FAR Q: "IR" needed for IFR in an N-reg aircraft?

"Peter" wrote in message
...

"Julian Scarfe" wrote

Also, if it is in there, can anyone offer opinions on whether
"instrument rating" means an FAA IR, any ICAO IR, or that this is not
clearly specified.

My belief is that it would be a reasonable interpretation of 61.3(e) that
if
the pilot's licence used is a foreign one, the IR may be on that licence.

Thank you Julian - I am sure you can see what I am getting at. The UK
IMC Rating is an "instrument rating" but it is non-ICAO and it
excludes Class A.

I have it in writing from the CAA that the validity of the IMC-R is
not limited to G-reg aircraft but they say the FAA might object. The
question is whether an N-reg plane flown in the UK by a UK PPL with an
IMC-R would be OK.

Some people have offered a view that the "instrument rating" mentioned
in the FARs must be an ICAO one, but I am not sure where exactly that
interpretation comes from, especially as the flight in question
*would* be legal in a G-reg aircraft.

The Instrument Rating referred to in the FAR is either the ICAO one or the
FAA one. However to use the ICAO rating in the US and have it included on
your FAA 61.75 certificate means taking the appropriate knowledge test for
ICAO holders. Outside the US the conditions of using the IR might vary
depending on the rules of the specific territory you are flying in. So
using a N reg aircraft in Singapore say with JAR certificates might be
difficult, but then it might be OK.

The UK IMC rating is not an instrument rating. The simple test is whether
the IMC confers the same privileges of the IR and it does not. Specifically
IMC holders cannot fly in Class A airspace.

The definitions of flying IFR vary between the US and the UK anyway. A basic
PPL can fly IFR but he cannot fly IMC. In the UK IFR only refers to the
flight rules not about weather conditions so that means setting the
altimeter to 1013mb above 3000 ft , the quadrantal rules, obstacle clearance
requirements etc.