Pilot Licensing
This webpage provides pilot licensing information and links to support gliding clubs and pilots.
Pilot licensing regulation
Please refer to our Laws and Rules webpage. Please read more here.
SPL training
The BGA training organisation webpages provide information. Please read more here.
Beyond SPL – pilot development
Pilot development information beyond SPL is available. Please read more here.
Sailplane Pilot Licence Conversion
The BGA/CAA SPL conversion process remains open. Please read more here.
SFCL FAQs
Frequently asked questions and answers are available. Please read more here.
UK SPL holders flying outside the UK
Flying outside the UK using a UK issued SPL: The UK SPL + Class 2 medical certificate is ICAO compliant. That means pilots holding a UK SPL + Class 2 medical certificate may fly UK registered sailplanes outside the UK without the national regulators permission.
UK SPL holders should be aware that they have no privileges to operate a non-UK registered aircraft outside the UK. The state in which the aircraft is registered is likely to require the formal validation of a UK SPL by the the state aviation regulator (e.g. DGAC in France). Pilots are encouraged to check national requirements before arranging to travel.
UK SPL holders flying a non-UK registered sailplane in the UK
The CAA does not limit the applicability of a UK SPL to UK registered sailplanes flown in the UK. It remains up to the state of registry to decide on the pilot licensing requirements to operate aircraft on their registry.
For example, the South African authority notes in its 5 May 2014 letter ‘Pilot licensing requirements for operating a South African registered glider outside South African borders’ that ‘pilots wishing to operate a South African registered glider in another country must comply with the licensing requirements of that country’.
Using a PMD in the UK when flying a non-UK registered sailplane
The CAA does not limit the PMD’s applicability to UK registered aircraft. It remains up to the state of registry to decide on the medical requirements to operate aircraft on their registry
Pilots visiting the UK
A ‘visiting pilot’ is a pilot who is not a resident in the United Kingdom and holds a pilot’s licence issued by an International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Contracting State other than the United Kingdom. If you are resident in the UK, you are not a visitor and will need to hold a UK Part SFCL SPL to fly a UK registered sailplane.