MPA IR privileges in SEP

[BEagle]

Does your airline pilot friend have an old-style CAA ATPL, or is it a JAR-FCL PPL?

If the former, he has perpetual IMC Rating privileges.

If the latter, he will be another victim of the CAA's decision of a year or so ago. Without bothering to consult with anyone, they arbitrarily changed the rules in 2006. The rules used to be:

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.

However, this was changed in 2006 and is now:

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.

So, thanks to the Belgrano, if your friend has a JAR-FCL ATPL(A), he will now have no IMC privileges whatsoever on single pilot aeroplanes until he passes the IMC Rating Flight Test.