IMC Rating
"The IMC rating is designed to get low-time private pilots out of trouble should
they inadvertently encounter bad weather.
Its syllabus, written by AOPA-UK more than 30 years ago, provides for 15 hours of flight training under instrument conditions and a good enough working knowledge of radio aids to get an aircraft safely onto the ground.
The Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association says: Get your IMC Rating now!
AOPA-UK is developing a multi-faceted strategy to save the IMC Rating following a meeting with EASA’s Deputy Head of Rulemaking Eric Sivel on December 2. M Sivel confirmed that the brief EASA had received from FCL-008, the working group set up to look at instrument flying issues, was hostile to the IMC Rating, alleging that it is unsafe and accords holders “virtually the same privileges as the IR with 20% of the training”. The fact that these observations have come from a UK delegate indicated that support for the IMC Rating was patchy, even in the UK. AOPA’s Martin Robinson and Nick Wilcock stressed that there was near-unanimous support for the IMC Rating in the UK and it would not be given up without a fight. Many of the claims about the IMC Rating were simply untrue, said Robinson. Apart from dismissing the rating out of hand, FCL-008 had not properly considered how the IMC or an equivalent rating might be made to work, contrary to its terms of reference. AOPA is now working on a strategy aimed at saving the IMC Rating and involving the European Parliament, the EC, the CAA, and probably you – a targeted letter-writing program may become necessary in the New Year. Watch this space. Martin Robinson says: “Pilots are not coming forward to do IMC Ratings because of the EASA threat, but I urge all pilots to get the rating. These skills have saved many lives, and once you have these skills, EASA cannot take them away. There’s never been a better time to do an IMC Rating than now.”CAA Standards Document Standards Document 25 - IMC Rating Skills Test
Even though the IMC rating confers no special privileges
on the holder, more than 25,000 people have undertaken the course, including
many from outside the UK who realised the safety benefits.
The fears of some
professional pilots who originally thought it would encourage unqualified people
to fly in IMC have been proved groundless, and the IMC rating is credited with
saving many lives.
The British government, the Civil Aviation Authority, and the British Airline Pilots Association support the IMC rating without reservation." IAOPA
The future of various licences, ratings and
privileges for pilots around Europe including the IMC Rating is currently undergoing a review. Read page 5 of the February IAOPA magazine for more information - HERE
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