Do you need an IR to sit the 14 ATPL (CAA/JAA) Exams

[Learjet-45]

The question is pretty much in the titile!

Can you start the 650 hour theory course without an IR on a CASA CPL?

I am wanting to do my IR in the UK, but can you start the thoery component for the 14 ATPL subjects without it on your licence?

thanks in advance for your help my freinds

[schweizer2]

Hey,

I too have a CASA CPL and im in the process to converting it in the UK.

1) I did my ATPL subjects with Bristol Groundschool.
2) Now going to do the flying part of it

I do not have an IR on my CASA licence, it works in a different way to Aus and unfortunately I find that the exam system is awful compared to how CASA performs them. No instand result and unable to book on the day and time of own convenience.

Best of luck

[Lightning Mate]

All you need is an ICAO PPL, not an IR. :ok:

[Learjet-45]

hey thanks for your posts, that is good news as I was wanting to come home.

thats a pain about the exam system, its a nevous time when the CASA screen is loading with your exam result, I have failed a few and its such a horrible feeling of worthless and hopeless emotions.

I think I would welcome the result sent on to me after the exam, but thats just me, I realise it is much more convienent.

I like the CASA exams, but I do find it is very much the luck of the qestions you get, a find alot of questions have 2 correct answers which makes it very hard to decide which is best fitted to question.

I have taken a couple of exams all questions are straight forward no non-sense style, and others which are a bit to close related, its these exams I tend to fail.

[schweizer2]

Yes that is a downside on the CASA exam, random luck and sometimes 2 possible answers.

At first you may think that having the results sent home to you is better then covering your eyes for 10 seconds while the screen loads, just like I did, but trust me, the 2-3 weeks of waiting is a nightmare!!!!

oh and yeh it is torture when a big red FAIL comes up in the CASA exams :(

[KAISERSOZE]

Not sure but i think the class 1 medical certificate is required

[Fratemate]

LASORS (http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/175/srg_lts_LASORS2010_Section%20G.pdf)

As Lightning Mate has said, all you need is an ICAO PPL to undertake the 650 hour theory course. There is no need to have an IR and most people do the IR at the very last stage because of its cost and limited shelf life. In theory, there is no need to have Class 1 medical but a lot of people get one done before commencing any of the training, as it's no use passing everything and then finding you can't have the licence due to some unforeseen medical problem.

I'm convinced CASA and the UK CAA have a competition to find who can be the most anally retentive kids on the block. You'll find the CAA are better than CASA at writing questions with answers so close you'll feel sure at least 3 are correct. CASA's emphasis seems to be a lot more on trying to trip you up with absolute ridiculous knowledge of CAOs and the twisting of words, whereas the CAA seem determined to keep ex-RAF navigators employed, writing questions about systems that no longer exist in the modern world.

Have fun :)