Representation and Engagement
As the UK governing body of gliding, the BGA has a significant responsibility in representing the interests of gliding clubs and their member glider pilots. Government agencies and departments that the BGA regularly engage with in the course of our work include DfT, DCMS and UK CAA.
The BGA’s priorities are identified in the Articles of Association and the current BGA Strategy as amended from time to time.
The BGA position taken on any given topic by the Executive Committee follows careful consideration and where required additional engagement with member clubs. The BGA Strategy identifies the current priorities. BGA consultation with member club officials takes the form of pre-arranged and ad hoc direct contact , surveys, and written requests for views. Formal votes where required are taken at an AGM or EGM.
To achieve its aims, the BGA works within wider organisations, including;
- In the UK, the Royal Aero Club (RAeC), the GA Alliance (GAA) and the Sport and Recreation Alliance.
- Outside the UK, Europe Air Sports (EAS), the European Gliding Union (EGU), and the FAI International Gliding Commission (IGC)
The BGA is represented within numerous other organisations and working groups in the UK and wider on a variety of important topics including flight safety, electronic conspicuity, airspace infringements, gliding operations rules, gliding licencing rules, outdoor sport, airfield protection, etc.
We are always looking for members of BGA clubs who have an interest in helping the BGA with its representation work. If you are interested, please get in touch with a member of the BGA Executive Committee or the BGA CEO for a no obligation chat!
Organisations we engage with
UK Government
UK government strategy and regulation is constantly evolving. BGA is engaged with GAA colleagues in responding to the related strategic issues. Domestic issues such as planning and sport-related development are ongoing. Again, the BGA works closely with others including the Sport and Recreation Alliance (S&RA), which is a non-government organisation representing most of sport including gliding.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) provides sport funding policy direction including to publicly funded sporting organisations, such as UK Sport and Sport England, etc.
The Department for Transport (DfT) provides direction to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on matters of aviation strategy and policy.
DfT consultations can be searched here.
CAA
The CAA is responsible for regulating UK aviation and for developing the UK’s post-Brexit aviation legislation programme. Read more here.
The CAA General Aviation Unit (GAU) manages the regulatory oversight of GA but is not involved with airspace. The BGA engages with the GAU on a regular basis, including through formal meetings of the GA Partnership (GAP). You can read more about the GAP here.
CAA general consultations can be viewed here.
The CAA’s Airspace, Air Traffic Management and Aerodromes (AAA) department develops, implements and regulates airspace policy. The BGA is an invited member of NATMAC, an industry group that ‘advises CAA on airspace policy matters’. You can read more about NATMAC here.
CAA airspace change proposals can be viewed here.
The CAA is responsible for implementing airspace modernisation. Read more about airspace modernisation and change here.
NATS
NATS is an international corporation that provides air navigation services and is part-owned by airlines. The UK government holds a golden share. NATS is responsible for the UK’s en-route airspace, which is essentially the upper airspace above 7-9000′.
NATS Consultations can be viewed here.
EU
Gliding is primarily impacted by UK regulations. However, occasional consultations outside of the aviation regulation domain are relevant and responsed to either by BGA or through Europe Air Sports.
EU consultations can be viewed here.
EASA
EASA is the European aviation safety agency. EASA is responsible for ensuring standardised aviation safety regulation within the EU. Over many years, the BGA and EGU have worked closely to improve EASA regulation and to minimise its negative impacts on gliding. Following the UK’s departure from the EU, aviation in the UK is no longer regulated by EASA. The UK has retained EASA regulation under UK law (see CAA).