KCDW...you're mad
Seriously though, if you did the IR, you'd get the IMC rating for free [minus 64 quid of course], and once you have that you can maintain the FAAIR your self just by: holding, using navaids, and shooting at least 6 approaches every 6 months. If you go over the 6 months, you can't act as PIC in IMC until you have done them, but there's nothing to stop you going up with a buddy and doing this in VMC and re-validating.....[oactually as you now have the IMC, you can go into IMC in the UK]... and they've reduced the conversion to JAA to a min of 15 hrs, rather than the full JAA course....
Anyway, good luck whichever way you decide to go....
On the subject of Sims....they do have a use. It means you can carry out many different procedures in a shorter space of time, shoot approaches into airports you'd probably never go [ie. LHR] and freeze time so you can discuss with the instructor whats going on. Make sure its an approved sim though. I would suggest that a new instrument student shouldn't put too much emphasis on the sim though, nothing can replace the 'feeling' you get in the aircraft.
Cheers
EA
