IMC Rating

With an IMC rating you will increase your safety, experience and freedom of operation.

The IMC course includes 15 hours training, 20 hours ground instruction and the written exam. It does not include the IMC flight test which normally takes around 1.5 hours and is charged at solo hire rate plus the CAA Flight Test Examiner rate (currently £75). It also does not include approach fees at other aerodromes.

The 15 hours flying time can be spread over as long or as short a time as you require and there are plenty of good quality Bed & Breakfasts close to the airfield. If you would like us to arrange your accommodation please let us know well in advance.

IMC Flight Test Syllabus

The flight test for the initial issue of the IMC Rating will take approximately 1.5 hours chock-to-chock time and a candidate must demonstrate satisfactory manual instrument flying capability in the following:

Full Panel Instrument Flying

Straight and level flight at given speeds, turns at a given rate, turns onto given headings, climbing and descending including turns, recovery from unusual attitudes.

Limited Panel Instrument Flying

(i.e. assuming failure of the gyroscopic pitch and bank indicator and gyroscopic direction indicator): Straight and level flight, climbing and descending, turns onto given headings, recovery from unusual attitudes.

Radio Navigation Aids

Use of Radio Navigation Aids for position finding using one or more aids, maintenance of a given track based on a pilot-interpreted aid for 10 minutes.

Let-down and Approach Procedures

Let-down and approach to Decision Height, missed approach procedure using a pilot-interpreted aid, carry out a recognised instrument approach procedure to decision height, thence the appropriate go-around and missed approach procedure.

Bad Weather Circuits

Position the aircraft in the circuit at the direction of the Examiner, to carry out a visual Bad Weather circuit and landing under specified simulated weather conditions.

Exam Tolerances

Flight Conditions in Normal Flight and (Limited Panel Flight)
Height in level flight: +/- 100ft (+/- 200ft)
Height in initiating missed approach procedure from decision height or minimum decent height: 0ft + 50ft (Limited panel N/A)
Tracking (On Radio Aids) VOR: +/- 5 deg ADF: +/- 10 deg (Limited panel N/A)
Heading +/- 10 deg (+/- 15 deg)
Speed +/- 10 kt (+/- 20kt) BUT NOT BELOW THRESHOLD SPEED
ILS Procedure - Final Approach ½ scale deflection on localiser and glide path (Limited panel N/A)