Airworthiness News

Latest news

Binder ASH 25 EB 28 Airworthiness Directive 26th June 2009

EASA have published AD 2009-0131 for inspection of Aileron hinge bonding. Inspection before 21 July 2009. Please see AD for details http://ad.easa.europa.eu/blob/easa_ad_2009_0131.pdf/AD_2009-0131_1

Scheibe Mu13E Bergefalke series, SF25 series, SF26A, SF28A Airworthiness Directive 26th June 2009

EASA have published AD 2009-0132 for inspection of Elevator tab drive arm at next scheduled maintenance check and repeat annually. Please see AD for details http://ad.easa.europa.eu/blob/easa_ad_2009_0132.pdf/AD_2009-0132_1

AMP Leaflet 2-11 update 26th June 2009

AMP 2-11 ARC renewal process has been corrected and updated. Please note documents to be forwarded to BGA with renewed ARC.

June Updates 5th June 2009

The May 2009 Technical News is available to download. TNS, airworthiness directives and the AMP Manual have also been updated.

BGA Chief Engineer / ARC Signatory Training Seminars updated 5th June 2009

One additional seminar has been arranged for inspectors at Ulster Gliding Club, Northern Ireland on 8 July 2009. Priority will be given to UGC, IOM and IGA inspectors. Mainland inspectors are welcome to attend but space is limited. Further seminars will now only be available on a geographical need basis where a shortage of ARC signatories is demonstrated. Contact your Regional Technical Officer for advice.

For details and how to book please see the booking form.

ARC Renewal Extension of Interim Procedure 24th April 2009

As part of the completion of the EASA transition process, the interim ARC renewal process has been extended with a final end date of 28 September 2009. See revised AMP leaflet 2-11.

April Updates 3rd April 2009

The March 2009 Technical News is available to download. TNS and airworthiness directives have also been updated.

EASA Glider ARC Renewal 31st March 2009

Please read carefully;

• To fly legally, an EASA glider that holds an EASA C of A (an EASA C of A is non-expiring) must also hold a valid Airworthiness Review Certificate (ARC) and have up to date maintenance in accordance with the glider maintenance programme (in most cases, that boils down to an annual inspection within the last 12 months)
• EASA gliders without an EASA C of A and ARC are not eligible for ARC renewal
• The ARC renewal process for eligible gliders is described here. The ARC renewal fee for a glider is £95.

Further advice to owners;

• If your EASA glider does not hold an EASA C of A and ARC (for example your transition application is in the BGA and CAA 'system'), to fly legally your glider must have a current BGA C of A. If you want to fly your EASA glider but your glider has neither an EASA C of A and ARC nor a valid BGA C of A, please talk to your friendly BGA inspector as soon as possible.
• The transition period ends 1 May 09. Any EASA glider that has not had a transition application submitted to the BGA by that date will not be eligible to fly even if it has a BGA C of A
• Annex 2 gliders (ie non-EASA types) are only required to hold a valid BGA C of A as per the established BGA processes
• More guidance regarding Part M, including various documents, is available here

BGA Chief Engineer / ARC Signatory Training Seminars updated 27th February 2009

New seminar venue added - Wolds Gliding Club 25 April 2009.

The first round of BGA Chief Engineer / ARC signatory training is now arranged. For details and how to book please see booking form. This training is for BGA inspectors to upgrade to Chief Engineer and become an ARC signatory, this will allow you to carry out airworthiness reviews and issue the ARC directly on behalf of the BGA CAMO.

Please note that the seminars at Husbands Bosworth, Lasham and Parham are now fully booked, although places are still available at Portmoak and Pocklington. More seminars planned very soon.

AMP Manual Update 5th February 2009

AMP manual forms have been updated, including BGA 267 GMS Report and BGA 276 Airworthiness Review Checklist updates with Part M release to service.

ARC Renewal, Pilot Maintenance & Fees Update 7th January 2009

In the new 'Part M' section on the BGA web site Airworthiness section, a new guidance leaflet AMP 2-11 has been published. The aim of this leaflet is to provide guidance for BGA inspectors and information for owners on how to carry out an airworthiness review and thereby renewal of the ARC. Details include;

• The interim procedure currently in use
• Who may certify the review
• The new BGA Form 276 Airworthiness Review Checklist

Airworthiness fees have also been revised to take into account the CAA fee that the BGA is required to pay for each ARC renewal. The BGA is continuing to limit its fees to the minimum possible.

AMP 2-1 Pilot/Owner maintenance has also been updated.

Part M 24th December 2008

A Part M page has been added to this Airworthiness section.

December Updates 24th December 2008

The January 2009 Technical News is available to download. TNS has also been updated.

ARC Dating Protocol 17th December 2008

Further to the the information in the last BGA Newsletter, you can find additional guidance & information on the ARC dating protocol and what this means for owners and inspectors here.

