SFCL FAQs

These frequently asked questions are updated from time to time. To assist those looking for answers, The FAQs are presented in categories.

Conversion to SPL

Can the conversion process be used after 1 October 2025? Yes, provided that the conversion is justified based on BGA qualifications etc held prior to 1 Oct 2025.

General

Who has to comply with SFCL requirements? If you fly a Part 21 sailplane as pilot in command you must comply with Part SFCL requirements. That means you need an SPL unless flying as student pilot under the authorisation and supervision of an instructor. If you instruct, you need a BI(S) or FI(S) certificate as appropriate. Clubs must also comply in respect of pilot training.

Clubs

It is the licensed pilot responsibility to ensure they are within recency and that their medical is within date. So why is the club responsible if the pilot is flying a club aircraft? The club is not responsible, the pilot in command is. However, clubs (as owners) are likely to have liability if their aircraft is being operated without having reasonably ensured compliance, e.g. for recency / medical / ARC / insurance, etc.

What happens if we don’t comply with SFCL? CAA can/does sample-audit. If a club or individual is found to be getting it wrong and not addressing it, CAA can and does take enforcement action.

How do we deal with a CAA audit if one occurs? It’s just a case of being able to demonstrate compliance. The BGA training organisation and associated guidance is designed to provide a straightforward and familiar compliant approach.

Your licence

Does anyone need to sign my licence? Only you as the licence holder.

I have a legacy FCL SPL/LAPL(S) – how do I understand the privilege codes used on the licence? This FCL-SFCL SPL decode should help. A LAPL(S) is deemed to be an SPL. Next time you apply to add something to your licence, your LAPL(S) will be replaced with an SPL.

How do pilots log their pilot in command flying? SFCL.050 provides guidance, eg applicants for an SPL or holders of an SPL may log all supervised solo flight time as well as time on tests as PIC providing the subsequent logbook entry is signed by the supervising FI(S).

SFCL.065 Refers to curtailment of privileges of SPL holders age 70 or older in commercial passenger sailplane operations. Is that an issue? No. Refer to the ‘Cover regulation Article 3 Air Operations which explains why cost shared operations, competitions, introductory flights and training flights are not commercial operations. No UK gliding clubs are currently deemed to be commercial operations.

Is the Gliding Certificate still available? Very much so. The Gliding certificate with Solo Endorsement continues (sporting qualification and motivator during training).

Passenger carrying

I’m an IFP – can I continue to use the privileges? Yes, as long as you hold an SPL and your CFI is content. The BGA IFP is a method of assuring clubs and insurers that a pilot’s flying standards have been assessed as suitable for carrying introductory flights as an alternative to the BI.

Medical

Do I need a medical certificate? The minimum medical requirement to fly as pilot in command under SFCL is a CAA Pilot Medical Declaration (PMD). Alternatives are a class 1 or 2 medical certificate or a LAPL medical certificate.

Where can I find Pilot Medical Declaration (PMD) guidance? The BGA PMD webpage is helpful. View it here.

SPL – additional privileges

How do I add a TMG extension to my SPL? Complete the required training and complete a skills test with an FE(S) with TMG examining privileges. If so, the TMG extension is added to your SPL by the CAA via application to the BGA. Pilots who hold a valid FCL aeroplane licence can credit experience – see SFCL.

How do I add sailplane cloud flying and basic or advanced aerobatic privileges to my SPL? Complete the required training and demonstrate to the instructor that you have the required ability. If so, the additional privilege is certified via logbook signature at the club where the training is completed.

Recency – SPL

I use an SPL. Do I need to comply with SFCL rolling recency requirements? Yes. The rolling recency requirements detailed at SFCL.160. There’s a helpful summary and links to the regulation here.

SPL rolling recency requirements include 5 hours of flight time, 15 launches and 2 training flights but the detail isn’t entirely clear. Can this be clarified?  The wording in the regulation at SFCL.160 provides the answer – but the grammar in the EU-English doesn’t help (bold added here to help): …completed, on sailplanes, at least five hours of flight time as PIC or flying dual or solo under the supervision of an FI(S), including, on sailplanes, excluding TMGs, at least: 15 launches; and two training flights with an FI(S).

