Instructors and instructor training

Instructing is highly rewarding and great fun. At the same time, it’s a way of putting something back into gliding whilst flying. Instructors are an essential part of any gliding club. All suitably experienced pilots should consider instructing.

The Basic Instructor (Sailplanes) and Flight Instructor (Sailplanes)

There are two levels of instructor. The Basic Instructor (Sailplanes) known as BI(S), and the Flight Instructor (Sailplanes) known as FI(S). Both instruct under the oversight of their BGA club CFI.

BI(S) and FI(S) instructor training involves completing the relevant instructor training course followed by an assessment by an examiner. The rating is added to the applicants SPL by the CAA following a recommendation from the BGA.

Basic Instructor (Sailplanes)

The BI(S) requirements and privileges are detailed at SFCL.310. Essentially, a glider pilot who holds an SPL and has at least 50 hours of flight time as pilot in command on sailplanes can train as a BI(S).

BI(S) specific rolling recency requirements apply – see below. BI(S) training is normally facilitated by a BGA club. An FI(S) delivering BI(S) training must hold SFCL.315 (a)(7) (Flight Instructor Coach) or (a)(8) (Basic Instructor Coach) privileges.

The BI(S) training programme can be viewed here.

After completing the course, a skill test with an FE(S) with SFCL.415(c) privileges is required.

Flight Instructor (Sailplanes)

The FI(S) prerequisites are detailed at SFCL.320. Essentially, a glider pilot who holds an SPL and has at least 100 hours of flight time and 200 launches as pilot in command on sailplanes can train as an FI(S).

FI(S) privileges are detailed at SFCL.315. FI(S) specific rolling recency requirements apply – see below. FI(S) training is facilitated by either a BGA club or by the BGA. An FI(S) delivering FI(S) training must hold SFCL.315 (a)(7) (Flight Instructor Coach) privileges.

The FI(S) training programme can be viewed here.

After completing the course, a skill test with an FE(S) with SFCL.415(c) privileges is required.

Book BGA facilitated instructor training here

Rolling recency

Instructors are reminded that both SPL rolling recency requirements and instructor rolling recency apply. SPL rolling recency is at SFCL.160. BI(S) rolling recency is at SFCL.365. FI(S) rolling recency is at SFCL.360. And don’t forget launch type rolling recency (SFCL.155).

There’s a handy rolling recency summary here.

Refresher training

Book BGA facilitated FI(S) refresher training here

FI(S) 9-year Demonstration of Ability

Where nominated by the BGA club CFI, the 9-year Demonstration of Ability to instruct can be delivered by an FI(S) with;

(a)(7) (or on older licences, ‘FI(S) (i)’) privileges), and
a minimum of one year’s experience delivering instructor training (or have other relevant experience in delivering aeroplane instructor training).

FI(S) 9 year DofA guidance is available here.

An FI(S) DofA report are available here.

BI(S) Demonstration of Ability

The 2-year Demonstration of Ability to instruct in a sailplane can be delivered by an FI(S) who is qualified in accordance with point SFCL.315(a)(7) – ie FIC – or SFCL.315(a)(8) – ie BIC.

A BI(S) DofA Report is here.

Additional FI(S) privileges

An FI(S) can qualify to instruct for additional FI(S) privileges as detailed at SFCL.315.

Once qualified for the additional privileges which are detailed on the SPL instructor certificate, the FI(S) can exercise those instructing privileges.

Illustration: FI(S) additional privileges steps (see detail below)

Qualifying for additional FI(S) privileges requires an FI(S) who holds the relevant privileges on their SPL to complete FI(S) additional privilege training with an FIC during or following which they demonstrate their ability to instruct to a suitably experienced FI(S) with (a)7 (i.e FIC) privileges who has been nominated by the Head of Training. Reference SFCL.315.

FICs are nominated by the BGA Head of Training for completing a DoA to Aerobatics instructor privileges, to add Sailplane Cloud Flying instructor privileges, to add TMG instructor privileges, and to add FIS) instructor privileges (ie FIC).

