What must an instrument-rated pilot do before flying with passengers at night?

For an instrument-rated pilot planning to fly with passengers at night, logging recent landings and takeoffs is essential for ensuring both proficiency and safety. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, specifically under the night flying requirements, a pilot must have made a certain number of takeoffs and landings within a specific time frame before carrying passengers at night. This ensures that the pilot is current in their skills and can operate the aircraft competently during nighttime conditions, which can be more challenging than daytime flying due to reduced visibility and orientation.

Each of the other options, while contributing to overall flight preparedness, do not specifically address the FAA’s requirement for nighttime flights with passengers. Completing a preflight checklist is always crucial for safety but does not relate to prior night experience. Holding a current class medical is important for general flight safety but does not pertain to recent experience with landings and takeoffs at night. Similarly, while performing night flight training is beneficial, it is not a mandated step before flying with passengers; instead, it serves as additional experience rather than a requirement to meet. Hence, logging recent landings and takeoffs is the key factor in complying with night flight regulations when passengers are onboard.