FFF
We have had this discussion before
From your post, it's clear that you're not in favour of the IMC rating.
Nope, I called it a pragmatic solution, I am in favour. I find it confusing because the regulations are unclear.
Does this, in your view, make me unsafe?
I would have to fly with you to make that determination.
Do you know of any accident or incident which has been caused by an IMC-rated pilot having had insufficient training to be safe?
It is my opinion that you cannot possibly gain the skills required in 15 hours. Whether that has killed anybody, well I don't know, but I'd be surprised if it hadn't. I do know that plenty of current IR pilots in the States kill themselves because of disorientation in clouds, or kill themselves though CFIT. I would expect that an IMC pilot is not immune to these problems either. I would suspect that there are some IMC pilots who are safer than IR pilots, and vice versa. For instance, an IR pilot in Phoenix with 100 hours under the hood and no actual, would be more dangerous than an IMC pilot in England with 100 hours of actual. When both were newly qualified, I would say the IR pilot was significantly safer than the IMC.
Do you know how many approaches an average IMC student would shoot during training? How does that compare to an FAA IR student?
I've found an IR student spends 10-15 hours attitude flying. 15-20 hours shooting approaches (which includes attitude flying of course). 10 or so hours on cross countries, and 5 hours other stuff. So an FAA IR student will spend more time shooting approaches than an IMC spends on his whole training. YMMV. Also depends on how often you fly. You lose it very quick.
I know you will cite US equivalents, but I have still not come across an area of the US where there are 5 busy international airports within such a confined space.
You are correct, that's exactly what I did last time you and I crossed swords. You didn't reply to that post
I think that if I could be bothered to put up with CAA regulation, I would be more than satisfied with an IMC. I'd prefer an IR, but cannot be bothered with the CAA regulation. Seeing I find flying in clouds to be boring I don't really keep my IR up, so I am probably quite dangerous now in the clouds. I prefer to fly aeroplanes with no gyros or in attitudes where you have to see the horizon (like upside down)
Hope that helps
