How important to have a current IR?

[Okavango]

Hi. For those fresh CPL/IR's job hunting - I understand the need to obviously keep current, but if it's lapsed, why can you not wait to revalidate the IR until you get a sniff of a job? I guess the answer is that you're unlikely to get a sniff if you're not current, but at the end of the day, if you're only doing enough to validate the rating it's neither here nor there anyway is it? Can you not still apply without stating the IR has lapsed?

[McNulty]

Sure you can apply without stating the ir is lapsed, but when youre sitting in the interview room im 100% sure they will look at you licence....when they see you have an expired ir i doubt they would be very impressed.

[flywonderjet]

You are always free to try without a valid IR. But consider this:

Do you really want to risk not getting a job in a period where there aren't that many pilot jobs available?

It doesn't take that much to keep an IR valid. The benefits far outweigh the cost, especially compared to what you probably already invested to get that IR anyway... Your licence really shouldn't be where you save money if you ask me.

[MIKECR]

For many operators a current IR is an absolute must, especially when recruitment is in a boom cycle. Interview on the Friday, pack suitcase at the weekend, and away on TR on the Monday. They dont have time to sit and wait for people to go an revalidate ratings. Not current...no interview. Harsh but true im afraid. At the moment however, its not even worth doing an IR in the first place. Anyone doing an IR just now would be as well booking their renewal for next year.

[nick14]

Hey,

I might be wrong on this front but I believe that to start the first type rating training course you need to have a valid IR.

As Mike has pointed out im sure that they would be quick to find someone who did have a current IR.

Good luck

[flyhighspeed300]

just to point out, 80% of FI (flight instructors) do not have a current IR rating.

Yes: for a high performance rating i.e type rating, you do need a current IR rating + a current MEP rating as well.

however, at the moment its very hard to get a flying job. the last i heard of one first officer job that was being offered in january on a B737 there where over 600 people who appiled.

The more likely questions; is when did you do your last flight? how many hours have you done in the last 6 months?

yes, if you can keep it up, thats the main idea. so if you were often a job tomorrow you could fill it. but some company can take months to book you in for a type rating, i.e ryanair. you don't go for an interview and then your doing your type rating next week...

its your choice!!!!

[ONCALL]

my recommendation is to stay current at all times. you just never know when you'll need to have that currency.

[x933]

If you don't have a multi crew aircraft on your license (IE You have CPL/IR only), and your IR isn't current - forget it, your CV will end up in the bin.

What? You mean FTCabford didn't tell you this? Oh. .

[Deputy Dog]

Well, I bought a shiny new motorbike with the money I had previously saved up for my multi/ir renewals over the past couple of years. I am having such a blast on my bike, whizzing through the country roads. This money would really have been pi***d away on renewals.

Have had discussions about need for current ir/multi with future employer on twin. I said that money is tight and I could not justify cost of renewals and I do not need it for my current flying. Was told the person is most important an would get the nod when to get my revalidation so as not to blow away £££.

Don´t p*ss your money away without any sign of a job !!!!!!!

[Greenlights]

Dear all,

My question is not only about IR but Type rating too... since i have an IR (multi pilot) associated with my TR now.

Here the main problem...(sadly)

Last year got a A320 TR, but unfortunately, recruitment has been cancelled...

Still unemployed right now, after nearly one year, I have to re-validate it.
I don't have hours on type of course...

Well If I do not do it, if I understand , the TR will be valid until 5 years, I just have to renew it within this period.

Well, I have money to re validate, but I don't want to do it every year... I mean, I spent nearly one year now, without finding a job while it was valid.

So, I was thinking to renew it if I have too...but in the 4th year.

What happens to my IR too ? Because I guess that my IR is going to expire too ?

My case is it a big deal ?

I just imagine pilot who work for an airline and then are fired... do they re-validate their TR on their own expenses then ?
Is it worth it ?

Can I still apply for A320 in case, with my TR expired but still on my licence (for 5 years)?
Is it anyway possible to apply for other operator (Beech, etc) with a multi IR not current but valid ?


