Sorry, Craggs. In one section LASORS states:
'An applicant who holds an ICAO IR or military
green Instrument Rating (Aeroplanes) and has
passed an IR test in the 24 months preceding the
date of application for the IMC Rating will be
exempt from taking the initial IMC Flight Test and
written examination.'
yet later it states:
'The holder of a JAR-FCL professional aeroplane
licence with a valid multi-pilot IR(A) is not automatically
entitled to fly using the privileges of an IMC Rating in
single-pilot aeroplanes. They will be required to pass a
IMC Flight Test and apply to PLD for a separate IMC
Rating endorsement.'
which is something that has been changed without consultation or a Regulatory Impact Assessment, for it used to state in LASORS 2004:
'The holder of a JAR-FCL professional aeroplane
licence with a valid multi-pilot IR(A) is not
automatically entitled to fly using the privileges of
an IMC Rating in single-pilot aeroplanes. They will
be required to obtain a separate IMC Rating
endorsement on the basis of their most recent
multi pilot IR proficiency check or skill test. In this
case, the IMC Rating will be valid for a period of 25
months from the date of the IR(A) skill test and will
not need to be revalidated if the IR remains valid. If
the IR(A) lapses an IMC revalidation flight test is
required.'
Hence I don't know and this is why I have asked Head of PLD to sort out the confusion.
And yet holders of old UK CPL licences could have flown 100% VFR for 30 years and still have automatic IMC Rating privileges which never have to be revalidated....