Power Flying News

This section of the BGA web site covers power flying, as it relates to mainstream gliding. Although designed primarily for news and other items affecting tug pilots, aerotowing operations and motor gliding, many of the items found here may be of interest to glider pilots in general.

Comments on this section or items for inclusion should be directed in the first instance to John Marriott, BGA Senior Tug Pilot or Andy Miller, BGA Senior Regional Examiner (Motorgliders).

AVGAS Duty 24th April 2007

HM Revenue and Customs have published a summary of the responses received to their recent consultation on proposed changes to the taxation regime for aviation fuels used for private flying.  The GA Alliance, which includes the BGA, submitted a response and continues to work with the Treasury to develop an appropriate way forward to minimize potential increases in Avgas fuel duty that are related to EU induced changes to existing national fuel duty.  The full summary of responses is on the HMRC web site.  

NPPL SLMG Licensing Update 24th April 2008

Further to the article in the last issue of S&G, NATS have now issued Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) 30/2008 (White 146) describing changes to NPPL licensing. We recommend that all NPPL SLMG pilots and instructors read this. The document is available on the AIS web site but, as this requires user registration, a copy has been provided here for convenience. Additional information is in a Notes to Examiners document.

Landing Light Modification Approved   17th March 2008

The CAA has approved a modification which allows operators of certain tug aircraft, including the PA-25, to replace the standard landing lamp with a long life navigation/ marker lamp. This will enable the lamp to remain on during towing, thus increasing conspicuity. The full modification approval can be seen here.

Renewal of Ratings  17th March 2008

CRIs are reminded that all training flights should be entered as such in the instructor's log book with the student's name in the remarks column.

Renewal of Ratings  13th January 2008

BGA Tugging Class Rating Instructors (CRIs) should be aware that most are nearing the last revalidation date for their ratings. These must be renewed by a local Flight Instructor Examiner (FIE). Renewals can be completed up to three months early, without time penalty. Full details of the renewal process are available in LASORS (section H3.5). We know, from the experiences of CRIs in other branches of aviation that expired ratings can be difficult to revalidate so please ensure that you renew in time.

ANO Amendments 13th September 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.

Motor Glider Examiners Seminar  17th November 2007

All Motor Glider Examiners, both BGA and CAA, are invited to the annual seminar on Saturday 17th November at the Soaring Centre, Husbands Bosworth, starting at 10:30. The agenda will be published closer to the date but, if you have any subjects that you would like to be discussed, please contact the BGA SRE (MG), Andy Miller.

Motor Glider Handbook 23rd May 2007

The first edition of the BGA Motor Glider Handbook has been published and it is available for download here. The handbook is for the guidance of the BGA clubs that have motor gliders operating from their sites and for the pilots and owners of these machines.

Renewal of Ratings 23rd February 2007

Tugging Class Rating Instructors (CRIs) are reminded that their ratings are valid for three years and during the final year of validity they must complete 10 hours of instruction on SEP type aircraft to revalidate. (We are getting close to that time period for many of our group). It is the responsibility of the individual to get their own CRI rating revalidated before it expires, this can be done by a local Flight Instructor Examiner (FIE).

Any type of instruction will suffice for the one hour flight required to revalidate an SEP rating. A professional pilot's simulator check or an IMC revalidation will also count. It is however suggested that the one hour instructional flight addresses something useful to that particular student. You have to be an examiner to actually re-validate an SEP rating. CRIs are reminded that they can only give the one hours instruction required towards that revalidation.

This information is promulgated in the CAA's LASORS which is available in book form or online.

There is no requirement to complete any paperwork for the BGA when completing the one hours instructional flight, simply sign the persons log book as having done so.

Individual clubs might have their own checks & training over and above the basic JAR requirements. Any questions to BGA tug pilot johnpmarriott@btopenworld.com. Thanks everyone for keeping tugging safe...John

Safety Seminar 20th September 2006

A tugging safety seminar will be held in the briefing rooms at Husbands Bosworth from 11am to 6pm on Saturday 2nd December 2006. All tug pilots are welcome. Food and beverages will be made available. Bookings please to John Marriott by 25th November.

EMail Distribution List Launched 4th July 2006

A new category - Tug Pilots - has been added to the BGA Email Subscription Service. To sign up to receive the latest aero towing related news as it becomes available, please go to https://www.gliding.co.uk/subscriptions/

Aerotowing Guidance Notes 15th June2006

The BGA has published a comprehensive set of Aerotowing Guidance Notes. These follow on from the BGA Senior Tug Pilot, John Marriott's article in S&G this month. They are essential reading for all tug pilots; all glider pilots would benefit from reading them as well. The document is available for download now.