EASA FAQs

General

Why does my glider need an EASA C of A?
See the Background section in the BGA booklet EASA Airworthiness Reglation - What it Means to You.

How can I find out whether my glider is an EASA glider? (updated 31 July 2007)
Virtually all gliders flying are EASA gliders and therefore covered by the new regulations. A list of EASA aircraft can be found on the EASA web site. Unfortunatley this list is not searchable, but gliders are listed between pages 18 and 36. If your aircraft appears on this list it is subject to transition procedures.

Is there a list of Annex II gliders? (updated 31 July 2007)
Exempted gliders are described in Annex II to EC Regulation 1592/2002. EASA has published a list of Annex II types. Note that EASA states that the list is provided for information purposes only and may not be complete. The definitive criteria for inclusion in Annex II are detailed in the regulation. It is intended to publish an Annex II list applicable to the UK only on the BGA web site. Lists of aircraft are also published on the CAA web site in CAP 747 - section 1, part 2. These lists are also subject to revision.

What if my glider doesn't appear on either list? (updated 31 July 2007)
There are a few glider types that do not appear on either list. This is usually because they are automatically Annex II (kit built, amateur built and replica vintage) or because their status has yet to be determined. There are very few in the latter category. The BGA plans to publish a list of "non EASA listed" gliders as soon as their status has been determined. If your glider's status has yet to be determined, we recommend you contact the BGA as soon as possible and we will try to assist you.

I disagree with the EASA/Annex II status of my glider. What should I do? (updated 31 July 2007)
You should contact EASA using the feedback methods published on their web site. Please do not lobby the BGA - this is solely an EASA matter and must be taken up with them.

What about tugs and motor gliders?
The legislation covers everything from a glider to large commercial airliners. This document only covers the process for transferring sailplanes from BGA certification to EASA certification. EASA Motor Gliders and Tugs will be automatically transitioned to an EASA C of A with ARC by the CAA at the first C of A renewal after 28 September 2007. Annex II motor gliders and tugs will continue to have CAA Cs of A issued through the M3 system. More information is in the BGA AMP manual.

Are there any pilot licensing implications once my glider has an EASA C of A?
No – the existing BGA system applies. EASA glider pilot licensing is not going to occur for a few years and is currently being addressed at a pan-European level by representatives from all air sports. The BGA is very involved in these negotiations with EASA and will keep all UK pilots informed as details become available.

Can I sell my glider after transition?
Yes, of course. Selling to Europe will be easier as you will now have a C of A that is valid EU-wide.

Does having an EASA C of A change anything?
Yes. You can fly your aircraft anywhere with Europe without having to obtain permission from the local airworthiness authority. The EASA C of A is also valid worldwide and it is ICAO compliant.

CAA Registration

The CAA do not use the letter Q as part of their registration mark, what should I do if I have a Q in my Trigraph?
Contact the BGA as you have two options. Either accept an out-of-sequence registration from the CAA (See AMP 3-7) or alternatively the BGA may be able to issue a alternate tri-graph replacing the Qs with Os. This will enable you to retain the link with the tri-graph and G- registration. This will be of interest for those operators who use the tri-graph as the BGA approved markings on the fin. This service is only available for owners who have a Q in the tri-graph.

My BGA C of A doesn't expire for quite some time. Do I have to wait until three months before its expiry to apply for CAA registration? (updated 31 July 2007)
No. You can apply for CAA registration as soon as you want. Note, however, that once registration has been granted, you must display the nationality and registration marks before the glider is next flown.

Who can I talk to about registration & how do I get more information about the transition process?
Further information about CAA registration is available from the Aircraft Registration section of the CAA web site. Additional information specific to gliders is provided in the BGA AMP leaflet 3-7. If these don’t provide the answer, you can contact either the CAA or the BGA office. Full details of the process for obtaining an EASA C of A are included in the transition pack which will be available on the BGA web site from around the end of July 2007.

Where can I get advice about the application of registration markings?
Advice is contained in BGA AMP leaflet 3-7. Definitive information, including details of fonts, sizes, spacing etc. is in the CAA publication CAP523.

Can I apply the registration markings on the glider fin? (5th September 2007)
Our strong advice is that, unless there are exceptional circumstances, you apply BGA markings to the fin and CAA registration markings to the fuselage. That said, CAP 523 makes provision in certain circumstances for displaying the G- registration on an aircraft’s fin. These circumstances are when "the aircraft has small vertical surfaces which preclude the use of the standard size or format of side markings, where normally the nationality mark, the hyphen and the four registration letters are displayed in a single line.” If this applies to your glider, bear in mind BGA Operational Regulation 1.9 which states that "all gliders must have BGA approved identification markings displayed as large as practicable on both sides of the fin and rudder or on the fuselage in a substantially vertical plane." OR1.9 has been retained for sound safety reasons, as the display of large trigraph or competition markings on the fin has been shown to aid pilots’ situational awareness of other aircraft in congested conditions, such as in a thermal.

