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UK Civil Aviation Regulations

These are published by the CAA on our UK Regulations pages. EU Regulations and EASA Access Guides published by EASA no longer apply in the UK. Our website and publications are being reviewed to update all references. Any references to EU law and EASA Access guides should be disregarded and where applicable the equivalent UK versions referred to instead.

Apply for an Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) or Instrument Rating (Restricted) (IR(R))

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The IMC rating is a national rating and can only be endorsed onto a national UK aeroplane licence.

The IMC rating cannot be added to the NPPL(A). The applicant must hold a UK PPL(A) or higher aeroplane licence. IMC rating privileges are contained within UK CPL(A) and ATPL(A) licences (this does not include Part-FCL licences): there is no requirement for a separate IMC Certificate of Test for these licences.

On a Part-FCL licence, the IMC appears as IR(Restricted).

The IR(R) rating cannot be added to the LAPL(A). The applicant must hold a PPL(A) or higher aeroplane licence.

Exercise of Privileges

The IR(R) may be used in EASA aeroplanes and non-EASA aeroplanes within the UK.

The IMC/IR(R) rating may not be used in the airspace of any other country unless permission to do so has been given by the appropriate authority of that country.

Pre-Requisites

Applicants for the IMC rating must hold a valid UK issued Flight Radio Telephony Operator Licence (FRTOL).

Training

Training for the IMC rating is permitted outside the UK provided that the flying training is conducted by an organisation that is approved by the UK Civil Aviation Authority for such purposes.

Instruction on the course may only be given by a UK approved IRI or FI who is qualified to teach applied instrument flying.

The skills test can only be conducted by a UK approved examiner.

Validity period

The IMC/IR(R) rating is valid for a period of 25 months after the last day of the month in which the test was successfully passed.

For the initial issue of an IMC/IR(R) rating, the skill test is valid for 9 months. This means an application to the CAA to add the IMC/IR(R) rating to a licence must be submitted and processed within 9 months of taking the skills test.

How to Apply

Initial issue

Once all of the requirements have been met, please complete online application form SRG1125.

You will need to upload the following supporting evidence as part of the application:

UK military pilots need to additionally submit completed form SRG2133.

Pilots applying on the basis of holding a single pilot IR on a Third Country ICAO licence will also need to submit the following paperwork: 

  • Third country verification online application SRG2142
  • Original or certified copy of valid ICAO licence and medical
  • ICAO logbooks pages
Close Initial issue

Revalidation

If your licence has been signed up in the field, there is no need to make an application. However, you must ensure that your examiner emails the paperwork to licenceapplications@caa.co.uk, so this can be stored on your file. 

If your examiner has not endorsed your licence, you will need to submit online application form SRG1125 for us to reissue your licence. You will need to provide the following as supporting evidence during the application:

Close Revalidation

Renewal

If your licence has been signed up in the field, there is no need to make an application. However, you must ensure that your examiner emails the paperwork to licenceapplications@caa.co.uk, so this can be stored on your file. 

If your licence was not endorsed by your examiner, or the rating is on the back of your licence, you need to submit an application to the CAA using online application form SRG1125.

You will need to provide the following as supporting evidence during the application:

Close Renewal

Guidance on documentation

For questions relating to paperwork, such as how to obtain certified copies of documents, please refer to guidance on documentation.

Cost

Additional fees will apply if you want your documents returned by secure courier.

Processing time (On receipt of all required information)

We endeavour to process licence applications within 10 working days.

Incomplete applications are not subject to the 10 working day turnaround until all application requirements are met.

What to expect

  • The application will be prescreened by our Licensing Support team, who will let you know if any paperwork is missing
  • Once all paperwork has been received, the application will undergo a full assessment from a Flight Crew Licensing Officer
  • Following an acceptable assessment, your licence will be processed, signed and dispatched.
  • We will contact you if we have any queries regarding your application and may keep your application pending while additional requirements are met.
  • An assessment and refund fee may be charged if the UK CAA rejects your application for not meeting all of the requirements. This will also be applied if you choose to cancel your application.

Associated Rules, Regulations and Forms

Contact us

Email: fclweb@caa.co.uk (preferred)

Telephone: 0330 022 1972 (Monday to Friday 08:30 – 16:30)

Licensing Department
Civil Aviation Authority
Aviation House
Beehive Ring Road
Crawley
West Sussex
RH6 0YR

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