Does anyone know if there was a way for a pilot to be checked out for an IFR rating in Australia in Richards model helicopter?
Dick,
The catch would possibly have been "in" Australia.
You would need to find someone to do the checks who is current on the type and IFR current. As there are possibly no commercial
operators operating them IFR it could possibly have been different.
Outside of Australia with the exception of initial issue for a "rating" the "type" part of it could be accomplished and accepted by CASA in a Level "D" simulator.
Would involve a fair bit of travel to either Germany, UK or the USA on a regular basis.
Today there are possibly 2 Level D sims in Australia but operated for the military only unfortunately which is a little short sighted
and narrow given there are a few 135's in the country.
The 135 can be a tricky little beast in some ways and time in the sim will increase anyones capability in the machine as there are some
things you cannot demonstrate successfully in the real aircraft.
You can no doubt can meet CASA's completely banal requirements as the absolute minimum standard but after a ride in the sim and having
the book thrown at you makes you realise how much better off you are for the experience.
I do my own recurrence on the type in the SIM but have to do BFR's in an actual machine due to the "regulatory structure" which is really a joke in comparison.