Maybe a dumb question here, but which other forums are there in Europe (for Europeans, and with English as the main language) and that focus on GA? Seriously, this is the only forum I know, except more international forums about homebuilding (they also are much more focused on kits/plans from one vendor).
There is only one “ML” in the current member list.
Ah, then we are definitely talking about different MLs… as Neil’s nemesis is no longer a member and isn’t in the member list!
PPL/IR are doing their best to make themselves less UK centric. The forum is very helpful to learners like me (as is this forum!). Their contribution to ‘nudging’ the regulatory authorities (europe wide) is impressive (I doubt CBM IR would be here without the concerted efforts of PPL/IR and some of its key movers and shakers) and growing. Various other efforts like pushing Jepp in a US direction with their charging structures and developing EASA wide STCs for the likes of GNS430w upgrades are going on at various speeds with various levels of success driven by what is essentially a bunch of interested and involved volunteers. I really think the broad church of PPLIR committee members realised some years ago that EU based private GA IR flying has been at risk of extinction (in any sizeable volume) and much of their collective effort has been directed at reversing that trend. The membership fee basically covers the administration of the group as a whole, whilst all the real activity is generated by countless hours of voluntary time from many people. I understand that financial choices need to be made between all those pressing on our wallets but for the balance of effective lobbying on behalf of all those interested in EU wide IFR flying (whether UK IMCR / EIR / CBM IR / FAA IR or whatever) and a helpful website with active, learned forum with an intensely friendly and helpful membership, my own view is that the membership fee is well worth it. Of course the EuroGA forum is also invaluable, the Flyer forum I also dip into from time to time and each of these have their different feel / strengths – none of these need to be ‘either or’ but if the basic Q is… is the PPLIR membership fee ‘worth it’- its a clear yes from me :)
A while back it was mentioned that PPL/IR members get a discount on CATS training. Is that still true?
Might it be worth asking on the PPL/IR forum?
Come on, Timothy, asking that question is going to cost WhiskeyPapa about €80 or whatever your current annual charge is! Specialised forums behind a paywall have almost nobody on them – like yours, with about 40 members when I was last there, in 2015. As an exec member of the said organisation you are not doing them any favours by that post!
As a non-member (since 2015) I don’t know if there is any current discount but most of the reports of a “CATS discount” go back to a time around 2009 when a group discount was famously agreed with CATS. It was a small discount – trivial in the grand scheme of things when doing an IR, let alone flying a plane afterwards – but it was a carrot which with some publicity got about 25 people together. I have just counted them from the list which I still have. On a quick estimate I reckon 75% of them never used (or never got) the IR, which doesn’t surprise me given that going for an IR because there is a classroom discount is a backwards way of making the “IR or no IR” decision.
A cheaper way to check would be to phone CATS 
I’m currently doing the CPL exams at CATS to enable me to do the FI course and didn’t get any discount. I was previously a member of PPL/IR for many years but this year decided not to rejoin again. CATS is an excellent provider and I did my IR exams with them several years ago. I wish I had done the CPL exams then since I only get exemption from two exams, HPL and MET. Difficult to understand why I have to retake exams such as VFR comms.
Are you calling me “backward” Peter? :)
For those trying to obtain an IR, as well as those who already have one, membership of PPL/IR is a worthwhile asset whose membership cost is minimal in comparison of one’s total flying budget.
Much of its material is available free on the front pages of its website.
When one comes to appreciate the hard work PPL/IR does on behalf of us all, to gripe about its annual cost can appear churlish.
Are you calling me “backward” Peter? :)
Let me re-phrase it as “back to front” or “tail wagging the dog” definition
