IR(H) - Information

[C20 Overture]

All information and thoughts appreciated....

1) Can anyone recommend a place to do a IR(H) course post-Brexit? Is there really any cost saving in having an ICAO IR(H) first?

2) Can anyone recommend a place to do a IR(H) (plus MCC) on Bell 212/412? Apparently CAE cannot offer a stand alone course.

3) If Bell 212/412 SP already on license, does this negate the need to do the type rating as part of the course (and therefore reduce the total cost)? Or would it just be cheaper to do the type rating + IR on 355/135 etc.?

4) With more than 3 years having passed since last ATPL exam completed, am I correct in saying that I need to resit 5 IR exams? Do I need to be signed off by an ATO to sit these (as was the case for the ATPL exams)? Or given I've already satisfied the training requirement when sitting ATPL exams, can I just sit the IR exams without having to go through an ATO?

5) ATPL exams were all done in UK. Can anyone recommend a country / authority for sitting the required IR(H) exams post Brexit?

Thank you.

[ApolloHeli]

All information and thoughts appreciated....

1) Can anyone recommend a place to do a IR(H) course post-Brexit? Is there really any cost saving in having an ICAO IR(H) first?

2) Can anyone recommend a place to do a IR(H) (plus MCC) on Bell 212/412? Apparently CAE cannot offer a stand alone course.

3) If Bell 212/412 SP already on license, does this negate the need to do the type rating as part of the course (and therefore reduce the total cost)? Or would it just be cheaper to do the type rating + IR on 355/135 etc.?

4) With more than 3 years having passed since last ATPL exam completed, am I correct in saying that I need to resit 5 IR exams? Do I need to be signed off by an ATO to sit these (as was the case for the ATPL exams)? Or given I've already satisfied the training requirement when sitting ATPL exams, can I just sit the IR exams without having to go through an ATO?

5) ATPL exams were all done in UK. Can anyone recommend a country / authority for sitting the required IR(H) exams post Brexit?

Thank you.

Answer to number 5) I know that Austrocontrol (Austria) has made sitting the ATPL/CPL/IR theory exams very easy. They might be one you want to consider.

[ersa]

All information and thoughts appreciated....

1) Can anyone recommend a place to do a IR(H) course post-Brexit? Is there really any cost saving in having an ICAO IR(H) first?

2) Can anyone recommend a place to do a IR(H) (plus MCC) on Bell 212/412? Apparently CAE cannot offer a stand alone course.

3) If Bell 212/412 SP already on license, does this negate the need to do the type rating as part of the course (and therefore reduce the total cost)? Or would it just be cheaper to do the type rating + IR on 355/135 etc.?

4) With more than 3 years having passed since last ATPL exam completed, am I correct in saying that I need to resit 5 IR exams? Do I need to be signed off by an ATO to sit these (as was the case for the ATPL exams)? Or given I've already satisfied the training requirement when sitting ATPL exams, can I just sit the IR exams without having to go through an ATO?

5) ATPL exams were all done in UK. Can anyone recommend a country / authority for sitting the required IR(H) exams post Brexit?

Thank you.


1.Starspeed, Babcock , Castle air or Helicopter services ? yes FAA IR will work out cheaper
2. no idea
3. Would be far cheaper to do a new type rating on a light twin ex.. 135 or 355 > second twin 3 hours
4. Yes they have expired and you need to resit them, but you can self certify to sit them.
5. doesn't matter where you sit them , cost higher in the UK

[muermel]

What's the job situation right now for offshore gigs? I'm primarily looking at Germany and the offshore windfarms, working abroad is also a possibility. Since onshore utility flying is nothing you can do longterm (money is crap, social life and regular time off is nonexistent) I was wondering if the huge investment for a ME-IR is worth it right now. Would be nice to have regular scheduled time off and decent pay at one point in my life ;-)

I have 2200 hours, 900 hours SET, no ME hours.

Cheers

[gulliBell]

...I was wondering if the huge investment for a ME-IR is worth it right now...

That depends. If you are debt free, don't need to borrow money for it, and have a job that otherwise pays all the bills, sure, go for it. Otherwise, no.

[muermel]

That depends. If you are debt free, don't need to borrow money for it, and have a job that otherwise pays all the bills, sure, go for it. Otherwise, no.
Pretty much debt free, yes. The thing is I won't be able to keep my current flying job since the IR is a 4-6 weeks fulltime course at most ATOs in Europe and asking for unpaid leave is out of the question since we're quite busy with flying the whole week.

What to do....

[gulliBell]

The answer should be self evident.....

[Hot_LZ]

“Nothing ventured, nothing gained”.

LZ

[muermel]

“Nothing ventured, nothing gained”.

LZ

Very true. And since I don't see myself doing my current job until I retire I think I will look into the IR. I am refreshing my 4 IR subjects already so that's that.

Just wondering what the chances are of walking into a Cojo-Job straight away in Europe right now or in the next few months :confused:

[Bravo73]

The last that I heard, the offshore industry is still 'on it's arse'. Have you seen many/any adverts recently for P2 positions? A Babcock S92 in ABZ, maybe? Good luck with that one.

https://helijobs.net/2021/08/s92-ifr-offshore-copilots-scotland-3/ (Applications are already closed, btw).

[gulliBell]

My curiosity on the Babcock S92 co-pilot positions got the better of me. I'd never heard of CAP 1938 before. Investing in your own ME-IR is a lot of money to spend if at the end of it a PA finds you to be unsuitable for the role.

[Hot_LZ]

Very true. And since I don't see myself doing my current job until I retire I think I will look into the IR. I am refreshing my 4 IR subjects already so that's that.

Just wondering what the chances are of walking into a Cojo-Job straight away in Europe right now or in the next few months :confused:

My best bit of advice just now is ‘network, network, network’. A flight to Aberdeen to get your face into the companies for a tour and brew is a lot cheaper than the IR with no job at the end. The offshore industry isn’t what it was but there is still demand. I know for a fact that CHC and what was Babcock are still short of pilots. Bristow will also need pilots soon with the turnover happening there.

If you’re on the continent, get yourself over to meet the hoisting operators. They’ll give you a good indication as to if and when they’ll need folk. It’s all about making an informed decision.

LZ