In other words, time flown as a passenger is not relevant. PIC includes solo and as an instructor or carrying a passenger.

I converted from a BGA qualification. Does my SPL rolling recency period ‘start’ after 1 October 2025? No. The rolling recency experience period applies backwards from the day you fly using SPL privileges. Time flying under BGA requirements counts.

Do I need to have the two flights with an instructor in the previous 24 months as detailed in SFCL.160? Yes. If those flights were with a BGA instructor prior to 1 October 2025, that’s fine as long as the flights are clearly logged.

Do those two flights with an instructor need to include formal instruction? The content of the training flights does need to include instruction (AMC1 SFCL.160(a)(1)(ii) SPL – Recency requirements refers – essentially anything from the SPL syllabus).

Is a paper logbook required in order to manage logbook signatures? No – just find a way to comply where an e-logbook is in use.

I have TMG privileges on my SPL. Can I use my valid PPL(A) TMG or NPPL(A) TMG to validate my SPL TMG rolling recency? Yes. SFCL.160 (c) refers.

Do:

hours and launches flown in a non-Part 21 glider count? Yes.

hours and launches flown under BGA requirements ie prior to 1 October 25 count? Yes

hours and launches flown in a non-UK registered glider in or out of the UK count? Yes.

Recency – instructors

How does a BI(S) comply with rolling recency? Please make sure you regularly check that you meet the rolling recency requirement in SFCL.365 in addition to the SPL rolling recency requirement.

I converted from a BGA qualification. Does the BI(S) rolling recency experience period ‘start’ from 1 October 2025? No. The rolling recency experience period applies backwards from the day you fly using BI(S) privileges. Time flying as PIC under BGA requirements counts.

How does a new FI(S), i.e. one who has recently completed an instructor course, meet the rolling recency requirement? The BGA considers that the requirements of SFCL.360(a)(1)(i), SFCL.360(a)(1)(ii) and SFCL.360(a)(2) are each met by the successful post-course completion of an assessment of competence in accordance with point SFCL.345.

How does a FI(S) comply with rolling recency? Please make sure you regularly check that you meet the rolling recency requirement in SFCL.360 in addition to the SPL rolling recency requirement.

I converted from a BGA qualification. Does the FI(S) rolling recency experience period ‘start’ from 1 October 2025? No. The rolling recency experience period applies backwards from the day you fly using FI(S) privileges. Time flying as a BGA instructor counts.

How does the FI(S) 9-year demonstration of ability work? This is a flight with an instructor coach approved by the CFI for the purpose who helps you to maintain the required standard of instructing. There’s more detail on the ‘Instructors and Instructor Training’ webpage.

Can a BGA instructor ‘5 year’ count as a 9-year? Yes, provided the BGA ‘5 year’ was completed under BGA prior to 1st October 2025 and is recorded in the instructor’s logbook.

SFCL.360 allows gliding clubs to nominate an FI(C) 315(a)(7) to conduct 9 Year demonstration of ability. What are the topics? The BGA publishes guidance and a helpful 9-year DofA checklist aligned with SFCL (nothing to be submitted – logbook signature).

Will the BGA still run their FI(S) refresher seminars? Yes, we recommend instructors use the BGA facilitated seminars as there is significant value from shared wider experience. Book via the BGA website.

Instructors – general

Is my instructor rating revalidated each year? No – SFCL requires BI(S) and FI(S) rolling recency with no revalidation. The BGA ‘instructor membership’ managed by CFIs through their BGA e-tool takes care of ongoing support including the BGA’s aviation risk insurance.

I’m a BI. What’s changed under SFCL? Provided you have BI(S) certificate on your SPL, you can exercise BI(S) privileges, which are detailed at SFCL.310. Don’t forget the rolling recency requirement.

Can a BI(S) sign for completing an exercise with a student pilot? Yes, provided the exercise is within the scope of BI(S) privileges.

