Not really - all this was explained at the last CTKI meeting so I know what the answer will be. Operational necessity means an aircraft is on the ground for lack of a bum on a seat. However, no harm in asking....... It's the IR that has a validity of 3 years, the rest should be 7 years if memory serves, but Alzheimer''s is setting in, or is it lack of beer?
Ok, 2 beers later (needed to read JAR FCL, I can assure you). Subpart J refers:
(a) A pass in the theoretical knowledge
examinations given in accordance with JAR–FCL
1.490 will be accepted for the grant of the
CPL(A) or IR(A) during the 36 months from the
date of gaining a Pass in all the required
examination papers.
(b) Provided that an IR(A) is obtained in
accordance with (a) above, a pass in the
ATPL(A) theoretical knowledge examination will
remain valid for a period of 7 years from the last
validity date of the IR(A) entered in the CPL(A)
for the issuance of an ATPL(A).
As you have your IR, you have plenty of time yet, as I see it.