The following FICs have been nominated by the BGA Head of Training for completing a DoA to add the following specific FI(S) privileges:

DofA to add TMG instructing privileges (SFCL.315 (a)(4)):

Ian Atherton, Bob Beck, Ryan Berry, John Blakemore, Robert Bryce-Smith, Barrie Elliott, Derren Francis, John Garrett, Jonathan May, Ian Mitchell, Andy Miller, Paul Ruskin, Derek Smith, Colin Watt, Paul Whitehead,

DofA to add sailplane cloud flying instructing privileges (SFCL.315 (a)(5)) :

Ian Atherton, Bob Beck, Derren Francis, Graham Holloway, Mike Jenks, Andy Miller, Ian Mitchell, Nick Norman, Patrick Naegeli, Paul Ruskin, Derek Smith, Dave Watt, Paul Whitehead,

DofA to add basic aerobatics instructing privileges (SFCL.315(a)(5))

Any suitably qualified FIC nominated by their club CFI (Head of Training).

DofA to add advanced aerobatics instructing privileges (SFCL.315(a)(5))*:

Brendan O’Brian, Bruce Cooper, Richard Crockett, Andy Cunningham, Ian Gallacher, Dave Gethin, Willy Hackett, Ian, Harris, Ian Mitchell, Graham Saw,

DofA to add Flight Instructor instructing privileges (SFCL.315(a)(7)) NB (a)(7) has (a)(8) privileges – also see below ‘Training & Qualifying as an FIC’:

Simon Adlard, Alison Arnold, Ian Atherton, Ryan Berry, Peter Brown, Robert Bryce-Smith, Mark Butcher, Kate Byrne, Mark Courtney, Lyn Ferguson-Dalling, Tim Davies, Derren Francis, Mike Fox, Paul Gentil, Barrie Elliott, John Garrett, Ian Harris, Eric Hibbard, Paul Holland, Lee Ingram, Mike Jenks, Martin Langford, Jonathan May, Simon Lucas, Andrew Miller, Simon Minson, Ian Mitchell, Graham Morris, Dave Munro, Patrick Naegeli, Stu Naylor, Greg O’Hagan, Matt Page, Tony Parker, Martyn Pike, Ted Richards, Andrew Roch, Paul Ruskin, Derek Smith, Ron Smith, Ged Terry, David Watson, Colin Watt, Mike Weston

DofA to add Basic Instructors instructing privileges only (SFCL.315(a)(8)):

See above for (a)(7) and: Mark Entwisle, Robert Pye, Ian Smith,

CAA licensing action

FI(S) additional privileges are recorded on the instructor certificate by the CAA (SFCL.015 refers) The application form for FI(S) additional privileges is linked below.

*Where basic aerobatic instructing privileges SFCL.315 (a)(5) are previously recorded by the CAA on an instructor certificate , the successful completion of the DofA for advanced instructing privileges is to be certified in the instructors logbook by the authorised FIC completing the DofA.

Training and qualifying as a Flight Instructor Coach (FIC)

A suitably experienced and qualified FI(S) may choose to qualify to train other instructors (reference SFCL.315 (a)(7) for training FI(S) and BI(S), or SCL.315 (a)(8) for training BI(S) only).

Suitably experienced means that the instructor has assisted other FICs with instructor training.

The FIC training is carried out by another suitably qualified and experienced FIC. The (a) (7) and (a) (8) course programmes are here.

The training begins with an FIC seminar. Please contact the BGA office to book a place.

On completion of the seminar and practical training, the candidate FIC is required to complete a Demonstration of Ability with an FIC nominated by the BGA Head of Training (see above).

On successful completion, an application to add the instructing privilege is submitted to the CAA via the BGA.

Note for FIC trainers/assessors. (a)(7) FIC training should be focussed on FI(S) BGA course Part 2 exercises. Use of appropriate briefing techniques and a high standard of flying and instructional competencies as well as standardised approach must be in evidence throughout. Introduction and recognition of student pilot errors is an important part of instructor training and the candidate needs to be able to demonstrate these errors and how to recognise and correct them in their role as an FIC. Please emphasise that errors should be made obvious rather than subtle. The process is not intended to be long and drawn out. The aim is for the candidate FIC to demonstrate their ability to train instructors to the required standard; training should be tailored accordingly.