I have an old ‘FCL’ SPL with an instructor revalidation signature block. Next time you apply to add something to your licence, it will be replaced with an SFCL SPL. Meanwhile, ignore the instructor revalidation signature block as it is irrelevant under SFCL. You just need to comply with rolling recency.

I’ve ‘upgraded’ from being a BI(S) to an FI(S). As a result, my SPL has both BI(S) and FI(S) privileges. Is there a downside to keeping BI(S) on my licence too? Has the CAA made a mistake by leaving BI(S) on my licence? The BI(S) and FI(S) qualifications are legally issued for life, just like the SPL is. The privileges are only valid in compliance with the recency requirements (i.e. SFCL.360/SFCL.365). There will be a period where new FI(S) holders will be simultaneously recent as a BI(S). There is no adverse consequence of this.  Obviously, it is unnecessary to continue to keep the BI(S) in recency as the holder will be more focused on the FI(S) recency which is over the 9-year basis instead of  two years. There is no reason for CAA to remove the BI(S) privilege from the FI(S)’s licence.

Instructors – additional privileges

How do I add additional instructor privileges to my FI(S) certificate? SFCL.315 refers. Complete the required training and then demonstrate the required ability to an SFCL Flight Instructor Coach who has been nominated for that purpose by the BGA Head of Training (BGA HoT nominated FICs are listed on the ‘instructors and instructor training’ webpage). Additional instructing privileges include, for example, cloud flying, advanced aerobatics and TMG. Any suitably qualified FIC can provide the training and demonstration of ability for an FI(S) to qualify to instruct Basic Aerobatics. Having successfully done so, the additional privilege is added to the instructor certificate on your SPL by the CAA via application to the BGA.

I was a BGA Flight instructor Coach – how does that work under SFCL? The FIC equivalent under SFCL is the FI(S) privilege described in SFCL.315 (a)(7) as ‘privileges to conduct flight instruction for an FI(S) certificate’. If (a)(7) is on your instructor certificate within your SPL, you can deliver FI(S) training and BI(S) training.  SFCL.315(a)(8) is the equivalent for BI(S) training only.

I’m a BGA MGIR. How does that work under SFCL? The BGA MGIR has disappeared under SFCL. An FI(S) who has an SPL TMG extension can teach SPL gliding exercises in a TMG. So if you were a BGA MGIR, just carry on doing your great work. If you are an FI(S) who has an SPL TMG extension but have not been taught to teach out-landings, PLEASE do not do so until you have been taught how to in a TMG by a suitably qualified instructor coach, including all safety precautions, and using the specific FI(S) course exercise ‘out-landings’. A good rule of thumb is do not teach anything that you have not been taught to teach.

I have TMG privileges on an aeroplane licence. Can I use that aeroplane licence privilege with my FI(S) certificate to teach gliding exercises in a TMG? No. You need to add TMG privileges to your SPL (based on your aeroplane licence TMG privileges).

SFCL.315 (a)(5) aerobatics instructing privileges. My understanding is that those who hold this privilege can teach aerobatics at either basic or aerobatic privilege level pending what they hold themselves. Correct. (a)(5) Aerobatics appears on the licence as an additional FI(S) privilege.

Examining

How can I become an examiner? Meet the requirements detailed in the SFCL.400 series. That involves CAA-approved examiner standardisation training as well as an assessment by a Senior Examiner (Sailplanes). There is detail on the ‘Examiners’ webpage.

CFIs

Who can I turn to for guidance? There’s detailed guidance on our ‘Chief Flying Instructor’ webpage.  We recommend that you familiarise yourself with our BGA Training Organisation webpage. As ever, the SRE’s are available if you would like to ask for their guidance.

Where do we send SFCL applications? Submit all applications to the BGA.

• Student pilots and training

How critical are theory briefings during flight training? The theory is integrated with the practical training. So, a topic theory briefing, eg ‘winch launching’, is as important as it always has been. We’ve added emphasis in the SPL student pilot training record card as it’s an important aspect of training that can otherwise be overlooked.

