metar
It wasn't a certain JW at a school SW of Madrid who mentioned this to you was it, as he also told me the same thing?
I'm also looking at doing the IR with them around the end of September before heading back to the UK to do the reduced hours CPL course.
Dylan,
Having looked at Lasors it doesn't mention anything about needing the rating before doing the IR course, only about needing it to apply for the rating (or having a CPL).
i.e. All applicants must hold a PPL(A) including a Night Qualification/Rating or a CPL(A), and a Flight Radiotelephony Operator’s Licence.
If 5 hours of dual night have been done on the IR in Spain, then surely you only need to ensure that the 5 solo take-offs and full-stop landings have been done in addition to satisfy the requirements in Lasors D1.2(D) (c)
i.e. 5 hours Night Flying comprising of at least 3 hours of dual instruction, including at least 1 hour of cross-country navigation, and 5 solo take-offs and full-stop landings.
It would be a lot cheaper to do an extra hour of night solo in Spain than to do a full night rating in the UK.
Also, presumably, if the plan is to do the CPL straight after the IR in the UK, then you wouldn't even need to apply to the CAA to get the night rating added to the PPL as long as the night requirements above are met when applying for the CPL/IR together?
Liquorice
[edited for formatting]