The CAA has issued Official Record Series (ORS) 1601 which regularises the use of non-Part 21 aircraft to conduct the dual refresher training flight for revalidation of SEP or TMG class privileges of class ratings. There are several points of detail in ORS 1601 that holders of SEP or TMG…

In support of its members interests, the BGA works closely with the GA Alliance. The GA Alliance represents some 72,000 subscription paying members of organisations working in in partnership. The members are the British Balloon and Airship Club (BBAC), British Gliding Association (BGA), British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (BHPA),…

The CAA has published its phase 2 consultation and response survey into proposed changes to the Sailplane Flight Crew Licensing rules. The BGA encourages all glider pilots to respond and has supplied response guidance. The BGA guidance including links to the consultation and survey can be viewed here. The consultations…

Following the BGA AGM on 21 February 2024, BGA Operational Regulation 38 has been updated to read: “Inspection Before Flight. All gliders operated from a BGA club site shall be inspected before flying on each day by a pilot who has been approved to carry out a daily inspection, who…

Cross-channel gliding flights are incredibly rare. The Home Office has asked us to report that the UK government is introducing regulations that will require information about international GA flights and persons on board to be submitted online in advance of departure for aircraft expecting to arrive or depart the UK….

The CAA is consulting on final proposed changes to the Pilot Medical Declaration (PMD) system. The Pilot Medical Declaration (PMD) scheme was introduced in August 2016 to offer recreational pilots the option to self-declare to the UK Civil Aviation Authority that they are fit to fly according to DVLA Group1…

The CAA has launched a consultation on their Charges Scheme for 2024/25, with the proposed changes due to come into effect on the 1 April, 2024. The CAA proposals include a general 5.3% increase with an additional 3% being used to support innovation, i.e a total increase of 8.3%. ‘Innovation’…

Gliding takes place under a mix of national, retained-EU, and self regulation. All glider pilots need a good awareness of the requirements, or at least where to find them. The ‘Laws and Rules’ BGA webpage provides gliding clubs and their members with clear details and links to BGA Operational Regulations,…

The Sailplane Pilot Licence (SPL) is an ICAO compliant licence (ICAO compliance depends on the type of medical held by the pilot) that can be obtained from the BGA by converting from BGA qualifications. Pilots of Part-21 sailplanes are currently exempt from the requirement to hold an SPL to fly…

As previously reported, the CAA is carrying out a GA pilot licence simplification project, which includes activity related to the UK-SFCL SPL. The project will take some time to complete, including any associated regulatory changes. The UK Government has published Statutory Instrument 2023 No. 588 re The Aviation Safety (Amendment)…