Scrap the IMCR
This subject comes up time and time again. There is no doubt that the IMCR improves safety for the VFR PPL holder and there is equally no doubt that there are many very profficient PPLs who use the rating to fly in bad weather and do so in a very safe way. Whether they could jump into an IR flight test and pass? some could some may think they could but would fail.
The fact is that the IMCR is a UK only rating which minimumally trains a pilot for flight in IMC and especially in the UK with its damp weather is a vital tool for the VFR pilot.
But we are no longer an island but part of Europe and need to look at Europe historically and politically to understand the future and that future direction.
Europe has always sat uncomfortably with GA. Europe is now made up of ex Eastern block countries as well as countries which have always historically been made up of left wing tendancies. Europe leans towards burocracy, state intervention and control.
I remember not that long ago on a commercial airliner being told not to take pictures out of the window over Italian airspace.I suppose they were scared that I might photograph some secret military instillation.
Apart from the UK and France and to a certain extent Germany GA in Europe was sparse and seen as a rich mans toy. The Europeans were uncomfortable with the idea of Joe Blogs flying his aircraft over Europe literally uncontrolled.
Many European countries were void of any meaningful GA.
In the USA it was different. A large landmass with big distances between cities meant that GA was a vital part of the transport structure and the whole system was much more geared up to the use of GA aircraft. Politically GA was welcomed with open arms.
The Europeans have legislated towards their own idea of aviation and sadly GA is not an important part of their vision.
Infact I would go further and state that GA sits uncomfortably with the Europeans.
Regarding training The Europeans would like all aviation to be confined to people carriers, controlled and their pilots trained to a professional standard.
Like any profession be it a Doctor or Lawyer the Europeans would like the pilot to go through a structured university like schooling and have leaned towards such training for professional pilots.
The PPL doesnt figure much in their minds and hence the reluctance to accomodate the PPL and his needs.
Over tea and biscuits the Europeans will lend a sympathetic ear to the needs of GA but there is no political will to bend to those needs only false promises of what may be in the distant future to keep the moaners silent.
Fighting to retain the IMCR and to broaden its acceptance and use in Europe will in my opinion be a case of shooting oneself in the foot.
That is why I am so opposed to retention of the IMCR because I feel it will not achieve what we are hoping for.
Many pilots who wanted a reasonable IR looked to the FAA, registered their aircraft on an FAA N reg and then happily flew IFR in European airspace much to the annoyance of the Europeans.
There were a number of legal challenges which were unsuccessful in stopping that practice so we MAY be in a position to argue for a limited European GA IR more along the lines of the FAA one.
The IMCR has been proved with no doubt to improve safety for the VFR PPL hence it would give EASA an easy way out to accept the IMCR.
My fear is that we would then loose the possibility of a GA IR and end up with a European IMCR which would be a far more watered down and restrictive rating than we enjoy now in the UK.
Hence my attacks on the IMCR rating which is not an IR and will never be.
Pace