So to get down to basics
- If there was a campaign, lobbying group, whatever, what would we change?
1. A simplified exam which covers only material necessary for the private pilot instrument rating, administered by flying schools and for which the study can be undertaken at home,
2. Flight training and test. Probably not too many changes here, but recognition of hours spent achieving an FAA IR or other recognized IR including an IMC and a wider range of instructors qualified to train and test,
3. Biannual renewals,
4. Class 2 medical.
That does not amount to a great deal really but DOES make an IR accessible for the European private pilot.
The assumption is often made than an IR will result in huge numbers of private pilots operating hard IFR in class A – it wont, and the assumption even that it is about flying in IMC is wrong.
On how many occasions have we wanted to get up to a reasonable altitude on a blue sky day to cross the Channel to France or the Channel Islands – VMC in the airways? Heaven forbid, stay at a level were a ditching can be safely assured in the briny please!