Eff Oh,
I realise that when flying in an airway (in UK) you are flying IFR etc. I had this very arguement with an examiner, and although on an IFR flight plan, in VMC you are not able to log IF time. The reason behind this is that although navigating via the instruments, you are strictly not controlling the A/C via 'sole reference to the instruments' as you have external visual reference, and as you probably are aware its alot harder flying with absolutely no external reference than if you have even a thin layer of cloud acting as a horizon (makes sense really). Its all a bit subjective though as its up to the pilot to decide what is and what isn't IF time.
Shame in the UK VFR pilots can't share the airways with IFR traffic like they can in the US. This effectively limits the altitude at which VFR pilots can cross the channel in certain areas, to a dangerously low levels.
FAA IR currency requirements are: 6 approaches, navigating via navaids, and holding procedures every 6 months. Its a constant rolling thing, so long as in your logbook you have the above within the previous 6 months, then you can act as PIC under IFR. If you don't then you get a further 6 months to go up in VFR conditions with a safety pilot / instructor (or in a sim with CFII) to complete the above. Failing this, you have to go up / sim with a CFII / examiner and do the above.
Cheers
EA
[ 13 December 2001: Message edited by: englishal ]