Question What is the difference between a IMC rating and a IR rating in terms of training syllabus and what you can use it for?
Answer IMC is 15 hours flying and a ground course. Exams done by the flying school. No Class A and min visibilty 1800 m for landing and take off, also recommended higher minima than for an IR. Very useful rating, but I would get lots more training in flight planning, en-route checks and weather than is in the syllabus. Rating needs renewing every 25 months.
IR is fiendishly expensive, includes almost all the CPL/ATPL exams, has to be done by an approved school, examined by a full time CAA examiner. Budget on 8 grand GBP to do it, or more. Rating needs renewing every 12 months.
