Safety
Airworthiness Directives. Robin DR300 and R400 – oil lines replacement. EASA has issued AD 2012-0018 for the mandatory replacement of oil lines due to not being fire resistant. See the AD at http://ad.easa.europa.eu/blob/easa_ad_2012_0018.pdf/AD_2012-0018_1 for applicable aircraft, compliance time and SB details. Rotax 912 and 914 series engines - oil pump and attachment bolts inspection. EASA has issued AD 2012-0019-E for the inspection of oil pump attachment bolts for correct torque within 4 flight hours or 30 days. See AD at http://ad.easa.europa.eu/blob/easa_ad_2012_0019_E.pdf/EAD_2012-0019-E_1 for applicable engine types, serial numbers and SB details. SZD 50-3 Puchacz – airbrake and trimmer controls. An airbrake handle telescopic control rod became detached from forward mounting due to spherical bearing coming out of staked retainer. The trimmer control is a similar design. It is recommended that owners check to ensure the rods are secure. Please report any further occurrences to BGA CTO – cto@gliding.co.uk
Harmonised Transition Altitude Consultation. The CAA has launched a formal consultation on 31 January 2012 with UK aviation stakeholders on the policy to introduce a harmonised transition altitude of 18,000 ft in the London and Scottish Flight Information Regions. The consultation is due to close on 1 May 2012. More details and links to the consultation documents are at http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/InformationNotice2012016.pdf
Olympics Briefing. The Airspace & Safety Initiative, in conjunction with the Royal Institute of Navigation, is holding a pilot briefing event in central London on 10 March. During this, pilots can hear about plans for airspace restrictions in SE England during the Olympics. As has been described in a letter to CFIs, the BGA Olympic Airspace Education working group will be working with clubs over the next few months to ensure that any BGA club pilot likely to be flying close to the area will be aware of the issues and of his or her responsibilities. More information about the briefing is at http://olympics.airspacesafety.com/news/olympic-pilot-briefing-event
GASIL. The latest edition of GASIL, the CAA General Aviation Safety Information Leaflet is now available at http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/GASIL201201.pdf
BGA
2012 Assistant instructor Courses. Dates for 2012 Assistant Instructor courses have been published at http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/bgacourses.htm. These courses always book very quickly so, if you are interested in becoming an Assistant instructor this year, please book your place as soon as possible. To check availability or make a booking, please contact Debbie Carr in the BGA office – 0116 289 2956/ debbie@gliding.co.uk

BGA Conference. A reminder that the annual BGA Conference, AGM and awards dinner will be held at the Nottingham Belfry on Saturday 3rd March. There will be a full programme of talks, an exhibition where you can see the latest gliders and equipment, lots of opportunities to catch up with friends and BGA officers, as well as a full evening of entertainment at the Annual Awards Dinner. The conference and exhibition are free to attend. You can book your seat for the awards dinner and see more information at http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/notices/conference.htm
Regulatory
LAMP Changes. The CAA has announced a consultation period for the proposed withdrawal of the CAA LAMP maintenance programme that is used by BGA Self Launching Motor Gliders, Touring Motor Gliders and Glider Tug Aircraft. You can see BGA guidance on this matter at http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/CAAPressreleaseBGAComment070212.pdf
Club Management
Airfield Safeguarding. A briefing document for clubs on this subject has been published at http://www.gliding.co.uk/forms/clubmanagement/safeguardingbrief.pdf
Competitions and Cross-Country
Airspace Changes – Norwich and Manchester CTR. The CAA has approved changes to the boundaries of the Manchester Control Zone (CTR). The changes will be introduced on 8 March 2012 and will result in a reduction in the size of the Manchester CTR, and changes to the shapes of the overlying Control Areas. Details of the new Norwich Class D airspace have also been announced (also effective 8 March). Norwich details are in AIC (Yellow) 02/2012 and Manchester in AIC (Yellow) 03/2012, both available on the NATS web site at http://www.natsuk.ead-it.com/
