Thanks for the replies and PMs so far.
As a suggestion, I wonder if it would be possible for you to do your IMC training (which is all dual) in the Netherlands and just come over to the UK to do the IMC skill-test? I don't know if this is possible, but it's the best I can think of.
I wonder if this is possible? I just checked LASORS and find the following:
The IMC Rating is a national rating and can only be
endorsed onto a UK or JAR-FCL aeroplane licence.
The CAA will only add an IMC Rating to a UK issued
pilot licence. When you are training for the issue of a UK
Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) you must
follow a syllabus recognised by the Civil Aviation Authority.
Training for the IMC rating is permitted outside the UK in a
non-JAA state provided that the flying training is conducted
by an organisation that is fully approved by the UK Civil
Aviation Authority for such purposes. Instruction on the
course may only be given by an IRI or a flying instructor
who is qualified to teach applied instrument flying.
(my bold). So it looks like training for the IMC rating within another JAA state is not allowed? Even if the training organization uses the CAA syllabus?
- get a PC sim (FSX); a cheap £10 joystick is just fine
- fly all procedures on that first
- if you cannot understand the procedure, fly it until you do (never go into a plane until you can do everything on the ground, regardless of what an instructor might say)
Done that already. I can fly an ILS on MSFS down to minima well within the half-scale deflection required and VOR/DME approaches almost within the 0/+50ft tolerance - and I blame that on the inaccuracy of the joystick, plus the C172 is a bitch to trim properly in MSFS (with the joystick I have). But I'm a bit worried about learning improper habits this way.