Passenger Carrying Guidance BGA Feb 15
PASSENGER CARRYING GUIDANCE
Passenger carrying is an important part of gliding. Where the passenger is paying for the flight, there are important considerations:
 Under the UK ANO, a passenger flight paid for by the passenger is viewed as resulting in valuable consideration and is therefore a public transport flight. However, where the flight is for instruction, it is deemed to be a private flight.
 Under EASA regulation (currently amended in the UK through a CAA ORS exemption), under laid down circumstances a licenced pilot may fly a passenger who is paying for the flight. The EASA regulation and current UK exemption are designed to permit that activity in an air sport/GA club environment.
 The BGA is very aware of the need to minimise risk to third parties, including those trying gliding. There is a requirement to reasonably ensure that pilots carrying out paid-for passenger flying at BGA clubs are suitable for the task and that the activity is appropriately supervised.
 The passenger carrying activities of an instructor or holder of an Introductory Flight Pilot endorsement notified to the BGA are included in the scope of the BGA aviation risk insurance policy.
BGA Operational Regulations identify that:
a) ‘Pilots carrying a passenger in a glider must hold a Bronze endorsement or LAPL(S)/SPL and be authorised to carry passengers by the CFI’.
Information Details of the Bronze endorsement are described in the BGA publication ‘Gliding Certificate and Endorsements’. Details of how to convert to a LAPL(S)/SPL are described on the BGA website. Guidance for SPL/LAPL(S) holders is published on the BGA website.
b) ‘Flights paid for by the passenger may only be carried out at BGA club sites by instructors (BI, Assistant, FI(S) or Full Rated) or by licensed pilots holding a BGA Introductory Flight Pilot endorsement.’
Information The Introductory Flight Pilot requirements are described in the BGA publication ‘Gliding Certificate and Endorsements’.
c) ‘Pilots carrying out passenger or introductory flights must be in current practice, and be familiar with the type of glider and method of launch.’
Information Supervision and currency/recency guidance is detailed in the BGA publication ‘Managing Flying Risk’.
End.