It’s not too late to apply for your conversion SPL
To ensure that all qualified BGA glider pilots will have an SPL with the correct privileges when required, the BGA’s CAA-approved SPL conversion application and checking procedure results in a painless application process. Thousands of pilots at BGA clubs now hold an SPL.
For a variety of reasons, not all qualified pilots have converted to an SPL by the time of the law-change that occured on 1 October 2025.
By way of a reminder, please note that the BGA is continuing to process SPL conversion applications that have been submitted beyond the 1st of October 2025. The relevant experience and/or BGA qualification must of course have been achieved prior to the 1st of October 2025.
The minimum BGA gliding qualification for conversion to SPL are the BGA Bronze and Cross Country Endorsements achieved prior to 1st of October 2025. The Cross-Country Endorsement is not required for those who achieved Silver Distance prior to 1996 (as recorded by the BGA). Details of these BGA qualifications are held by the BGA and therefore applicants do not need to supply evidence with their application.
If a pilot is unsure about previously acquired BGA qualifications, or simply forgot to apply at the time, they can get in touch with the BGA office. There’s almost always a straightforward solution.