PPL/IR

PAT has been one of the very few professional flight schools to take seriously the private pilot who, maybe for business reasons, needs to acquire an Instrument Rating.

Professional Air Training Ltd is owned by husband and wife team Linda and Anthony Mollison who both have business backgrounds. As such, they understand time constraints and other business pressures and will try to be as flexible as possible, in order to develop a timetable that suits you, whilst giving you the optimum chance of completing your training in a timely and cost-effective manner. This includes training on a part-time and weekend basis.

PAT is proud of its success in helping private pilots to gain their ambition of holding an Instrument Rating. After graduation it is recommended that pilots join PPL/IR Europe, a network of PPL/IR holders (or intended PPL/IR holders) which provides vocal support for the PPL/IR across the continent, and is strongly supported by Professional Air Training Ltd. Contact Sali Gray, the PPL/IR Network Membership Secretary at:

E-mail: memsec@pplir.org

STOP PRESS:

Changes are afoot!

A dedicated EASA working group has recently looked at the future of instrument flying qualifications for European airspace.

The proposals for the IR, which will go out to industry consultation, include a reduced and more relevant theory syllabus. Further, the proposal is for the flying requirements to be largely performance-based, opening up the possibilty of much reduced course hours at an FTO. However, no changes are proposed to the standards required, either for the ground exams or for the Instrument Rating flight test.

The group also put forward proposals for a new En-Route Instrument Rating (EIR), but this qualification would confer no instrument approach privileges. The group ruled out the development of a European IMC Rating, whose long-term existence as a UK-only qualification still remains in doubt.

Ground School

Although other ground schools may run PPL/IR ground studies we strongly recommend the following school:

Ground Training Services (distance learning only):

e-mail: roger@gtserv.co.uk (contact Roger Henshaw)
Tel: +44 1202 580809

Although the course is run by distance learning, you will be required to attend a period of full-time training. Ground Training Services course consists of two distance learning modules, each followed by a three day full time brush-up course.

Flying Training

We offer two options for the PPL/IR, single engined and multi engined.

The single engined course is a 50 hour course consisting of 30 hours in our FNPT2 simulator and 20 hours in our Beech Sierra complex single.

The multi-engined course is a 55 hour course consisting of 35 hours in our FNPT 1 & 2 simulators and 20 hours in our Beech Duchess multi-engined aircraft. You need to have completed a multi-engine piston class rating course before you commence the multi IR course.

Both courses have the option of completing an extra 5 hours in the FNPT2 and 5 hours less in the aircraft. This obviously reduces the price but we feel that the extra hours in the aircraft give you a greater chance of a first time pass in minimum hours.

If your own aircraft is suitably (IFR) equipped, there is the possibility – and maybe the advantage - of using this aircraft for the IR flying. However, this option first needs a detailed discussion of the plus and minus points. Please contact us to talk it through.