Thanks for your advices

[portsharbourflyer]

Greenwings,

A current single pilot IR is only needed for issue of your first multi crew type rating. Now you have a Multi crew Rating on your license you may now add another multi crew type (JAR25) with out holding a current IR.

So if you were offered a job on another JAR/CS 25 type then regulation wise there is no requirement for you to have the SPA or MPA ME current (as Sky Captain has stated).

Greenwings when you join an operator they will need to do an OCC (operational conversion course) where you will do an OPC anyway which can be used to revalidate your rating (now it is down to the company if they will accept you without the rating current).

Now you do raise a good question concerning the JAR23/ Single Pilot types, now King Airs , Beech 1900s although often operated multi crew are only single pilot class / type ratings.

Now I couldn't find an answer in Lasors. So with a lapsed SPA ME IR but and a MPA type non current (but expired less than 5 years) you can definately still undertake another MPA type, but it isn't clear if you can still then add a single pilot class/type rating without renewing the SPA MEIR first.

Now for the five and seven year rules it doesn't matter which IR has been renewed aslong as you have renewed an IR in that time.

[truckflyer]

-flyhighspeed300

No need to have a current MEP, only ME IR, unless your job is on a MEP aircraft.
MEP is not high performance Jet, so no requirement normally for any airline jobs!

[Greenlights]

Thanks portsharbourflyer

(now it is down to the company if they will accept you without the rating current).

Yep, I just hope so then...

but it isn't clear if you can still then add a single pilot class/type rating without renewing the SPA MEIR first.

I could not find neither :/ I would say yes it is possible... but but but...

[wingreencard]

my rating is expired since 4 years and noone was interested even when current, I don't see the point to spend more money every year when there are no job around. Just renew it before it lapses.
You never know(it keep you dreaming) what will happen in 3-4 years, but in my point of view, airlines are just interested to sell hours and type ratings to young boys who have top gun posters in their teenage bedroom. For all of us, who are already trained and over 30yo, we don't interess them anymore.
it's all about money.Airline make money, they don't exist to make pilots happy!

you have 2 choices, renew it everyyear, in hope someone call you, or just do the minimum and see how the situation improves (or give up, yes i know a few guys who threw the towel and now have a normal life and make money in other profession )).I think the airlines boom is finished since 2006-2007, and no new aircrew is needed(the pilot shortage is a lie). Airlines prefer to ask capt and FO to fly max hours until epuisment instead of hiring, and if they hire, they have an armada of teenage ready to pay to fly.
they simply us!!!

[truckflyer]

I would think NOT having a valid IR, will not exactly help you.

I know of guys being offered jobs recently, and one of the criteria was a valid IR! Many instructors I know, struggle to go just because of that, the pay is bad, so they do not have enough money to keep renewing it every year, the problem than is that they also are not available for job opportunities that might come up on short notice.

As I see from many adverts, if you don't have your IR current, you will not even be considered it seems.

I don't really understand, after spending £40.000 - £60.000, why you would want to save on keeping your licence current, it should be priority ahead of most other things in your life, if you want to get a job I would think!

[Rui Dias]

After spend a lot of money in your course you don't have €750 to renew your MEP/IR?

[truckflyer]

It's ME/IR, MEP not required, and MEP is not important.

First renewal in sim is around £750, second renewal in aircraft probably the double I would guess.

But agree with you Rui Dias, you have to put priority on what you want.

No ME/IR = 99% chance not getting a job.

Might not be to much better odds if you have the ME/IR, however you got to have it, to be in the race, if not, you are not even close.

[Rui Dias]

I don't know how it works in other countries of the JAA world, but in a JAA Portuguese license you can't IR(ME) alone. You must have a MEP Class Rating or a Multi-Engine Type Rating.

[blablabla]

The 2 Golden rules of Aviation when searching your first job keep current.
The 2nd Golden rule, on night-stops always bring your own condoms.

[truckflyer]

Yes that's probably special rule in Portugal, because in the countries I know, UK and Norway, you only require ME/IR, MEP is not required, unless you want to fly ME/IR.

If I was you I would check with a Portuguese FTO, as this seems strange, as should be similar regulations all over JAA/EASA.