As a member of AOPA, I am disappointed by their choice of representitive for this commitee and am curious as to why the opinion of the membership was not consulted at an early stage?
AOPA UK did not have a seat on the working group and was therefore not in a position to nominate a representative. Neither did PPL/IR. The seats, as is normal with EASA, were allocated to European representative bodies. AOPA UK were therefore represented by Dr Michael Erb of IAOPA Europe. Jim Thorpe represented Europe Air Sports.
In the event, the only person to try to get a serious discussion of the IMC rating going was Dr Michael Erb of AOPA Germany who, briefed by AOPA UK, tried to have the matter reopened on several occasions. He got no support from the UK delegates, and it was decided to give the IMC rating no further consideration. Dr Erb felt unable to press the issue of a UK rating further in the face of opposition from UK delegates.
The pupose of the working group was to come up with something that can eventually be translated into a NPA, which will go out to public consultation. No doubt the response to that consultation from UK IMCR holders will highlight the working group's failure to adequately seek or consider their views.