Part M and ARCs 10th December 2008

The BGA is currently working with the CAA to fine tune the details of the BGA ARC renewal process under Part M. The BGA will be supplying detailed advice to owners and inspectors during December. Please stay tuned to this website. Meanwhile, the transition recommendations continue to be fed to the CAA for EASA C of A and initial ARC issue in time for the application of Part M to all EASA gliders by May 2009.

Part M - update 13th November 2008

EASA has published the long awaited revision to Part M as regulation EC 1056/2008 amending 2042/2003. This is a complex revision to Part M developed as a result of campaigning by the BGA and many others within Europe and could have far reaching and helpful changes for gliding and continued airworthiness.  The BGA is currently waiting for the CAA to review the amended regulation and to interpret how it will affect General Aviation and gliding in particular. We will publish further information on the BGA web site as soon as it is available. Meanwhile, any glider maintenance organisation seeking its own Part M subpart F approval is advised to hold back until further information is available, or alternatively contact the CAA regional office who is dealing with their subpart F approval application.

November Updates 7th November 2008

The November 2008 Technical News is available to download. TNS and airworthiness directives have also been updated.

EASA C of A Postponement and Transition Refresh - update 31st October 2008

Gliders that were transitioned in the latter part of 2007 are eligible for EASA C of A and ARC postponement. This is because if the ARC is issued it will expire before there is an approved process to renew it. The postponement also applies to gliders where there is a certification or registration query. The postponement requires a simple "Transition Refresh" to be carried out as part of a normal BGA C of A renewal. We have written to all the owners of gliders affected with full details and refresh form, however we have been asked to make the form (BGA 275) available to download. There is no refresh fee, all you need to pay is the normal BGA C of A renewal fee (currently £75)

Please note: the transition refresh is only applicable to gliders on the applicability list and is only completed at time of BGA C of A renewal together with the BGA 267.

Slingsby Aircraft Flight Manuals/Pilot Notes updated 16th October 2008

SAS Gliders Only. Please note; gliders certified against an Specific Airworthiness Specification (SAS), (Slingsby Kestrel, Dart & T53B), do not normally require a flight manual/pilot notes for transition or ARC renewal. However, there may be some additional maintenance or operational data within the flight manual, where available, that may be useful. This note is advising you of the availability of the information.

Flight manuals/pilot notes are available for EASA Slingsby Gliders and Motor Gliders. Vega, Kestrel, Dart, T53b, T61A to G (T61A manual plus supplements). An up to date and complete manual will be required for transition to EASA C of A and for ARC renewal. To obtain copies please contact Slingsby Advanced Composites on 01751 432474.

Motor Gliders Only;
Slingsby motor gliders previously issued with a C of A with conditions, now require a flight manual or pilot notes and a DFMS must be completed at time of C of A/ARC renewal. A printer friendly version of the DFMS (Declaration of Flight Manual Standard) can be downloaded from the G-INFO database on the CAA web site here. Send the completed and signed DFMS with the renewal request to BGA.

BGA Airworthiness Fees 13th October 2008

Please note, with effect from 1st October 2008, BGA Airworthiness fees have been revised to reflect additional costs for EASA aircraft ARC renewal. Please visit the fees section for details.

To avoid any delay in processing your ARC renewal please ensure the application is supported with the correct fee.

Stemme S10 and S10-V Engine Fuel & Control AD 13th October 2008

EASA have issued AD 2008-0186-E for the before every flight inspection of fuel lines until replaced.
Fuel lines must be replaced within 25 days. See AD for full details.

BGA Inspector Renewal 30th September 2008

BGA Inspectors are reminded that the BGA Inspector Authorisation expires today. To maintain validity, please forward your renewal application to the BGA office without delay.

Due to some important Part M information we need to include with your Inspector Authorisation Certificate, there will be a short delay in receiving your renewed certificate. 

Provided you have applied for renewal, we are allowing 1 month extension of your pre existing authorisation to 30 October 2008 in accordance with approved procedures.

SPEKON Parachutes 19th September 2008

EASA have published Airworthiness Directive 2008-0174 identifying a fault in SPEKON RE-5L emergency parachutes manufactured between 21 April 2008 and 21 August 2008. See AD for serial number details and compliance information.

September Updates 12th September 2008

The September 2008 Technical News is available to download. TNS and airworthiness directives have also been updated.

Final Inspector Seminar 19th August 2008

There are still a few places left on the final inspector seminar to be held on 30 August 2008 at the Gliding Centre, Husbands Bosworth. The seminar is FREE although you need to pay for own lunch. Contact debbie@gliding.co.uk or telephone the BGA office to book.   This is the final notification - any BGA Inspector who has not attended a BGA continuation training seminar (the first one was 21 September 2007) will be unable to renew their BGA Inspector Authorisation in September 2008 and thus, unable to certify any glider with a BGA C of A or any aircraft aircraft within the BGA Part M approval.