We suggest the following as a simple thought process to decide where your markings should go:
Question A. Can the G- reg markings be displayed on the fuselage?
Question B. Can the G- reg markings be displayed on the fin in a single line (remember that CAP523 specifies size and spacing – you will need a usable fin width of approx 1.45m)

If the answer to A is yes and the answer to B is no, then you must display the G- reg on the fuselage, Therefore the BGA markings must go on the fin, to meet the ‘as large as practicable’ requirement. (This will be the case for the vast majority of gliders)

If the answer to both A and B is yes, then you may display the G- markings on the fuselage and the BGA markings on the fin, as above. Alternatively, you may display the G- markings on the fin in a single line, but only of this still allows you to comply with OR1.9, ie if this allows you to display the BGA markings to the same size as the fin without the G- markings would have allowed you to.

If the answer to A is no, and the answer to B is yes, then you must display the G- markings on the fin in a single line. The BGA markings should then be displayed on whichever surface (fin or fuselage) allows the largest size marking.

If the answer to both A and B is no, then you must display the G- markings on the fin over two lines. Again, the BGA markings should then be displayed on whichever surface (fin or fuselage) allows the largest size marking.

Can I apply the registration markings before the registration process is completed? (3rd August 2007)
Yes - and no! If you have established that your registration mark has been reserved for you, then you can go ahead and apply the markings to your glider. However, once you have done so, you cannot then fly the glider until the registration process has been completed.

Do I need a radio licence when I register my glider with the CAA?
The requirement for radio licensing is unchanged. In general, if your glider has a radio, it needs to be licensed. The glider becoming UK registered does not affect the category of radio licence required. Further details are available from the CAA web site.

Application and Issue of an EASA C of A

How long will the transition process take? (21st August 2007)
The BGA recommends that you begin the process approximately 4 months before the expiry of your current BGA C of A by obtaining and beginning to assemble the various items if information required. The completed transition pack should be returned to the BGA two months before the expiry of the current BGA C of A.

Why does the transition pack include a Letter of Agreement?
To enable the Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC) that validates your C of A to be issued by a Continuing Airworthiness Management Organisation (CAMO), your glider needs to be in a ‘Controlled Environment’. A requirement for this is that the continued maintenance management of your glider is ‘contracted’ to the CAMO. The BGA will become a CAMO and the Letter of Agreement is required to form a contract between the aircraft owner and BGA to satisfy the requirement.

What is a Controlled Environment?
A Controlled Environment is a situation where the airworthiness is continually managed by a Part M subpart G CAMO. The BGA has been doing this for many years, albeit in an informal manner. The benefit of a Controlled Environment is that, after initial issue, the ARC can be renewed by the CAMO after the first year and then extended twice again by the same CAMO thus reducing some of the verification requirements every year.

How do I contact an inspector who can assist me with the transition?
The inspector who currently deals with your BGA C of A can probably help you. If you need to find a new inspector, you may want to start by asking at your club for local advice. Alternatively, the BGA office will be happy to provide details of inspectors who may be able to help you.

My Inspector is having trouble with the transition paperwork. What should I do?
Firstly, please read the various guidance documents produced as these should answer all your questions. Secondly, ask other inspectors who may be more familiar with the process. Thirdly, ask your inspector to attend one of the BGA inspector seminars. As a last resort, you can call the BGA. Please bear in mind that we are always willing to help but time is precious. While providing answers that are already readily available elsewhere, we are not doing something else.

How much will the transition cost?
The engineering fees will depend on who does the work and how much is to be done. If the aircraft records are well maintained and complete, the task will be far quicker; if these records are in a bad state it will take longer. The transition fee set by the BGA includes the CAA fee for the EASA C of A with the ARC. Current fees can be found here.

How can I check the progress of my EASA C of A application?
You should not need to but, if you have a query, please email the BGA office using an obvious subject header and provide the BGA number and G-registration of the glider. There is a Transition Tracking page on the Documents and Downloads page. 

How will the BGA contact me in case of problems?
In the transition package there is a check list where you should complete your contact email and telephone number. Please print this clearly!

What will happen if my transition package is incomplete or incorrect?
Due to the high number of aircraft to transition in a relatively short time period, it is probable that your transition package will be returned to the glider owner unprocessed. It is therefore very important that the transition paperwork is fully completed and accurate. Once the transition package is received back again at the BGA office it will be processed in turn.

My glider is modified. Can I still transition?
Yes. Minor modifications should have been previously approved and signed off by a BGA inspector; major modifications should have been approved by the BGA Technical Committee through the CTO.

I do not have a complete history for my glider. Does this matter? (15 August 2007)
Not having the complete history does cause the inspector carrying out the transition some additional problems. It will be necessary to carry out an assessment of the glider to ascertain if any modifications or major repairs have been carried out. If it is obvious that repairs and modifications have been done and no record exists, these must then be re-certified. In some cases this may mean additional investigation work.