Birmingham CTA Chart Changes. The CAA and NATS have agreed to change the VFR chart depiction of airspace around Birmingham Airport in an attempt to make it easier for pilots to identify the correct vertical limits of the CTA. The initiative will de-clutter the chart, removing some non-essential information. The changes will appear in the next edition of the 1:500,000 chart, to be published on 8 March. An extract of the area concerned, taken from the next edition of the chart is at http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/1/Press%20Release%20Southern%20England%20(EGBB).pdf
Nationals Entries. Entry lists for the 2012 national championships are now available at http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/competitions/news.htm. There are currently places available in each of the nationals (except the Club class). You may still enter any of these events; if no places are available, you will be placed at the end of the reserve list. Enter online at www.gliding.co.uk/nationalsentry
Juniors
Junior Development Event. The BGA is organising junior pilot development training during 2012 that aims to prepare pilots for their first competition. This is in addition to the coaching effort that takes place alongside the Junior Championships. The first stage is to offer some practical guidance in a briefing/discussion forum event at Bicester on the 18th of February,

following which some of those involved in the event could have access to funded training during the spring. Please let Mike Fox (mike@gliding.co.uk) know if you plan to attend. More details are at http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/juniors/BGAJuniorDevelopmentTrainingOpportunity.pdf
Royal Aero Club Trust Bursaries. A reminder that the window for receiving applications for the 2012 Royal Aero Club Bursaries will close shortly. These bursaries are available to young pilots, aged 16-21, who have already reached solo standard to enable them to achieve greater competence in their particular air sport. Bursaries of up to £1000 are available to help recipients advance from one recognized level of air sport to the next (for example, gain your bronze badge or XC endorsement). Applications for 2012 bursaries in respect of gliding have to be endorsed by the BGA. These need to be received at the BGA office by 3rd March 2012. Full details are at http://www.royalaeroclubtrust.org/
GAPAN Flying Scholarships. The Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators is seeking applications for its flying scholarships and bursaries for summer 2012. A wide range of awards are available, including two gliding scholarships sponsored by the Guild Young Members group. The aim of the Gliding Scholarships is to assist the successful individuals, who might otherwise not have the necessary resources, to achieve their BGA ‘A’ Certificate (First Solo) and the candidates will be expected to take the Bronze C examination (theory).These will be flown during summer 2012 (weather permitting) at Lasham Gliding Society. The 5 day course is residential (5 nights). Applications must be received by 21 March 2012 and interviews will be in London on 2 May 2012. Details of these and all the other GAPAN scholarships are at https://www.gapan.org/career-matters/scholarships/
General
BBC Great British Countryside. BBC crew and Hugh Dennis of Mock the Week fame spent a day filming at Yorkshire Gliding Club last autumn. The results feature in BBC’s Great British Countryside programme to be shown on 23 February. According to the producer, the gliding sequences are being given pride of place at the start of the programme.
RAeS Lecture. The Royal Aeronautical Society has a free lecture on the evening of 21st February, entitled ’55 years of flying fun’ which will be given by former test pilot Clive Rustin (SC1, P1127, Kestrel, Avro 707, FD 2, Vulcan, HP115, BAC 221 slender delta Concorde research aircraft, etc). The lecture will see Clive reflect on his 5700 plus hours of flying experience in over 160 different types/marks, including his post-RAF involvement in airships and participation on the display circuit in a variety of old warbirds such as the Venom, Vampire, Hunter & Spitfire. The lecture is free to attend, although an RSVP would be appreciated by the Society. The lecture will be at the RAeS HQ in Hamilton Place, London. Full details are at http://www.aerosociety.com/Events/Event-List/290/55-Years-of-Flying-Fun
WW2 Winches. There is a project currently running that aims to get a WW2 barrage balloon flying again. The team wishes to locate one of the WW2 winches based on 6 wheel Fordson Wessex lorries that were used in launching these barrage balloons. A number of these winches were sent to gliding clubs after the war. If your club still has one of these, in any condition, the project team would be very pleased to hear from you - jeremyhassell@btinternet.com