Interestingly, the JAA IR was modelled on the FAA IR. Many of the JARs so often criticised, are direct copies from FARs. There is of course no such thing as a PPL/IR, an IR is the same whatever licence you put it on.
The JAR requirements were produced by committees made up of pilots (mostly airline), not beaurocrats. As always, the output of a committe is a compromise made up from the most polarised views. Many European countries have little or no GA and consequently expect airline standards for any pilot flying IFR. The USA is at the opposie end of the spectrum. Setting aside the theoretical knowledge, why is it that holders of FAA IRs have to do so much additional flying to pass a UK IR Skill Test?
Surely they should be able to just turn up and pass the test! After all, they can fly a N Reg aircraft in the same airspace.
[ 07 September 2001: Message edited by: Noggin ]