The Euro-skepticism and downright hatred in the UK towards anything beyond its own shores is frightening at times (unless that someone happens to be a cheap Pole doing your house up for next to nothing or sweeping the floors at the local NHS ruin, that is - then it's OK).
What is the problem? An EIR is a nice halfway step towards a IR where all the hours count should you want to upgrade at some point. It's also something that's easily obtainable, can be done at any flight school and relatively cheap. And when they day comes when you feel you need it, you do a bit more training and upgrade to an IR. What's not to like?
Oh, the IMC, yes. Well, that will get grandfathered in somehow, of course. It's obviously not just going to be rendered invalid overnight. It might in a worst case scenario just be a grandfathered in to a EIR - and although that's slightly unfair perhaps, grandfathering you in to a full IR would simply be unfair to everyone else with a real IR as you don't have the training required. At best, it stays a national rating that you can use just like you do today. I'm amazed at the arrogance and scorn lavished upon our fellow Europeans for not immediately falling on their knees and adopting the beloved UK anomaly, the IMC.
Once all this EASA stuff is integrated across Europe in two years, then it will be a marvelous thing. How quickly we forget - I remind you what a royal pain in the a** it was to fly anywhere else but in your own country just less than 5-10 years ago. Not to mention the costs and time professional crews had to endure if they ever wanted to work anywhere else.
Despite the imperial tendencies and transatlantic flirtings, last time I checked the UK was in Europe. You don't have to love it all, but at least stop hating it all at all times.
Last edited by AdamFrisch; 1st December 2009 at 00:01.