BALPA support the IMC rating
 

I wanted to set the record straight, contrary to previous reports.

BALPA in response to the question are reported on the Flyer forum as supporting the retention of the IMC rating.

This is excellent news, if not unexpected.

Unfortunately they are but one voice in the European Pilots Association. (ECA).

I cannot too strongly recommend that if you care about this issue, you may wish to write to the ECA Secretariat to express your views and support for retaining the IMC rating. I suspect they have little idea about the strength of feeling.

http://www.eurocockpit.be/component/...act/Itemid,74/



BALPA support the retention of the IMC Rating, we consider that all training is beneficial and it enhances GA safety. Unfortunately we have been a lone voice in Europe, probably not unsurprisingly being as it is a National Rating, but I am sorry that the CAA have not been more outspoken in at least trying to retain it as a National Rating. We do intend to suggest that it is not lost to the UK and retained through an article 10 exemption

Excellent news.

I am sure BALPA have connections with the other European bodies too.

I've emailed them with my concerns. This is the first time I have felt strongly about such a aviation related matter that I have voiced my concerns.

It will be very interesting to see what comes out of the meeting at the CAA on the 22nd Jan. Fingers crossed that this all blows over and the rating is at least retained. If it could be made Europe wide that would be the icing on the cake.

Glad to hear that BALPA are behind this. Presuambly most professional pilots would have had a IMC rating in their early days before getting an IR.

Will the IMC-R petition be sent to the European Pilots Association. (ECA)? I hope so.

Can I just again mention that if you knock more doors you will get more support.

I have already.

Unfortunately they are one of the few that have not replied, in spite of a reminder also sent.

If you are a BALPA member I would be grateful if you could see if they are able to extract some information from the ECA to establish if and why they are opposed to the rentention of the IMC rating.

I find it concerning when organisations such as this do not have the courtesy to reply to correspondence.


Indeed you can.

We are doing our best but as you can imagine it is surprisingly time consuming.

Opening doors is always difficult particularly when we have come to this issue so late in the day so every bit of help is apprecaited from anyone who can open doors, make introductions and draw awareness to the issue.

I am pleased however to say we will be attending the joint CAA EASA press breifing by very kind invite so we are well placed to let everyone know the outcome.

If you can lend us your support please do. There is a direct link on the web site at

www.ukimc.org

Thank you

It's good to see that my sub's are not just going to produce a glossy monthly mag!

A and C

Sorry, you have slightly lost me.

Is there any clever way of getting the non-aviation press interested in this issue?

IE; "Businesses will close with loss of revenue & jobs", "GA safety compromised by European bureaucracy", "Most private pilots will not be trained to cope with changing weather conditions", "Private pilots are urged to fly alongside the airliners due to European ruling" (IR & airways).

The press seem to be so good at aviation exaggeration, perhaps they could be tempted as a last resort?

Are there any celebrities that fly who could put their names to this campaign?

We really need something like this in Europe:

http://www.gaservingamerica.org/

Too early yet. Wait until after the CAA press conference.

Fuji
 

As a BALPA member I sometimes wonder if the money that I pay in subscription is actualy a benifit to me, the only thing that I see from them on a regular basis is the monthly rag "The Log".

I am pleased to see BALPA suporting the IMC issue and am equily happy to see them spend some money on doing so.