IMC Rating (Instrument Meteorological Conditions)

IMC Rating (Instrument Meteorological Conditions)

After completing the PPL course, many people carry on to start IMC and/or Night Ratings. At present, a PPL holder without these ratings may not fly in IMC conditions, or at night. Therefore the addition of these ratings to a private license holder adds a greater degree of flexibility to the pilot.

The holder of a PPL must have 10 hours PIC (after PPL issue) prior to application of an IMC rating, and whilst some people build these hours before beginning the course, it is possible to combine the requirements and IMC course.

The IMC course consists of 15 hours minimum dual training in either the C152 or PA28, followed by a flight test of at least 1.5 hours duration. There is also a multiple choice ground exam to be passed before an IMC rating is issued.

Usually the student will spend about 5 hours flying the aircraft using the basic flight instruments conducting simple manoeuvres first, then building up to more complex manoeuvres and recovery from unusual attitudes on full panel (ALL instruments working) and limited panel (attitude/direction indicator failed).

Once the student is confident in handling the aircraft on instruments, then he/she will progress onto radio navigation using the Visual Omni-range (VOR) & Automatic Direction Finder (ADF) for tracking, and approaches, Instrument Landing System (ILS) approaches and use of the Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) & Transponder.

The IMC rating is currently only valid in the UK and a renewal Flight Test is required every 25 months.