Hi Irv,
The IMC rating allows a holder to fly as PIC in class D airspace under IFR.....so then a quote from the SRG website:-
Holders of a valid Instrument Rating on their ICAO licence, will allow the holder to exercise the same privileges as the UK IMC rating (ANO Schedule 8 refers)
[later stated that the holder does not need an IMC rating to be issued to exercise this privilege]
Now to me this looks like the CAA are either contradicting themselves (ANO 2000, Part4, Article 21, Paragraph 4) by preventing an ICAO licence holder from flying under IFR in controlled airspace, or else the interpretation should be that the ICAO PPL holder is not allowed to fly under IFR in controlled airspace UNLESS they hold an IR, in which case the IMC rating privileges apply (ANO Schedule 8)...So complicated !
Just for interest the following is an extract from a communication from the DISTRICT AERONAUTIQUE ILE DE FRANCE, the French CAA regarding flying a G reg aircraft into France on a ICAO licence:-
Question : a british citizen with a an ICAO private licence
wants to fly from England to France on a British registred aircraft.
Answer : As long as the British Civil Aviation recognize the ICAO private licence and allows the pilot to fly over UK, the pilot can fly to France on a British aircraft (but not on a french one) regarded to the British autorisation.
This also looks to me like the IMC privileges gained by virtue of an FAA IR would allow the holder to fly in IMC in France in Class D / E airspace...
Cheers
EA
