What that means is that to do the type rating one only needs to have passed the ATPL exams (no time limits)
Of course to do the IR you might want to wait until they have made the IR exams 'more accessible'
They cant stop you if you get the IR MCC; can they?
This loophole exists cos there will be loads of guys with 36 plus month IR issues on the CAAs books with NATIONAL atpl exams passes some of them fly with the airlines!! Why do I say this well the time limit used to be 60 months so there will be some thats for sure.
I smell an FOIA request coming on!
It's all like UA says, a money making scam, why do these exams expire so quickly and why is the training not (as in so many other professions) integrated? - one simple exam like the FAA IR would be a help.
They are looking at this
Why does one have to do CPL NAV and IR NAV its crazy crazy crazy they are all mad - too much time spent by the fire drinking port in flash hotels spending our money methinks.....
If they want to make the IR accessible just allow the folks who fly all over Europe safely with FAA IRs to get a straight JAA licence swop and save them the trouble - theyve already admitted there are no safety concerns with those guys. They wont do that of course - cos of the vested interest issues. The whole thing is vested interest dressed up as safety - no consultation with paying passengers or pilots under training only with the traing providers who say ... no change...