Looking for a good cost effective way to get my IR rating

[CessnaSteven]

I am a ppl with close to 170 hours, Im looking for a cost effective way to get my IR rating in the UK

I am happy to move, just looksing for a option that is not extremely expensive.

Cheers

[hegemon88]

CB-IR

Hello,

Do some research on the Competency-Based (Modular) Instrument Rating, I think it's Subpart Aa of Appendix 6 to Part-FCL.

The most cost-effective way in my opinion would be:

- Start training for and obtain the IMC rating (UK-only thing), making sure that you're trained by an instructor who can teach full IR
- When IMC-rated, get further solo instrument flying experience in the UK, min. 15 hours
- Complete the CB-IR/EIR theory course and tick off the 7 exams
- Then approach an ATO authorised to teach CB-IR for a 10+ hour flying training course.

The minimum flying training for CB-IR is 40 hours, but your entire IMC rating course can be credited if taught by IRI or FI with IR privileges, so can be up to 15 hours of the solo instrument time. Minimum 10 hours must be done at an ATO.

Hope that helps, PM me if any questions.


/h88


P.S. Caveat: the hours above are minimum figures, there's no guarantee you'd complete the IMC rating in 15 or the whole thing in 40.

[BackPacker]

Also don't underestimate the theory course requirements. They are way, way higher than the IMC/IR(R). 7 exams, almost at the ATPL level, with at least two solid days of in-class brush-up training required, in addition to the self-study at home - which may take several months assuming you spend an hour a day, 3-4 days a week.

A typical training course, including the two-day refresher but excluding the exams, will be about 1900 euros. The individual exams, here in the Netherlands, are 100-130 euros or so. Each.

I have just started the IR theory course (EIR & CB-IR), and it's a lot more than I expected.

[flyingorthopod]

What's your objective doing the IR? Would the coming easa basic rating do, as a European standard imc rating?

[tobster911]

Originally Posted by flyingorthopod

What's your objective doing the IR? Would the coming easa basic rating do, as a European standard imc rating?

So there's an EASA one coming? Do you reckon I should hold off doing my IR(R), or do you think once I've done it, and EASE introduce theirs, I'd be able to just 'convert'?

Sorry for hijacking the post CessnaSteve

[BEagle]

...your entire IMC rating course can be credited if taught by IRI or FI with IR privileges...

There is NO such restriction. See para 6(a) of Appendix 6 to the Aircrew Regulation:

(i) When the applicant has:

(A) completed instrument flight instruction provided by an IRI(A) or an FI(A)
holding the privilege to provide training for the IR; or

(B) prior flight time under IFR as PIC on aeroplanes, under a rating providing
the privileges to fly under IFR and in IMC

these hours may be credited towards the 40 hours above up to maximum of 30hours,

(ii) When the applicant has prior instrument flight time under instruction other than specified in point (a)(i), these hours may be credited towards the required 40 hours up to a maximum of 15 hours.

Thus under 6(a)(ii), up to 15 hours of instrument flight time under instruction may be credited for IR(R) training. A minimum of 10 hrs of IR instruction has to be completed at an ATO, so if you are good enough and have attained i5 hrs of IFR flight time as PIC holding an IR(R), you will have met the prerequisites. However, you may well find that you need more time to be ready for the IR Skill Test.

The BIR proposal can be viewed in NPA 2016-14. The comment response period ended on 31 Jan 2017 and the CRD is currently being drafted. The final CRD then has to go to the EASA Committee, then to the European Commission and eventually to the EU parliament. Hopefully it will be in law in Q4/2018.

It is intended that there will be an upgrade path from IR(R) to BIR and from BIR to CB IR. Which should meet the needs of most private pilots.

[hegemon88]

Thanks, BEagle, I stand corrected, the only thing that the IRI privileges of the instructor seem to affect is the maximum credit - 15 or 30 hours.


/h88

[flyingorthopod]

I've been doing some IMC flying with a view to the IR(R). But I might pause it for a bit and wait for the EASA rating.

As far as I could see from looking at the consultation documents, the EASA ratig follows a similar syllabus but with a bit mre enroute navigation and no specified required number of hours, though I'm sure it will still take 15-20 hours to do.

The priveleges are similar to IR(R) with similar approach minima, something like airfield minima+200 feet and 1500m vis, and there's a speed limit of about 240 knot ias. The rating is proposed to be valid for IFR flight in all classes of airspace including A throughout Europe.