I log it if I break out early?”

Yes — if you flew the procedure to minimums and were established on it. The weather doesn’t invalidate the approach.

2. Holding Procedures and Tasks

This means:

  • Entry

  • Timing

  • Wind correction

  • Maintaining altitude

  • Situational awareness

The regulation does not specify how many holds.

One properly flown hold satisfies the requirement — but again, think carefully about whether one sloppy lap around a fix truly makes you sharp.

3. Intercepting and Tracking Courses

This includes:

  • Intercepting a localizer

  • Tracking a VOR radial

  • Flying an RNAV course

  • Joining and tracking an airway

This is about demonstrating functional IFR navigation — not just pushing “NAV” and watching the autopilot do the work.

The 6-Month Rule (and What Happens After)

Here’s where pilots get tripped up.

Months 1–6

You may regain currency on your own.

Months 7–12

You are no longer current.
You must complete the required tasks with:

  • A CFII

  • An instrument-rated safety pilot (if legal)

  • Or in an approved sim

After 12 Months

Now you need an Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC).

The IPC must cover areas specified in the Instrument ACS.

Currency vs Proficiency (The Conversation Most Pilots Avoid)

This is where experience as a CFII really matters.

Currency = Legal.
Proficiency = Safe.

You can legally fly IFR if you shot six approaches in severe clear with a buddy three days ago.

But would you:

  • Depart into a 300-foot overcast?

  • Shoot an LPV to mins in gusty crosswinds?

  • Fly a missed approach into icing?

That’s proficiency.

IFR Skills Deteriorate Quickly

Instrument flying is a perishable skill:

  • Scan slows down

  • Fixation increases

  • Workload tolerance decreases

  • Automation dependency increases

I’ve seen very capable private pilots look overwhelmed after just 3–4 months away from hard IFR.

The rule sets a minimum legal bar — not a safety standard.

Logging It Properly (Common Mistakes)

When logging your 6 HITS, record:

  • Type of approach (e.g., ILS RWY 16)

  • Airport identifier

  • Whether actual or simulated

  • If simulated: safety pilot name

Be accurate. The FAA expects logbook entries to be defensible.

Smart Strategy for Staying Truly IFR Ready

Here’s what I recommend to instrument pilots I mentor:

Don’t wait until month 6

Fly at least one real IFR flight every 60–90 days.

Mix up approach types

Don’t log six straight LPVs with vertical guidance.

Hand fly at least one approach

Automation hides skill erosion.

Fly a real hold occasionally

Especially in wind.

Simulate partial panel

Vacuum failures don’t send text messages.

Why the 6 HITS Rule Exists

The FAA understands two things:

  1. IFR skills degrade.

  2. The system needs a measurable minimum.

The six-approach rule creates a recurring training cycle without forcing annual re-checkrides.

It’s a compromise between safety and practicality.

Final Thoughts

If you’re serious about being an instrument pilot, treat the 6 HITS as:

The floor — not the goal.

Legal currency keeps you out of enforcement trouble.

Proficiency keeps you out of NTSB reports.

When I ask pilots, “Are you current?” I follow it with:

“Yeah — but are you comfortable?”

Those are two very different answers.

Want to Stay IFR Sharp?

If you’re training, returning to IFR, or preparing for an IPC, structured recurrent flying matters.

Instrument flying rewards discipline.

And it punishes complacency.

Fly safe.

By Charles M. CFII

Learning regulations like these doesn’t have to be overwhelming. 

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