Motor Glider and Tug ARC Renewal 1st August 2008  

The first motor glider and tug Airworthiness Review Certificates (ARC) will be becoming due for renewal from 28th September onwards.  We appreciate that some owners may wish to take advantage of the 90 day anticipation period.  However, as there is currently no CAA process available for the renewal of the ARC, full anticipation is not available. We have been advised that the process will be in place by the end of August.  Details will be published when known.

July Updates 9th July 2008

The July 2008 Technical News is available to download. TNS and airworthiness directives have also been updated.

Final Inspector Seminar 27th June 2008

An additional seminar for BGA inspectors to introduce the new and revised procedures for the continuing airworthiness of gliders, motor gliders and tugs under the BGA umbrella has been arranged for Saturday 30 August 2008 at Husbands Bosworth.  This will be the last such seminar to be held.  Any BGA inspector who has not attended one of these seminars will not be able to renew their inspector authorisation in September 2008.  Please book using the form available here and email to Debbie Carr.

EASA Transition Update 29th May 2008

The BGA process for transition of EASA gliders to EASA C of A in time for the 28 September 2008 deadline is working well. Many thanks to the inspectors and owners involved. The CAA part of the process is currently stalled pending receipt of the expected written formal approval from the European political system. To ensure that owners are unaffected by the CAA delay, the BGA has negotiated a contingency plan with the DfT and the CAA. That contingency plan is underway.

 All the transitions currently received will have their BGA C of A extended to full validity. Owners will be receiving a replacement BGA C of A in due course. Due to the high number this may take a month or two (if you have not received the replacement C of A by August, please contact the BGA office).  All transitions will from now result in the issue of a full validity BGA C of A.  A BGA C of A that expires after 28 September 2008 will be renewed in the normal way. Inspectors will receive guidance on what will be required to ensure that the already submitted transition package remains valid. Another transition will not be required.  Please note that this is a contingency process that in fact may not be required. As usual, the BGA is taking a proactive approach on behalf of pilots and owners.

May Newsletter 23rd May 2008

The May 2008 Newsletter has been updated.

May Updates 8th May 2008

The May 2008 Technical News is available to download. TNS and the motor-glider TCDS have also been updated. Compendium updates will be published soon.

Motor Glider and Tug C of A renewal process has changed 28th March 2008

All new applications for motor glider and tug C of A renewals using the BGA should follow the new procedure. You can download a quick guide here. BGA AMP manual leaflet 2-5 and C of A renewal forms have been updated. The New BGA 202 form is available as PDF or Word document.

EASA Transition Documents & Downloads 28th March 2008

Glider flight manual and TCDS list has been updated, a new Motor glider TCDS list has been published.

DG1000 ALL VARIANTS including "T" 19th March 2008

EASA have revised the elevator crank pivot inspection and modification AD-2007-0316-R1-E.

SN Centrair SNC-34 (Alliance 34) 19th March 2008

EASA have issued AD-2008-0057-E for the inspection of the wing rook ball joints and aerobatics prohibited.

Stemme S10-VT Fuel System 12th March 2008

EASA have just issued AD 2008-0053-E for the inspection and replacement of fuel connectors and single ear clamps.
http://ad.easa.europa.eu/blob/easa_ad_2008_0053_E.pdf/EAD_2008-0053-E_1

March Updates 11th March 2008

The March 2008 Technical News is available to download. EASA transition forms and TNS have also been updated. Compendium updates will be published soon.

BGA Inspector Seminars - Update 11th March 2008

Space available - RAF Halton 5 April 2008 (booked places only, no turn up on spec). The booking form is available by clicking here.

Further seminars have been arranged for:

Ulster Gliding Club - 19 April 2008
The Gliding Centre, Hus Bos - 7 June 2008
Lasham - 27 June 2008

Please note: Lasham will probably be the past seminar in this series, inspectors who have not attended a seminar will be unable to renew their BGA inspector authorisation in September 2008.

Transition Flight Manual and TCDS 21st January 2008

The Transition Flight Manual and TCDS list has been updated. Please see updated page in EASA C of A Transition, Documents and Downloads.

January Updates 4th January 2008

The January 2008 Technical News is available to download. Airworthiness directives, datasheets and TNS have also been updated.

DG1000 Control inspections 4th January 2008

DG 1000 all models up to serial number 10-109. EASA have published a before flight inspection of the elevator bell crank pivot bolt and air brake control hook. Modification before 30 March 2008. Click here for Airworthiness Directive 2007-0316-E.

Stemme S10-VT Fuel connector inspection 4th January 2008

EASA have published a before flight, daily inspection of the fuel system connectors. Replacement of plastic connectors before 31 March 2008 or next maintenance check. Click here for Airworthiness Directive 2007-0315-E.

For older news, please see the News Archive.

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