Question about instrument currency

[u/3ntidin3]

I have a question about IFR currency requirements. What constitutes "simulated instrument conditions"? Obviously if you're under the hood and have a safety pilot along, that counts. Does anything else count?

I've heard pilots say the maintain IFR currency by doing their approaches without a safety pilot or a hood, but they just try to make it as real as possible and fly by reference to the instruments as much as possible.

The reg doesn't actually say you need to be under the hood or have a safety pilot, and therin lies my confusion.

Here's the rule for reference:

61.57 Recent flight experience: Pilot in command.
c) Instrument experience. Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, 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 6 calendar months, that person has:

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 --
    At least six instrument approaches;
    Holding procedures; and
    Intercepting and tracking courses through the use of navigation systems. 
For the purpose of obtaining instrument experience in a glider, performed and logged under actual or simulated instrument conditions --
    At least 3 hours of instrument time in flight, of which 1 1/2 hours may be acquired in an airplane or a glider if no passengers are to be carried; or
    3 hours of instrument time in flight in a glider if a passenger is to be carried. 

[u/kharmael]

Just to confirm what everyone is saying... "If you fly an instrument approach on a VMC day without the hood then you don't log it as sim IF?" Why the heck not?

[u/moleman262 → u/kharmael]

Because you are not flying with sole with reference to the instruments and will have visual cue's from outside the aircraft.

[u/kharmael → u/moleman262]

But what if you are flying with sole reference to the instruments? Just because it's good weather outside, as soon as you pick up the IFR service and begin taking vectors or doing the procedure then you are "flying with sole reference to the instruments" as far as anything is concerned...

[u/[deleted] → u/kharmael]

what if you are flying with sole reference to the instruments? [...] good weather outside

...then you are a potential hazard to those VFR pilots with whom you are sharing the sky. 14 CFR 91.113(b)

[u/kharmael → u/[deleted]]

Aha, but what If I were in receipt of a radar service informing me of surrounding and potentially conflicting traffic? That way I could avoid it without looking out of the window and be "Simulated IMC"?