Hi qpad,
Welcome to the forum.
I am a PPL(A) holder and have just passed the IR(A) skills test, waiting for the CAA UK to add the rating to my licence. As I am (half-)based in the UK, prior to that I had been using my IR(R) rating for 3 years and I would recommend it to anyone. So would I recommend the "big" IR(A) to anyone who can afford it...
A relatively new EASA concept of a competency-based IR course lets you credit your previous IFR/instrument experience against the 40-hour minimum, and it's an excellent thing for us in the UK, as the whole IR(R) rating course and subsequent flying in IMC can count. One of the paths towards the rating I see emerging on the Continent is go for the En-route Instrument Rating (EIR) first, gain instrument experience while using it, and then finish it off with a CB-IR course.
CB-IR theory is also less than the "original" IR theory.
Originally Posted by
Genghis the Engineer
A third option is that here in the UK we have a UK-only IR(R) [Instrument Rating (Restricted)] - which is highly regarded here, but only useable in Britain. I suspect that you can't add it to a Danish issued PPL EASA PPL either, but no harm in asking the Danish authority how they'd feel about that, as it's cheaper, less theoretical study - but at least gives you a valuable skillset, useable at home in an emergency, and you could just pop over to the UK every 2 years to renew it.
G, I suspect that no European NAA other than the UK CAA can issue the IR(R) and add it to their licence. (S)he would have to change the state of licence issue to the UK, complete IR(R) and then perhaps fly here on instruments every now and then. After getting to 30ish hours of instrument flying change the state of licence issue to Denmark and start the CB-IR course, crediting his/her instrument time. Looks mad, but depending on circumstances may make sense.
qpad, If you set your mind on doing some training in the USA, I would say what the others said - consider a stand-alone FAA IR,
but as you will need an EASA IR back home, then use the CB-IR path to get the EASA rating based on the FAA one.
Feel free to drop me a PM if you'd like further info.
/h88