ATPL DistanceLearning/ IMC Rating. What Next?

[niall]

I have bit the bullet and started an ATPL distance learning thoery course and also commenced
an IMC rating. Hopefully, if all goes to plan
I intend to finish both at the same time,but then again there is the unexpected.

God willing and this works out.What will be the next step I should be taking? Would it be structured hour building? If so, where is the best/favourably priced place to do this.

What other options are available if I just have the ATPL exams and and IMC rating. Do I have to get a full IR rating with in a given period of time after completing the written exams?

Any other advice, hints and tips in general would be much appreciated

To anyone out there doing a distance learning course or exams.Good Luck.

I'm going grey already.

Cleared leave the zone to the north 2000ft VFR.
Happy Days!

[mintfavour]

You may want to complete your hour building when you complete your ATPL theory, as you need to have 100PIC (and 150TT) before you can start your CPL/IR courses. This is because you only have 36 months from passing your last ATPL exam to complete the CPL/IR in order to gain a Frozen ATPL or you will have to resit your ATPL theory exams again.

This is if like me, money for flying only comes in slowly. I intend to have hour building done and paid of at the same time as I complete my ATPL theory. And then I can start off new fresh debts.

good luck

mint

[Rowley]

IMHO the IMC is not necassary.Especially if you are going to do the CPL/IR at the same time (ie not having a break in between)

It is another £???? to add to the equation.
Dont forget it isnt valid outside the UK!

Me personally i would use the money you have for the IMC and spend it on the Hour building!

I know people will say it helps to have the experience of flying on instruments, but IMHO you will get some good experience on the CPL course!

Im going to do the Atpl full time. Ive already got my 50 hrs before.
I will complete the other 50 hrs after ive got the ATPL's passed.
By doing it this way i know i will be fresh when i get to the CPL & (FIr in my case!)

I hope this helps

REMEMBER this is only my opinion and might not suit everyone!

[niall]

Mint Rowley,cheers for the reply. I started the IMC to try and reduce the hours required for the instrument rating, if I ever get that far. Is there anyone else out who has gone down this road?Or is it a case of reducing the time on IMC and concentrate on hour building.

With regards to the hour building, where is the best/favourably priced place to do this?

If this turns out to be a big dogs dinner I will let you know

Watch this space.

Again many thanks.
<img src="smile.gif" border="0">

[bakerloo]

Final 25,and all wanabee`s can you tell me if a JAR PPL can have an IMC rating attatched to it, and if so can these hours be used to reduce time spent on the CPL skills test or the I.R.

Hope you don`t mind me asking this question on your thread final 25

[GJB]

Rowley

Don't agree with your remakrs on the IMC.

It's a good introduction to radio nav and instrument flying. OK, so it's not an IR and should never be treated as such, but it's still an excellent course.

Besides, it will make the hour building far more enjoyable.

[bow5]

This is what i've been told by my school and various others.

The IMC is a good introduction to the IR rating. The hours can count towards your IR rating plus you get them at a cheaper rate. However, they recommend doing the full FAA IR rating instead. IT is virtually the same price as the IMC rating but more comprehensive and widely recognised. Plus, apparently, when you recieve your FAA IR rating you can pay the CAA a nominal fee (I think it's £60) and recieve an IMC into the bargain.

This would obviously make studying for the JAA IR rating seem far less daunting.

Just food for thought.

[ 14 January 2002: Message edited by: bow5 ]</p>

[SuperTed]

Should you do the IMC before or after the hour building considering most people fail on the VFR Nav part of the CPL.

[clear prop!!!]

Sorry to throw the cat amongst the pigeons, but if you are going the full hog towards an IR, why do an IMC?

Do your hour building, it’s all P1. Your IMC training will be logged as P2…so you need more P1 hours.

Your CPL will include almost a full IMC course under a highly qualified instructor who ‘may’ well be better qualified to teach the basics of instrument flying. Now, before the **** hits the fan, I am now rated to teach IMC to PPL students, but know that CPL rated instructors I work beside teach basic IR much better than me.

The hour dispensation you get towards your IR by having an IMC under JAA amounts to the thick end of ****** all.

Do some hours where it is cheap. The States is a good idea. You will hear a lot of negativity towards the idea of that from those on the site who have never flown there. However, if you use the hours sensibly you will be able to fly into international airports etc etc and gain experience you couldn’t hope to gain over here.

I would stress that you have to use these hours sensibly as there is no point in wasting aviation fuel punching holes in the sky.

In my opinion an IMC is an excellent add on for PPL’s who only want to fly in the UK and might need to get themselves out of the **** .

good luck