My only point was why does it take the best part of a year and £1000 to gain some IR exams? Why not allow self study, exams taken at a local centre and not Gatwick, no residential courses, etc....Why not remove 90% of the extraneous bull from them and make them one "IR" paper? Yes I appreciate this is the way it is now, but that doesn't make it right.
I agree with this sentiment and as I said I'd have liked to see a simpler, more PPL-friendly IR.
I'm, if you like, in the autumn of my flying career and, having spent a large part (15 years) using our airways equipped G-reg group aeroplane doing a great deal of bimbling, I decided to branch out and broaden my horizons.
It became clear that 1) the group wouldn't consider sticking the a/c on the N reg; 2) Than I couldn't afford to own outright an IFR equipped N-Reg a/c (or even G-Reg for that matter) and 3) If I waited for EASA to pull its finger out I'd be in a box pushing up daisies.
So when the Flyer Group hove into view I put plans to do aeros training and tailwheel conversion back into the drawer and joined up.
Some people when they retire and have time on their hands repair to the garden or do an OU degree, I chose the JAA/IR.
(When working I had very little spare time and a large part of that was spent catching up on sleep deprivation)
It has largely been great fun, but with moments of sheer frustration and misery, but if I ever get there I think I will be a better pilot for it and rather late in the day gain the ability to spread my European wings.
We'll just have to wait and see.
Cusco
