OK, so seems like you are not going to get an accessible ICAO IR. How disgraceful. So what is another way to get access to the common airspace?
The more I look at this, the more I agree with those who think it is an airspace classification issue. If you had class E airways then it would be easier to move about the UK both with an IMC and if just a plain vanilla VFR PPL. You would be nuts to want to fly IFR to places like Heathrow anyway, even in the States you would never file to LAX, ORD, JFK etc because there are plenty of other Class D airports available. You would also be able to fly at a safer altitude when flying VFR, as Fuji says it is bad to be kept at low levels when crossing the channel.
So make LHR class B, make LGW class C and just accept you cannot fly there on a day to day basis. Class A above 17,999MSL. Class E/G below, all airways class E. Large airports have their feeder routes into/out of the airway system protected by Class B, C, D so no dangerous conflict with VFR traffic who need to be talking to ATC when in such airspace.
Sounds like this is not new, didn't Australia look at airspace and change to the US/ICAO route
Then you just need this JAA IWR to take hold and you can do it over Europe. You would still be better copying part 61 & 91 of the FARS of course.
I think the problem you face with this idea is getting it past the airlines who currently think they 'own' the airspace. I once had the displeasure of working for one of these UK regulatory QUANGOS. Sure, they ultimately answered to HMGovernment as their powers were statutory. In practice though, they were scared of their biggest "regulatorees" who essentially ran the show because they had better lawyers! The smaller "regulatoree" was considered a pain in the butt and always got the short end of the stick. Didn't the head of CAA FCL put his foot in his mouth recently and make his feelings clear about the little boys?
fff, sorry to beat you with statistics, but there is a Class D airport in the LA Basin which is busier than LHR. From my simplistic view, classification of towered fields in the US is not just movement count based. It also depends on the mix of IFR and VFR traffic and the separation issues that come with it. Class B is mainly extremely busy IFR, with VFR welcome. Class C is busy IFR and busy VFR. Class D is busy/extremely busy VFR, with IFR welcome. There are also untowered fields out there in the US that have occasional transport jets flying and ILS to 200ft DH. So LGW thinks and behaves like it is class B, should probably really be Class C, but is actually only a "mere" class D.
rustle, I can see why you (incorrectly I might add) think I did you an 'injustice', you have a very nice organisation there. I do think you should behave more like the brash Yanks if you want things to happen. Brits (of which I am one) are far too reasonable when dealing with these entrenched interests, spend ten years in the States and become obnoxious but learn how to get things done
Cheers