IR(R)
Instrument Rating (Restricted)
Previously the IMC. More weather, still inside the UK, without the full instrument rating.
The IR(R) lets you fly in more limiting weather and gives a margin if conditions worsen on a trip. It is a UK rating. It can be endorsed on a UK licence, or a UK-issued Part-FCL licence, and used in UK airspace.
Before you start
You need at least 25 hours of flying after the PPL is issued. Many people do more. Those hours include:
- 10 hours as pilot in command
- 5 hours as pilot in command on cross-country flights
- 15 hours of instrument flying during the course, of which up to 5 hours may be in a simulator or FNPT
- 10 hours by sole reference to instruments during the course
Most candidates do the flying in the aircraft rather than the simulator.