If a pilot's IFR experience expires on July 1, when does the grace period end?

The grace period for IFR experience refers to the time a pilot has to renew their Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) currency after it has expired. Under FAA regulations, a pilot who has not logged the required instrument experience within the preceding six months must complete specific currency requirements to regain their IFR privileges.

If a pilot's IFR experience expires on July 1, they have a 6-month grace period, which means they have until January 1 of the following year to meet the necessary requirements to regain spot currency. This means they must complete their IFR experience requirements by January 1, as it is counted as one complete six-month period following the expiration date.

Choosing December 31 as the end of the grace period does not account for the fact that the grace period runs until the last day of the grace period, which is January 1, the day by which the competencies must be re-established. Therefore, the correct answer regarding the end of the grace period is indeed aligned with the requirement that the six-month timeframe culminates at the beginning of the next year.