On Sat, 30 Oct 2004 07:50:06 -0400, Rick McPherson
wrote:

Hello All, I've been lurking in the shadows of this group for the
duration of my ifr training and subsequent passage of my ride. Thanks
to all of you for the great info. Now, my question is about
maintaining currency, the Regs state:"No person may act as pilot in
command under IFR or in weather conditions less than the minimums
prescribed for VFR, unless within the preceding six calendar months
that person has performed: (i) at least six instrument approaches;
(ii) holding procedures; and (iii) intercepting and tracking courses
through the use of navigation systems."
1. Can I file ifr in vfr or marginal weather, fly 3 or however many
approaches, and use them to remain current, or do I need to be "solely
by reference to the instruments" i.e., actual or simulated with a
safety pilot in order for them (approaches) to count?

If you were not current it would be a violation to file IFR, since you
weren't current and thus didn't meet the parts of 61.57(c) you quoted.
To file IFR you have to be current, regardless of whether it's IMC or
not. Combined with that, is the part of 61.57(c)(1) you omitted (but
alluded to) above, which starts "(1) For the purpose of obtaining
instrument experience in an aircraft (other than a glider), performed
and logged under actual or simulated instrument conditions, either in
flight in the appropriate category of aircraft for the instrument
privileges sought or in a flight simulator or flight training device
that is representative of the aircraft category for the instrument
privileges sought" - meaning safety pilot, or instructor if VMC, or
done while still current in actual IMC.

2. How many of you use "handheld gps onboard" in the remarks field and
ask for "direct" enroute. Thanks in advance.

I believe this would be considered a violation if you're caught. I
know it's only advisory, but the AIM in section 1-1-19, section
(d)(1)(a) "General Requirements - 1 Authorization to conduct any GPS
operation under IFR requires that (a) GPS navigation equipment used
must be approved in accordance with the requirements specified in
Technical Standard Order (TSO) C-129, or equivalent, and the
installation must be done in accordance with Advisory Circular AC
20-138 or 20-130A." It also has a table which shows which classes of
GPS units are approved for what, based on their TSO-C129 approvals,
and handheld and VFR panel-mount are not checked off in the approved
"IFR enroute" column, and has a footnote which re-iterates a previous
"VFR and hand-held GPS systems are not authorized for IFR navigation,
instrument approaches, or as a primary instrument flight reference.
During IFR operations they may be considered only an aid to
situational awareness" statement.

Good luck!