IMC rating
The IMC rating is the next step for many PPL’s, who wish to obtain more flexibility when flying in our changeable UK weather. It will allow you to depart in poor weather, operate in cloud, out of sight of the surface, and fly instrument approaches on arrival.
The IMC rating is recorded on your PPL licence as an (IR(R), i.e. restricted IR. The restrictions refer to the facts that it can only be used in the UK, does not allow flight in class A airspace and has certain limitations on approach minima. Every IMC rated pilot will confirm that the training raises their flying ability generally. For some, the IMC rating is a stepping stone to a full IR taken via the CB-IR route, in which your IMC training and post-test IMC experience are credited – to some extent – to the requirements for the CB-IR.. EASA have also developed a basic instrument rating (BIR) with greater privileges than the IR(R) but that is not available in the UK.
Prior to starting the IMC rating course, you must have flown 25 hrs after issue of your PPL, of which at least 10 hrs PiC (pilot in command), and 5 hrs PiC on cross-country flights.
The course involves a minimum 15 hours of training, of which 10 hours must be FBSRI – flight by sole reference to instruments, either simulated or actual IMC. We will cover flight on full and limited panel, recovery from unusual attitudes, ADF and VOR tracking and holds, and a variety of instrument approaches such as VOR, NDB, ILS, RNP (formerly GPS or RNAV) and SRA approaches. You can train in your own aircraft (if suitably equipped) or in a club aeroplane.
The article below gives a first-hand account of what’s involved in the IMC rating.
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