IR outside exam window

[Desert Strip Basher]

Economy still looking shakey and there seems to be a growing number of people feeling pushed in to the MEIR "before their exams run out". For those wondering whether to take the hit and get the MEIR before their ATPL's lapse what are the options? If you subsequently take the IR after the exams have lapsed (obviously retaking the necessary written exams for the IR) is it just a case of repeating the ground exams and then are you back in the race?? Just wondering as with the ATPL Question Bank etc, perhaps lapsing isn't a bad option - probably cheaper than renewing the IR for a fruitless year or two (say £2-3k - sitting exams again would cost £1k and your training completion would be more current).

[RTN11]

Your post is quite confusing, at the start it sounds like you are saying letting the exam period lapse and not getting an IR, at the end it sounds like you are saying let an IR lapse.

You have 36 months from the date of the last ATPL to submit the paperwork for a CPL and IR. If you do not meet this requirement you will have to retake all 14 written exams. Any training required for this will be at the discretion of the head of training at an FTO (ie you do not have to redo a whole course), however anyone who thinks this in an easy option is fooling themselves. If you can just go ahead and retake all 14 exams over 3 years after you last looked at the subjects without significant time and effort studying, you are being unrealistic.

Once you have the IR you can let it lapse for up to 7 years before you have to retake the written exams. Once lapsed the renewal is basically the same as a revalidation, so no real hardship and shouldn't cost too much if you shop around and can get in a sim cheap/free to practice.

[Desert Strip Basher]

Was just throwing an option in for people. I'm saying potentially letting the ATPL's lapse in the current economy might not be as bad as it seems. My feeling is that with the ATPL QB's it's tough though if you've already been through it not insurmountable and with little movement why not get the flying training complete at a more favourable time. It's only an option for consideration - not advising either way.

[bingofuel]

Do a SEP IR, it is cheaper?

[RTN11]

Do a SEP IR, it is cheaper?

It is, however you would need to do a conversion to MEP and MEIR at some point, and that would end up being more expensive since most of the IR time is actually in the sim, so SE makes no difference.

You also have to consider the fact that the cost of doing an IR is only ever going to go up, so you have the option of doing it now for say £19k, letting it lapse after a year and renewing when you actually need it for £1k.

Alternatively letting the groundschool lapse, then spending £1k getting the exams back, only to find an IR now costs £22k or whatever so you will lose money in the long run.

If you can find the money now, I would always recommend locking in the IR now if you have any serious hope of an airline position in the future. If there is no hope, then you're just throwing good money after bad anyway and you should cut your losses and move on. Just my 2p.