Originally Posted by
skydriller
I will say it again - Tell any European PPL what an IMCR is, and then ask them whether they think its a good idea, and you will get a resounding "YES, wish we had that!!" in response.
Of course PPLs think it is a good idea (and certainly in the UK it is a better idea than just flying around in IMC with no training - which was what happened before the IMCr!). BUT - none of your National CAAs have in the past 27 years shown the slightest interest in implementing their own IMCr (which they were totally at liberty to do). It can hardly be a surprise then when the National CAAs get aggregated into EASA they still have no interest in implementing an IMCr.
Blathering on forums, Number 10 petitions, writing to FCL.008, dark threats, etc. are going to wind up with the IMCr holders being left behind. Only realistic lobbying of the key decision makers is going to achieve the objective of retaining all of the current privileges of the IMCr.
You guys need to choose your lobbying point and lean heavily on the CAA and Mr Sivel and/or whoever else is critical to making a decision - you need to give them a 'decidable option' - otherwise you will be left in the same lurch the UK government always leaves people in with a 'We tried really hard but sadly couldn't reach agreement...' as they sell you out.
PS - no one is 'holding their noses' up at IMCr holders - but the IMCr holders need to fight their battle not hope some Euro committee will save them!!
Until this weekend I thought AOPA UK were leading that battle - based on the magazine article they appear to have been leading from an armchair.