CAA consultation – SFCL AMC and GM

In March 2024, the CAA launched a 10-week public consultation seeking stakeholder views on proposed changes to licences and ratings across the GA aircraft categories.

There was a strong response from the sailplane community. As a result, working with the BGA, the CAA has made several proposals to Government to amend the UK SFCL implementing rules. The proposed Basic Instructor (Sailplanes) is one of several important changes that are proposed for implementation this year. Another is not requiring DTO status to deliver SFCL training at a BGA member gliding club.

The new consultation – closes 6th May 2025

The detailed SFCL Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC) and Guidance Material (GM) associated with the changes described above have been drafted by the CAA and are now subject to a new consultation that closes on the 6th May 2025. The BGA offers the following guidance to clubs and pilots.

This is not a consultation on the implementing rule changes submitted to Government for approval as a change in law. That consultation has long passed. This is a consultation on important detail that sits below the implementing rules that also needs to be correct.

Several points of AMC and GM detail are highlighted in the CAA sailplane consultation document, including:

  • recognition that CAA has proposed that the need for a BGA club to become a DTO is removed
  • recognition that full spin training is not required before solo but is a requirement before completing SPL training (of course under this change, clubs can require pre-solo spinning if they choose)
  • introducing partial power failure training for self-launch and TMG training (this follows an AAIB recommendation)
  • removing the need for a sailplane towing rating (a similar approach is taken with the aeroplane licence proposed changes)
  • simplifying the theoretical knowledge content and delivery
  • simplifying cross-crediting
  • improving access to advanced aerobatic training
  • accommodating training for the new BI(S) (note that this has no impact on existing BGA BI’s other than to maintain rolling recency once converted to an SFCL BI(S); their conversion to SFCL BI(S) based on existing privileges will be discussed separately with clubs)
  • accommodating a BI(S) ‘coach’ qualification (referred to as SFCL 315 (a) (8) )
  • accommodating newly trained BI(S) assessment by a Flight Examiner (Sailplanes)

Your response to the consultation

All the proposed AMC and GM changes are supported by the BGA. The BGA strongly recommends that clubs and pilots respond positively to the consultation.

Q1 and Q2 are self explanatory

Q3 – respond as a glider pilot or gliding instructor

Q4 – ‘no’ (the BGA will be submitting a response)

Q5 on – in each case ‘I support the changes’ (unless you don’t, in which case please specify why)

Please note that not responding is not viewed by CAA as being supportive of the proposed changes!  In the previous consultation, several respondents (unlikely they were from the gliding community) pushed back against the proposed SFCL improvements. If you support the changes, it is very important that you respond and state your support.

The CAA’s complete sailplane licensing AMC and GM simplification consultation information is here.

You can read the sailplane AMC and GM consultation detail here.

You can respond online to the CAA sailplane AMC and GM consultation here.