I have a student pilot who started training under BGA requirements and is finishing their training under SFCL. How do I account for the BGA training? Where a training exercise is recorded as being satisfactorily completed on a previous BGA record card, certify that satisfactorily completed exercise on the SPL student pilot training record card. If in doubt, review progress before certifying.

I have a student pilot who has recently completed the Bronze Theoretical Knowledge exams under my supervision but is completing their training under SFCL. How do I account for the Bronze Theoretical Knowledge exams pass result to avoid the unnecessary retaking of an exam? The Bronze theoretical knowledge examination is no longer valid after 30th September and is replaced by the SPL theoretical knowledge exams (which are essentially the same). To support those currently in training, CAA has agreed that if the Bronze exam has been passed and correctly certified before the 1st of October 2025 and within 18 months of applying for an SPL following the skill test, then it can replace the need to complete the SPL exams. Correctly certified means certified by the pilot’s CFI.

Can CFI’s conduct SPL theory exams? The historic and successful CFI-managed approach will continue. CFIs have been contacted with information.

How can two clubs can have access to and update a member’s training records? Where agreed by a student pilot, copies of a student training record (not originals) should be made available to another club that is completing training for that student. Such records, which should be certified as correct, should be forwarded to the relevant CFI. Where clubs are using the same online app, that may present opportunity. Ultimately, a club CFI signing ‘course completion’ will need to be assured all training has been completed.

• BI(S) and FI(S)

How will instructor support work? BGA, CFIs, instructor coaches, SREs and other examiners work together as part of a BGA training organisation to support club training, instructors and student pilots needs. BGA has an Aviation Risk insurance policy that backs up instructing risks and is part-funded by the ongoing annual charge per instructor for ‘BGA instructor membership’, as required by a BGA Operational Regulation. As now, CFIs tell us annually which instructors operate at their club via the e-tool  re-badged as ‘Instructor membership’. The info on the e-tool will change e.g. removing ‘rating revalidation’ info and old terminology which no longer apply. Support for club-based instructor training will be further developed, with an aim of providing improved or currently unavailable resources for use by FICs and candidate instructors.

What about instructor training? The old BGA instructor training course was aligned with the incoming SFCL instructor course. The SFCL FI(S) course includes navigation and out-landing exercises, but other than that, little has changed. A club can take as little or as much time as it chooses to train new instructors – or utilise BGA facilitated courses. BI(S) look a bit different from the past as under SFCL the BI(S) course has similarities with the front end of the FI(S) course. Please note that on completion of training, the new BI(S) qualifies by passing an assessment of competence with a suitably qualified FE(S).

If my club has FI(S) certificate holders who also instruct as Air Cadet Organisation categorised gliding instructors, can any of their Air Cadet conventional gliding instructing experience count towards the SFCL.360 rolling recency requirement? Yes, the hours and launches completed in UK military registered sailplanes towards the requirements in SFCL.155(c), SFCL.160(a)(1), SFCL.160(a)(1)(i) and SFCL.360(a)(1)(ii). Air Cadet instruction is viewed as instruction carried out as a B2, B1, A2 or A1 category instructor. G1 flying is relevant to SPL rolling recency only. All other requirements e.g. the two training flights with an FI(S) in SFCL.160, the refresher seminar in SFCL.360(a)(1)(i), and the DoA in SFCL.360(a)(2) remain.

Would you recommend our current BIs have additional training to comply with the extra privileges of the BI(S) certificate? Suggest just making it very clear what their privileges are (SFCL.310) and the rolling recency requirement (SFCL.365).

It’s no longer stated in the BI(S) programme that the BI(S) must take control below 500’ agl but I guess that is implied in what they are allowed to teach. That’s correct (risk management). But as before, BI(S)s are likely to need periodic reminders about risk management.

