JAR-FCL ATPL(A) and IMC Rating privileges.
Thread Starter
JAR-FCL ATPL(A) and IMC Rating privileges.
I have recently received clarification from the CAA concerning ‘IMC rating privileges’ and the JAR-FCL ATPL(A) as applicable to military FW pilots with ATPL(A)s.
In the pre-JAR era, a ‘UK’ CPL or ATPL (but not a BCPL) had licence-lifetime IMC privileges - whereas a JAR-FCL CPL(A) or ATPL(A) now does not. However, to open a JAR-FCL PPL you need a civil IR - and this will also give you 25 months of ‘IMC Rating privileges’ from the date of passing the civil IR. Although there is no need to revalidate the civil IR whilst your military FW IR is current until 5 years from the date of passing the civil IR, if you want to maintain IMC Rating privileges than before these 25 months are up you need to send a certified copy of your military (Green) FW IR logbook entry to the CAA so that they can raise a National Rating Validity page entry showing IMC Rating privileges valid for 25 months from the date of your most recent military (Green) FW IR and an exemption from the need to have taken an IMC Rating Test.
This is all because the JAR does not recognise the IMC Rating internationally. The CAA are trying to change things so that JAR-FCL CPL(A)s and ATPL(A)s issued by them have the same IMC privileges as the old ‘National’ CPL(A)s and ATPL(A)s did; that would be a very welcome step in simplifying matters.
If you have a PPL or BCPL and a military Green FW IR, you also need to send off a certified copy of your military (Green) FW IR logbook entry to the CAA (with a fee only for initial issue, not for IMC Rating revalidation) and you will then receive a National Rating Validity page showing IMC Rating privileges
In the pre-JAR era, a ‘UK’ CPL or ATPL (but not a BCPL) had licence-lifetime IMC privileges - whereas a JAR-FCL CPL(A) or ATPL(A) now does not. However, to open a JAR-FCL PPL you need a civil IR - and this will also give you 25 months of ‘IMC Rating privileges’ from the date of passing the civil IR. Although there is no need to revalidate the civil IR whilst your military FW IR is current until 5 years from the date of passing the civil IR, if you want to maintain IMC Rating privileges than before these 25 months are up you need to send a certified copy of your military (Green) FW IR logbook entry to the CAA so that they can raise a National Rating Validity page entry showing IMC Rating privileges valid for 25 months from the date of your most recent military (Green) FW IR and an exemption from the need to have taken an IMC Rating Test.
This is all because the JAR does not recognise the IMC Rating internationally. The CAA are trying to change things so that JAR-FCL CPL(A)s and ATPL(A)s issued by them have the same IMC privileges as the old ‘National’ CPL(A)s and ATPL(A)s did; that would be a very welcome step in simplifying matters.
If you have a PPL or BCPL and a military Green FW IR, you also need to send off a certified copy of your military (Green) FW IR logbook entry to the CAA (with a fee only for initial issue, not for IMC Rating revalidation) and you will then receive a National Rating Validity page showing IMC Rating privileges
