Badges and Certificates

This webpage is designed to provide quick access to information about and application forms for BGA and FAI badges and certificates. Guidance is also supplied for claiming records.

Information on aerobatics badges is available on the aerobatics webpage.

BGA Gliding Certificate

All pilots train for the Sailplane Pilot Licence (SPL). The BGA Gliding Certificate is issued immediately after solo on application to the BGA. Badges, diplomas and endorsements are added to the Gliding Certificate.

The BGA sporting badges, for example Silver, Gold and Diamond, etc as established by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale through the International Gliding Commission, provide self-regulated and documented evidence of gliding achievement.

See application forms below.

FAI and BGA badges and diplomas

FAI and BGA Sport badges and diplomas include;

Silver Badge
Gold Badge
Diamonds
Distance Badges & Diplomas

All badges are recorded on the BGA Gliding Certificate.

The definitive rules for the FAI Badge and Diploma claims are contained in the FAI Sporting Code Section 3 and Annex C – Official Observer & Pilot Guide. These documents can be found at https://www.fai.org/igc-documents

The candidate must be alone in the aircraft for each test, except for the UK 750 km and UK 1,000 km Two-seater Diplomas. FAI badge attempts may be flown in a motor glider, provided there is proof that the engine was not used during the soaring performance.

Any number of tests may be completed on any one flight. Application for badges and diplomas must be made on the approved form and where required, flight evidence must be submitted in an approved format.

BGA approved GPS position recorders are only allowed for Silver and Gold badge legs, and the BGA 100km diploma. They record GPS altitude rather than pressure altitude. When position recorders are used to measure height gains or losses a 100metre penalty will be applied to the gain or loss, for example a silver height gain would need to be at least 1100metres when measured by GPS altitude.

Completed application forms must be submitted to the BGA office by email or post.

Please note that the BGA cannot accept IGC traces on physical discs. Please send all IGC traces by email to the FAI badges officer luke@gliding.co.uk

1. Silver Badge

Requirements

A duration flight of not less than 5 hours from release to landing.
A straight distance flight from a start at release to a finish fix located at least 50 km from release and at least 50 km from the fix recorded at the beginning of the take-off Once the point is logged, the pilot can fly anywhere else.
A height gain of at least 1,000 metres (3,281 feet)

2. 100 km Diploma (UK only award)

Requirements

The 100 km Diploma consists of 2 parts which can be claimed individually or together;

Completion of a 100 km declared closed circuit flight, set either as a triangle or as an out-and–return and starting and finishing with the crossing of a 1km start/finish line.
Completion of a similar flight to that above, but at a minimum handicapped speed of 65 km per hour. The handicap list from the current BGA Competition Rules is to be used

Flights must take place within Europe under the supervision of a BGA Official Observer.

3. Gold Badge

Requirements

A duration flight of not less than 5 hours from release to landing unless this has already been done as a silver duration.
A distance flight of not less than 300 km (186.4 Statute miles). This may be made as either a flight in a straight line, or a flight round up to 3 declared turn points. The turn points may be rounded in any order or not at all but each may only be turned once. c) A gain of height of not less than 3,000 metres (9,843 feet)

4. Diamonds

Requirements

A goal flight of not less than 300 km (186.4 Statute miles) flight flown over an out and return or triangular course.
A distance flight of not less than 500 km (310.7 Statute miles) – requirements as for Gold Distance.
A gain of height of not less than 5,000 metres (16,405 feet).

Diamonds may only be worn on Silver or Gold Badges.

5. Badges & Diplomas for flights of 750km and more

The FAI awards diplomas for distance flights of 750km and upwards in increments of 250 km. Requirements are as for Gold Distance.

The UK only awards diplomas for 750 km and 1000km in two-seat gliders for distance flight of not less than 750 km or 1000km, starting in the UK and flown with two pilots. Requirements as for Gold Distance.

Official Observers

BGA Official Observers are trusted and independent witnesses, authorised by the BGA to observe and verify details of flights qualifying for badges, records and championships in accordance with the regulations of the FAI and BGA.

An Official Observer may not act in such capacity for any flight in which he is pilot or passenger.

Instructors, holders of Silver badges or a higher qualification, or persons actively connected with gliding for the previous three years are eligible for appointment.

Applications on the appropriate form must carry the recommendation of the Chairman or CFI of the club, or the Officer Commanding of the Air Cadet Squadron, concerned. Applicants must verify that they are familiar with the current version of the FAI Sporting Code.