Sherburn Aero Club

Flight Outside the UK

For flight within the rest of Europe the rating itself is not recognised but an increase in basic licence privileges are extended. VFR allows flight down to a visibility of 1500 metres in most non-UK countries but the UK PPL restricts you to  a minimum of 3000 metres (3K) and also to remain in sight of the surface at all times. The IMC rating removes these restrictions allowing you to fly on top of cloud and in an inflight visibility of 1500 metres wherever it is allowed.

Renewing the IMC

Like all qualifications they do need to be maintained. The IMCr is required to be renewed by test every 25 months. During the 25 months you must have undertaken at least one recognised approach which could be: an SRA (or PAR, a military system) or a pilot intepreted approach such as an ILS or NDB. This flight should be undertaken with a suitably qualified instructor (IRI) and signed off in your logbook.

Additional Benefits

The IMC will provide an excellent base on which to achieve an IR should that be a further aim.  The EASA rules do not allow hours done during the IMC course to reduce the IR syllabus hours but many pilots do more than the minimum hours and holding an IMC will reduce that likelyhood.

The FAA (ICAO) IR

The USA recognises the IMC course training which provides for an exemption to formal training before taking to FAA IR test.

Use of the IMC Rating

Pilots use the privileges of the rating in many different ways. Many exploit it fully by regularly flying for business or pleasure. The IMCr offers a reasonable degree of certainty of not having to turn back because the weather conditions are VFR limiting. Others  are provided with a skill that enables them to safely navigate through patches of imc weather en route but to then position for a visual landing at the destination or on return. Many retain and maintain the rating but use it little other than to be sure that they have the skills should IMC conditions be encounted enroute but unforcast.

So, however you will wish to use your IMC rating there are benefits much wider than the rating itself.

Experience Requirements

An applicant for an UK IMC rating must have:

• 25 hours experience as an aeroplane pilot since date of application for their PPL (A)
• The 25 hours must include 10 hours PIC of which 5 hours must be cross country flights
• IMC rating course flying (15 hours) may be included in the 25 hours experience
• A Flight Radiotelephony Operators Licence (FRTOL)
• The flight training to include:
• 15 hours dual instrument flying training of which up to 2 hours may be in an approved simulator
• Not less than 10 of the 15 hours must be flown by sole reference to instruments (simulated, using a hood or foggles or actual)

Note:Holders of a pre JAR Night Rating (not the Night Qualification) may be exempt 3 hours dual flight instruction including but not more than 2 hours by sole reference to instruments, providing they can show logbook evidence of completing the pre Night Rating instrument flying training.

Minimum of 20 hours of theoretical knowledge training covering:

• Physiological Factors
• Flight Instruments
• Aeronautical Information Service
• Flight Planning
• Privileges of the IMC Rating

IMC Rating Ground Examination

A written paper consisting of 25 multi-choice questions covering the IMC theoretical knowledge. The pass mark is 75%. The examination must be passed within the 12 months preceding the date of rating application. It can be taken before or after the flight test.

IMC Rating Initial Flight Test

Conducted by a Flight Examiner (FE) or Instrument Rating Examiner (IRE).

A pass may be gained in the course of up to 3 individual flights made during a 28 day period.

Failure in any part of the test will require the candidate to take the full test again.

The flight test comprises of the following sections:

Section A - Full Panel Instrument Flying

S & L at given speeds, turns at a given rate and onto given headings, climbing and descending including turns, recovery from unusual attitudes

Section B - Limited Panel Instrument Flying (Failure of Attitude Indicator and DI)

S & L flight, climbing and descending, turns onto given headings, recovery from unusual attitudes

Section C - Radio Navigation Aids

Use of radio navigation aids for position-finding using one or more aids to include VOR and ADF/NDB, maintenance of a given track based on a pilot-interpreted aid for 10 minutes

Section D - Let-Down and Approach Procedures

Let-down and approach to minima, missed approach procedure using a pilot-interpreted aid, carry out a recognised instrument approach procedure to minima, thence the appropriate go-around and missed approach procedure

Section E - Bad Weather Circuits

Bad weather circuit following Section D, position the aircraft in the circuit at the direction of the FE, to carry out a visual bad weather circuit and landing under specified weather conditions

Section F - Flight with Asymmetric Power (only if test conducted on multi-engine aeroplane)

Control of the aeroplane and maintenance of a given heading and asymmetric climb speed, following the failure of one engine in the climbing configuration at normal climb power. Identification of the failed engine and the completion of all essential drills and checks. Climbing and level turns in asymmetric flight as directed by the FE

Note: Throughout Section F the FE is responsible for navigation and ATC liason. On resumption of normal flight the FE will advise the candidate of the aeroplane position.

Validity

25 months.

Revalidation / Renewal

Pass a revalidation/renewal flight test prior to rating expiry

And

The applicant must show logbook evidence that in the period between flight tests has successfully completed a let-down, approach to minima, go-around and missed approach using a different aid from that in the flight test. This must be signed by an FI qualified to give instrument flying instruction

Or

Carry out 2 approach procedures using different aids during the revalidation/renewal flight test

IMC Rating Revalidation / Renewal Flight Test

Conducted by a Flight Examiner (FE) or Instrument Rating Examiner (IRE).

A pass may be gained in the course of up to 3 individual flights made during a 28 day period.

Failure in any part of the test will require the candidate to take the full test again.

The Revalidation/Renewal Flight Test will comprise Sections B, D and E of the Initial Flight Test. The type of approach aid used must be entered in the candidates logbook.

A Revalidation/Renewal Flight Test which is a first multi-engine test must include Section F.

IMC Rating Expired By More Than 5 years

Complete a minimum 7.5 hours dual instruction covering the IMC Rating course and pass the Initial IMC Flight Test with an FE.

Privileges

An IMC rating extends the privileges of a PPL (A) holder to allow flight as PIC:

• Out of site of the surface
• In a control zone/area on SVFR clearance with a flight visibility less than 5 nm but not less than 1.5 nm
• In a Class 'D' or 'E' Control Zone/Area  in IMC conditions.
• Outside class 'A' controlled airspace in IMC
• in IMC or an in-flight visibility of less than 3 Km; Class 'F' and 'G' airspace
• During take-off or landing with a flight visibility below cloud of not less than 1 nm

The IMC rating is only valid in UK territorial airspace, Channel Islands and Isle of Man airspace.

References

LASORS

AOPA IMC Syllabus

CAP 413 Radiotelephony Manual

CAP 32 UK AIP

CAP 393 ANO

The UK AIM (Published by AFE)

VOR, ADF and RMI by Martin Cass

Ground Studies For Pilots by R B Underdown (Volume 1 only)

The Air Pilots Manual Volume 5 by Trevor Thom

The IMC Confuser by Neung Sornying

The IMC Rating Questions and Answers Simplifier by Philip Mathews and Jeremy M Pratt

PPL Course Volume 3 by Jeremy M Pratt (published by AFE)