fuji
My concern is do we want an obtainable JAA IR for the private pilot?
That is the real question. From where I sit, I see the IMC as a pragmatic real world solution for PPLs who live in a a cloudy country with barely the ATC infrastructure to support airline operations. Given the low esteem that GA is held by commercial operations in the UK, I actually think the CAA should be applauded for having an IMC. I guess the airlines etc go along with it because you are kept outside of 'their' airspace.
It prompts me to ask who would want a PPL IR and why?
OK, let me stick my head out. Why do PPLs get an IR in the US? Several reasons come to mind, I am just throwing this out and there may be others.
1) Rating collection. People get bored drilling holes in the sky, and a new rating provides another reason to fly. Also means you don't need a BFR
FAA encourage it as it improves your piloting skills (though you have to re-teach people to stop looking at their instruments while flying VFR). You get the rating but never use it in anger.
2) Actually need it to get from A->B. This is probably the same reason as the IMC is needed in the UK. Plenty of places in the US have cloud most of the year. Even places like CA have marine layers which might only be a few hundred feet thick, but you need an IR to punch through them.
3) Need it for your commercial certificate and you need your commercial certificate because you want to teach. You might also want your commercial ticket because you are collecting ratings.
4) Need it for insurance purposes to fly a twin or something.
Of course in the US, it is a very obtainable ticket. There would be no point in doing an IMC for the same reasons there is no point in most people getting a recreational licence. You may as well get the 'real thing'.
FWIW. For me it was (3) because I wanted to get my CFI so needed a CPL. I had no need to get an IR because I either lived in a part of the world where clouds mean level 5 thunderstorms, or in a part of the world where the MEA means supplemental oxygen
. An IR is definitely a 'use it or lose it' type ticket, no point in spending money on it when you could spend it on something useful like a taildragger. If I lived elsewhere I would get it for (2).
If I wanted to fly in the UK I would probably be happy with an IMC. I would object strongly to the fact that getting an IR was made unreasonably unattainable by what appears to be bloody mindedness by the powers that be to keep the PPL out of airspace which is owned by all. I think you should have the option of getting an FAA type IR in Europe if you want one.