The IR can be somewhat easier to estimate in terms of time (JAA). If you break down the required course hours, 50hrs if you have a CPL and 55 if you don't, then an easy rule of thumb will be 2hrs per day. Hence, at a guess, you are looking at 25ish days, which is five weeks.
2hrs doesn't seem very much, and if you have an IMC, you'll find the stuff at the start of the course easy. Later on in the course, particuarly when you are in the aircraft, 2hrs is enough per day. Given the amount of briefing you'll need (should be given) then this 2 hrs of flying will take an additional 3-4 hrs preparation and de-brief.
3 weeks sounds heavy. 7 days a week is doable, but you'll probably hate the course.
Icing is the one big problem for the IR. The next is availability of airfields to fly into out of the airway. In the summer, charter traffic can reduce, and even eliminate, the best-laid plans. Hence, you could end up with a few wasted days.
I noticed too that for some, the impending arrival of the IR test started to spook people into stopping or delaying the last part of their courses. For some, the final 10 hrs took more than 1 week. For some it seemed never ending, and they didn't have the confidence in their ability. If you fail the 170A, or partial it (this is the mock exam which you must pass) then this knocked peoples confidence, and they needed a little more 'thinking' time. Everyone's so worried about failing the IRT, that I think it causes people to fail.
I would plan for 8 weeks. I reckon you can do it in 6 (I did) if you don't have a confidence crisis or need additional training over and above the required hrs. Fortunately I didn't need any more hrs above the required course, but the average seemed to be between 2-5 hrs additional training.
The CPL should not be done in the UK, in my opinion, if you need it done in a specific, short time frame. Personally, it's such a micky-mouse course that I'd definitely do it in the US if I had my time again. I had a real bad run of weather and lost 4 weeks waiting around for the weather to change. I did my 15 hrs in about 8 days once the weather sorted itself out. But if you have a run of lows, cold & warm fronts day after day, then it's tea and biscuits, reading the paper and looking out of the window - i.e. back to how the PPL was.
Last edited by no sponsor; 31st Mar 2006 at 17:56.