The Competency-Based Instrument Rating (CB-IR) is a viable option for the recreational pilot to fly by the instruments, i.e. without visibility outside the cockpit, in the IFR system. (CB-)IR is the next bigger step for any private pilot wanting to make better use of his or her licence and a great safety improver. The Competency-Based Instrument Rating (CB-IR) gives you the right to “file IFR” (to fly by the Instrument Flight Rules) and enter clouds on the way and even fly approaches down to 200-foot minimums. It will also make your pre-flight route planning much more straightforward. You have all the interest in making sure you get the best training for obtaining your CB-IR, even if you were to use it only as a private pilot. The course can be accomplished either all in a single-engine aircraft or as a certain combination of single- and multi-engine aircraft, and of course making use of our great simulators that are identical with the aircraft we use.
The extent of the practical flying part is at minimum 40 flight hours as opposed to the 50 for the “full” IR, and to push the cost down, only a strict minimum of 10 h (in addition to a pre-entry assessment flight) is required under our ATO—for the rest of the hours we can propose our instrument instructors’ services, on our aircraft or on your own, without all the overhead costs from running a Complex ATO. Credit can also be given for prior instrument training, should you have or have held an ICAO IR or EASA EIR/BIR.
By the way, did you know that nowadays colour blindness is not an obstacle as such for obtaining the CB-IR? It may still prevent you from flying at night, but even without the Night Flying rating/endorsement, you can fly under IFR during day. If you hold a Class 2 medical certificate, do ensure you become “IFR checked”, which normally only entails a hearing test (the audiogramme) — no colour vision testing.
There are no prerequisites as regards experience or prior training received apart from holding an EASA PPL (or CPL) for starting the course, but upon applying for the rating 50 h of cross-country PIC experience is required.
