Pilot Licensing Introduction & News

In the UK there is currently no legal requirement for pilots of unpowered sailplanes and self sustaining sailplanes to hold a licence. However, see the Future Licensing section for information about how this situation may change. Pilots of powered sailplanes (other than self sustaining sailplanes) are legally required to hold an appropriate Private Pilots Licence - the UK licence is the NPPL SLMG - see below.

The BGA Glider Pilot Licence

The BGA requires glider pilots to be trained to a defined minimum standard. Certification of glider pilots is managed by the BGA through the BGA gliding certificate with endorsements. Within this BGA system, the Bronze badge with cross country endorsement is equivalent to an ICAO glider pilot licence standard when supported by an ICAO compliant medical. The BGA offers a BGA Glider Pilot Licence which enables the holder to demonstrate ICAO equivalence where that is required. Details and the application form for the BGA GPL are here.

National Private Pilots Licence

The NPPL offers UK recreational pilots an affordable, appropriate licence.  Although safety and flying standards are every bit as high as those required for the JAR-FCL equivalent, the training requirements and privileges are more limited.

Full details are on the NPPL web site: http://www.nationalprivatepilotslicence.co.uk/

Further, CAA, information in Sections C6 & F6 of:  LASORS

BGA FAQs: here

For advice, contact the BGA SRE(MG) 01249 821 031 or the BGA Office 0116 253 1051 office@gliding.co.uk

Licensing Advice

Air Navigation Orders, and amendments, carry the underlying legal basis for UK pilots’ licences. The CAA publishes advice and its understanding of the law in a variety of documents. The BGA and NPPL ltd publish, in turn, advice for pilots. This section lists links to some of the appropriate documents. The list is managed by the SRE(MG), but is unlikely to be fully complete. Suggestions for corrections or additions are welcome: they should be sent to him.

CAP 393 - AIR NAVIGATION - THE ORDER and the REGULATIONS (2009 with Amendment 2). This work sets out the provisions of the Air Navigation Order as amended together with Regulations made under the Order. These Regulations include the Rules of the Air Regulations, The Air Navigation (General) Regulations and a number of permanent Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) Regulations. It also contains the provisions of the Civil Aviation Authority Regulations.

Note: this version drops reference to the 5hrs/ 13month revalidation hitherto available to some SLMG rating holders. Current CAA advice (Jan 2010) is that it is still available as before.

ADVICE TO PILOTS CONCERNING THE AIR NAVIGATION (AMENDMENT)(No. 2) ORDER 2007 AND EXEMPTION ORS 4 No. 711 (25 Sep 2009) including further advice on medical requirements and SEP, SSEA & SLMG ratings

ADVICE TO EXAMINERS (undated, to be read in conjunction with AIC 30/2009)

AIC 30/2008 (White 146) (24 Apr 2008) This includes information on changes to medical requirements, NPPL revalidation and instructor privileges.

ANO Amendments (13 Sep 2007). An amendment to the Air Navigation Order has been published. In general, pure gliders are not affected by the changes, but operators of SLMGs should be aware that there is now a requirement for additional safety equipment to be carried during flights over water: lifejackets when flying beyond gliding range of land suitable for making an emergency landing and an ELT when more than 10 minutes flying time from land suitable for making an emergency landing.

LASORS Published annually by the CAA (except 2009). Compendium of CAA advice, available as either a download or hard copy. The second half – Safety Sense Leaflets – is superb.

EASA and Future Licensing 2 February 09

The BGA draft response to EASA NPA 2008-17 re pilot licensing is available on the Future Licensing webpage.