Definition 1 of 2
Definition
An evaluation flight required by regulation for an instrument-rated pilot who has not met the recent instrument experience requirements within the preceding 6 calendar months and the 6 months following that. The check is conducted by an authorized examiner, instructor, or other qualified evaluator and consists of the areas of operation and instrument tasks specified in the appropriate Airman Certification Standards or Practical Test Standards. Successful completion restores the pilot's privileges to act as pilot in command under instrument flight rules.
Plain English
A formal flight test that an instrument-rated pilot must pass to get their instrument flying privileges back after letting them lapse. An approved evaluator watches the pilot fly a set list of instrument tasks and signs them off if the performance meets standard.
Context Anchor
You will see this term when discussing instrument currency, pilot readiness, flight reviews, and whether a pilot is legally and safely prepared to fly under instrument conditions.
Derivation
Instrument comes from a Latin word meaning a tool or piece of equipment. Proficiency means skill or ability gained through practice. Check means a verification. Together, the phrase means a verification of a pilot’s skill with the aircraft’s instruments.
Why Pilots Care
Completing the check restores legal authority to act as pilot in command under instrument flight rules after a lapse in currency.
Intuition Check
Do not read check here as a casual look-over or a quick reminder. An instrument proficiency check is a formal FAA-recognized evaluation of instrument flying skill.
Example Sentence 1
After a year of flying only in clear weather, the pilot scheduled an instrument proficiency check with a CFII before filing his next IFR flight plan.
Example Sentence 2
During the instrument proficiency check the instructor evaluated approaches, holding patterns, and emergency procedures.