Effective lookout is the primary means of avoiding collisions and situational awareness can be improved by hearing about the location of others. Pilots flying in the circuit spend a significant part of their lookout time assessing height, position and angle to the landing area. The BGA ‘collision avoidance’ webpage now includes…

The CAA has published a new safety sense leaflet on the topic of carbon monoxide safety. You can view the leaflet here.

It’s that time of year when glider pilots are heading to ridge and wave sites for some autumn fun. There’s helpful guidance here aimed at pilots and clubs, including: Hill, ridge and mountain soaring Maintaining safe airspace Collision avoidance  

The aim of accident investigation is to improve safety. The AAIB and BGA have a memorandum of understanding that results in BGA taking on a level of investigation of gliding accidents. During early September, a group of glider pilots involved with BGA accident investigation attended an annual training day specifically…

The CAA has published it’s Safety Directive mandate regarding use of active CO detectors with effect from January 2025. In a gliding context, the mandate applies to two-seat aeroplanes and TMGs carrying a passenger or student pilot. For example, a Falke, G109, Stemme, and microlight or aeroplane tug. You can…

A new Safety Sense leaflet has been produced by the CAA addressing weight and balance and the impact on performance. The leaflet content is aimed at and will be of particular interest to TMG and tug pilots. You can view the leaflet here.

As part of a project to develop a spine-shell with the aim of protecting glider pilots from spinal injuries in accidents, female and male pilots are being scanned at Loughborough University on the 31st July and 1st August. A few more female pilots are needed otherwise the results for females would…

Infringements of controlled airspace are potentially very dangerous. Although very few of the many infringements of controlled airspace in the UK each year involve gliders, any airspace infringement by a glider pilot damages the reputation of gliding. A glider that was being flown from a wave site that hosts visitors…

Bicester airfield management has advised the BGA that the airfield will be closed from 8th July – 1st August inclusive. As ever, please check NOTAMs before flight.  

The vast majority of aerotows are uneventful. A take-off decision point, factors affecting take-off and climb performance, landing area options in the event of a problem, and communicating about minimum safe speeds are all considerations for both the glider pilot and the tug pilot. Helpful guidance, aimed at glider pilots…