My Glider is an ’orphan’ with no current Type Certificate Holder. What should I do?
Being ‘orphan’ does not exempt the glider from EASA regulations unless otherwise covered by Annex II. You should transition in the normal way; however you will need to obtain a copy of a Specific Airworthiness Specification (SAS) for the aircraft. This will advise if a flight manual is required. SAS are due to be published on the EASA web site.

How can I obtain a copy of the Type Certificate Data Sheet (TCDS)? (updated 5 September 2007)
Please refer to the EASA products list on EASA web site. If the glider has a EASA TCDS or SAS you should download this from the EASA web site. Links to TCDS are available in this pdf. Note: SAS are currently not available on the EASA web site but we are advised they will be soon.

Where will my EASA C of A and ARC be sent ?
Your EASA C of A and ARC will be normally be sent to the registered owner by the BGA together with any BGA Flight Manual Supplements and Maintenance Programme revisions. Should the registered owner wish the documents sent anywhere else, it should be made clear in the "General Remarks" section of the BGA 267.

Can I speed up my application?
No. All applications are processed in the order they are received. It is important to make sure you apply for the transition in plenty of time to prevent being grounded whilst the application is being processed.

Can I anticipate the transition process?
Yes. You can complete the transition process up to a maximum of 90 days before the expiry of your current BGA C of A. The expiry of the newly issued ARC will be 1 year from the expiry of the old BGA C of A so you will not loose any of its validity.

My BGA C of A has expired. Can I still transition my glider?
Yes. The ARC will be valid for 1 year from the date it is processed by the CAA.

How do I keep my EASA C of A valid?
An EASA C of A is issued for the lifetime of the aircraft and confirms its initial airworthiness. The C of A has to be revalidated annually by the issue of an Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC). The first ARC will be issued along with the issue of an EASA C of A. The detailed process for the issue of subsequent ARCs is still being finalized. However, the process will be similar to that currently used for renewal of BGA Cs of A.

Can I fly my glider whilst the transition is in progress?
Yes, provided your old BGA C of A has not expired.

Can I extend my BGA C of A if the transition is delayed?
Yes. You may apply to the BGA CTO for an extension in accordance with existing practices. However, it is not possible to extend any BGA C of A beyond 28 September 2008. It should be noted that late application for transition is not an acceptable reason to extend a C of A. The BGA will also renew the BGA C of A on receipt of a satisfactory transition pack to allow you to fly whilst the transition is processed. when the EASA C of A and ARC is issued it will overwrite the BGA C of A.

Can my inspector issue a BGA 30-Day ticket after the transition paperwork is completed.
No. BGA 30-Day tickets are not allowed.

Flight Manuals and Glider Logbooks

What language does my flight manual need to be in? (15 August 2007)
English is the language of the UK. If the flight manual is not in English and unless all the pilots who fly the aircraft and inspectors who certify it are fluent in that language, an English language version is required.

How do I check my Flight Manual is up to date? (5 September 2007)
For flight manuals where we have the information, you can check on the BGA web site using the FM and TCDS list. Please ensure that there are no later revisions by referring to the Technical Notes published by the glider manufacturer.

My Glider type has no information on the BGA Flight Manual revision or TCDS list? (5 September 2007)
The BGA requested this information from major glider manufacturers in the form of a Master Copy of the Flight Manual for the CAA-UK, however some declined our request and we therefore do not have the information. Some types it has not been possible to link to a TCDS, for these aircraft it will be necessary to obtain one from the manufacturer or TC holder.

Why have I been advised that I need to supply a Flight Manual to the CAA? (5 September 2007)
The CAA requested the BGA to ask glider manufacturers for a master copy of the flight manual for each type. Those who have kindly supplied are listed on the Flight Manual revision list. Unfortunately those types where the manufacturer has declined to supply the responsibility defaults to the first person to transition that type of glider.

My inspector has advised me that my Flight Manual is not up to date, what should I do?
You need to contact the glider manufacturer, through the UK agent if possible, for the required updates. In some cases it may be advantageous to purchase a new manual. Some manufacturers publish Flight Manuals on their web sites.

I have received a flight manual supplement from the BGA. What should I do with it?
Keep it safe and include it in your flight manual. Make a record of the amendment on the revisions page. FM supplements are issued where there has been a change to limitations, such as a weight increase or a flight envelope restriction.

Do I need a CAA aircraft logbook? (19th September 2007) No - not until Part M applies in September 2008.

Do I need a separate log book for my self sustainer engine (turbo)? (15 August 2007)
No. Using the same process before transition, the engine can be treated as a component and details recorded in the old BGA log book. The engine hours should be recorded on the log book page as a written entry, annually or whenever there is a maintenance check. As an option, an owner can run a CAA engine log book (CAP 399) in addition the the airframe log book (CAP 398). Please note that CAA log books are not required for transition, but if a CAA logbook is utilised we recommend that if the "turbo" is used, say, in excess of about 5 hours per year, it would be sensible to run an engine log book.