Can a BI(S) instruct in a TMG? Yes, if SPL TMG privileges are held.  CFIs should ensure that the BI(S) has sufficient experience and capacity after qualifying for SPL TMG privileges (e.g. hours and landings PIC in TMGs after qualifying). Warning – don’t experiment with left hand flying without an FI(S) TMG on board as pilot in command.

Authorisation & supervision

Must each individual flight on a single day, taken by a solo pilot without a licence be authorised? SFCL.125 notes ‘Shall not fly solo unless…authorised…’  A proportionate approach is needed; if the conditions or planned solo flight activity haven’t changed significantly, why not a daily authorisation. If a significant re-briefing is needed, then a further authorisation on the day makes sense.

When a pilot falls out of recency and becomes a student pilot, does a solo authorisation form need to be filled out for that pilot? The form is provided to support compliance with SFCL.125. It’s not mandatory; there will be several ways of demonstrating compliance.

Need clarity what supervision means and the implications for the supervising instructor? Supervision is described in detail in ‘Managing Flying Risk – supervision’. In a sentence, its oversight to ensure everything is done correctly. Of course, there’s an element of TEM support and learning support. The implications will hopefully not be tested. But as ever, ‘compliance’ & ‘reasonableness’ are great reference points for any supervising FI(S).

If a student pilot has been authorised for solo flight by an FI(S) and that student infringes airspace and the relevant ANSP raises an MOR will it be against the FI(S) with all the relevant requirements for resolution? That is a real risk previously experienced in the aeroplane world. BGA encourages FI(S)’s to be responsibly cautious with solo flight authorisation. CFIs may take a view on which FI(S)s can authorise.

At what point is a solo student pilot allowed out of gliding range of the airfield? What are the prerequisites? As authorised and supervised by an instructor (SFCL.125). Quite a responsibility for pilot and FI(S). Logically, only authorise ‘outside gliding range’ following successful out-landing and navigation training (ex’s 16 & 17).

What is “gliding range” for someone who has not yet got an SPL? This is about managing the real risk of out-landing and operating responsibly. Avoiding airspace infringements is also relevant. Under the BGA Training Organisation, ex16&17 need to be completed including the 100km dual flight before a solo cross-country, eg Silver distance. It’s the same, i.e. no change, for non-Part 21; refer to Operational Regulation 11.

How do we interpret SFCL.045(d)(2), i.e. what is the ‘distance determined by the CAA’ for not carrying the documents? CAA – ‘official policy for both SAO.GEN.155(d) and SFCL.045(d)(2) is within the London/Scottish FIRs (which encompasses the entire UK).’

I have a few older pilots, flying a non-Part21 Sailplane. They’ve chosen not to obtain an SPL. Must they still be formally supervised each day and what medical standard must they comply with ? Can they legally carry passengers, whether club members or friends and family? No change, i.e. they will be flying a non-Part 21 glider either as unqualified or as BGA qualified pilots under club/BGA requirements; to fly with a passenger as described they need to hold a BGA Cross-Country Endorsement (and subject to club rules like everyone, of course); BGA medical requirements apply; and the level of supervision is for the CFI to decide.

Who can do a Daily inspection? The Sailplane Air Operations rules highlight PIC responsibilities re ensuring the aircraft is fit to fly and SFCL describes the training that results in the knowledge and ability to ensure the aircraft is fit to fly. The ‘DI’ is a BGA-ism that is a proven method of helping to achieve the aim, ie getting airborne in a serviceable aircraft.

Where can I get more information?

Training organisation – includes course programmes (including the SPL and associated record card and completion certificate) and other information

https://members.gliding.co.uk/bga-training-organisation/

Instructors and instructor training – includes adding FI(S) privileges and rolling recency detail including re the 9-year demonstration of ability

https://members.gliding.co.uk/bga-training-organisation/instructors-and-instructor-training/

CFI guidance – helpful, experience-based guidance

https://members.gliding.co.uk/club-management/core-management-governance/key-club-roles/guidance-for-chief-flying-instructors/

Examiners – any suitably experienced instructor can train, be assessed, and qualify as an examiner

https://members.gliding.co.uk/bga-training-organisation/examiners/