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…

Several airfields with ATZs in class G use instrument approach procedures (IAPs), which are designed to improve approach safety in poor weather, at night, etc. However, these IAPs are frequently utilised during fine weather in daylight by commercial pilot training organisations as well as by commercial business jet operators. The…

This is a repeat of guidance published in September 2023. FES equipped gliders are relatively new and unfamiliar to other airfield users who may not appreciate the dangers of the flush seated, self deploying, fast turning and solid propeller blades on the nose of the glider. In addition to any…

Pilots are reminded that a BGA Operational Regulation states that: ‘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 must sign to confirm that they have completed the daily…

The FAI is delivering a webinar on the 12th May designed for pilots of any air sports and skydivers who are eager to resume their activities after a break. Its main objective is to raise awareness about the decline in skills that occurs when individuals take a break, such as…

The latest FLARM update has resulted in a temporary incompatibility with the software used in some devices with FLARM transmit only capability as used by the para gliding and hang gliding community. The manufacturer of XC Tracer devices has developed a software update. The OGN have knowledge of the protocol…

The ongoing wet weather across much of the UK means that several gliding clubs have waterlogged airfields and as a result, flying opportunities for their members have been very limited. As club CFIs and others have previously noted (for example after the Covid restrictions were lifted), experienced pilots who are…