NIMBUS - Restricting it so that only IR rated pilots with on a flight plan could fly IMC would still not give you 'controlled' airspace in the open FIR.
Just to add another element (OK, rare I know), but what about sailplanes on cloud climbs?
The training for the IMC rating is 15 hours with a written exam.
Just out of interest the JAR training for a full IR is...
Hold minimum of PPL with Night rating.
Then...minimum of 200 hours ground school (Interestingly the JAA have defined an hour as being 60 minutes in their documents, wonder how long it took them to do that?)
50 hours flight training (single) or 55 hours flight training (twin).
Ian
[This message has been edited by IanSeager (edited 03 February 2001).]