Safety
Airworthiness Directives. SZD 50-3 Puchacz Airbrake Tube Inspection. EASA has published AD 2014-0015 for the inspection within 30 days and repeat inspection of the air brake operating tube. AD SP-0052-2003A which required a one-time inspection is superseded by this new repetitive inspection requirement in accordance with SB 062-SZD-50-3-2013. The inspection should also be added to the BGA GMP in tasks 90 to 100. The AD can be found at http://ad.easa.europa.eu/blob/easa_ad_2014_0015.pdf/AD_2014-0015_2; the SB can be found at http://szd.com.pl/downloads/5239a43e3266abe-062-szd-50-3-2013-en.pdf.
GASCo Safety Evenings. The 2014 series of GASCo Safety Evenings continues throughout February and into April at nearly 30 venues around the UK. A full list of dates and venues is at http://www.gasco.org.uk/safety-evenings/gasco_caa_safety-eves_2013/14.aspx
Safe Winch Launching. Deafpilots UK has produced subtitled versions of two of the videos published last year as part of the BGA Safe Winch Launching initiative. The subtitled videos can be accessed via http://www.deafpilots.co.uk/2014/02/safe-winch-launching/. The original videos, along with a wealth of other information to help you winch launch safely is at http://www.gliding.co.uk/safewinchlaunching.
BGA
Peter Hearne. The BGA is sad to announce the death of Peter Hearne FREng, MSc, DIC, Hon RAeS, FRIN. Peter was elected as a BGA Vice-President in 1998 and served as President of the Royal Aeronautical Society between 1980 and 1981. He was DCFI of the Cranfield College of Aeronautics Flying Club in 1949 before joining BOAC where he was involved with the Airways Aero Club. He was part of a small group which formed the Silver Wings Gliding Club for BOAC and BEA employees and leased Booker from the Air Ministry. Peter then moved on to a distinguished career in the avionics industry, running Marconi Avionics at Rochester and finally retiring as a board member of GEC. He was then able to spend more time at his second home overlooking Gap airfield in the French Alps where he flew his Ventus 2CT. The funeral will be held at the Wateringbury Church, near Maidstone, Kent at 2pm 20 February, followed by a wake at his home, The Limes, Wateringbury. Our thoughts are with Peter’s family at this time.
2014 Instructor Courses. The full calendar of BGA Instructor Courses has now been published at http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/bgacourses.htm. This year, the majority of courses will be of the new, three module variety leading to a BGA FI(S) rating. This rating confers exactly the same privileges as the BGA Assistant Instructor Rating. It is, however, a more comprehensive course designed with EASA requirements in mind and you can enrol without a BI rating. The option of the traditional BGA Assistant Instructor course still remains, albeit with a reduced number available. Bookings should be made with Debbie Carr at the BGA office (debbie@gliding.co.uk or on 0116 289 2956). Spaces are limited and prospective candidates are advised to book their place as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Inspector Continuation Training. 2014 inspector continuation training seminar dates have been announced. The current schedule is: Oxford GC (Weston on the Green), 22nd March; Lasham GS, 12th April; and Wolds GC (Pocklington), 31st May. Please contact Debbie Carr (details above) to book places. To assist with catering, please advise when booking if you require lunch. The start time for each seminar will be 9.30am (Lasham 10am), aiming to finish by 4pm. In addition, we will be running an ARC signatory course at Leicester and additional Inspector Continuation training seminars in Scotland and South West England. Dates for these are not yet confirmed. Please monitor the BGA web site for updates.
BGA Conference, AGM and Dinner. A final reminder that the BGA Conference, AGM, exhibition and awards dinner will be held on Saturday 1st March at the Nottingham Belfry. With a record number of exhibitors confirmed and sailplanes including the LAK-17 FES, Jonkers JS-1 Jet and the Shark Jet, and a full conference programme there will be something of interest to all glider pilots. The conference and exhibition, sponsored by Sydney Charles Aviation Insurance, are free to attend. Places are still available for the Awards Dinner, sponsored by Forbes Aviation Insurance. For more details, including how to book your place at the dinner and information about available hotels, please visit the conference page on the BGA web site http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/notices/conference.htm
Regulatory
Farnborough Airspace Change Proposal. The operator of Farnborough Airport, TAG Farnborough, has begun the formal process of applying for controlled airspace. Their proposals directly affect current controlled and uncontrolled airspace across a large area of southern England – not only in the immediate vicinity of Farnborough. Under the proposals, the base of many areas of existing airspace would be lowered, and large areas of new airspace would be introduced. The plans represent the most substantial redesign and increase of airspace in the UK for many years. If TAG get what they want, the likely impact on gliding (and other forms of general aviation) would be significant. Pilots and clubs will be affected. The impact would range from catastrophic for some gliding clubs through to extremely disruptive for other clubs and pilots flying in the area. The BGA is appealing for all pilots to familiarise themselves with the proposals and be prepared to submit a response to the consultation process when advised. More information is at http://www.consultation.tagfarnborough.com/
Licence Conversion Process Update. The BGA is processing applications and submitting Part-FCL licence conversion recommendations to the CAA within a week of receipt. The BGA recommendations for licence issue are made using agreed processes and criteria under a formal approval. The CAA is currently taking anything from ten working days to much longer (where complexities exist at their end) from receipt of the BGA recommendation to return licences with the correct ratings etc in place. A number of conversion applications have unfortunately had to be rejected by the BGA. The main reasons for rejection are: incorrectly worded or missing certification of documents; poor quality copies of ID - colour copies are ideal if possible; no Level 6 English Language Proficiency established where radio licence privileges are requested; no evidence of a valid SLMG or TMG class rating where this is required, e.g.missing certificate of validity. We strongly advise that all applicants use the guidance material, and in particular the application completion guidance, and check their application carefully before submitting it to the BGA. Full details are at http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/licensing/easalicensing.htm
Laws & Rules. During the licence transition period to April 2015, pilots who have received PartFCL licences are subject to the EASA requirements associated with these licences as well as with established BGA requirements. Any new requirements are described to pilots on receipt of

their EASA licence. A revised Edition 19 of BGA Laws and Rules, including changed BGA requirements from 2015 and new EASA requirements, will be published in the winter of 2014/2015.
GA Challenge Panel Report. The General Aviation Challenge Panel has published its interim report at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/general-aviation-challenge-panel-interim-report. The Panel was established by Ministers in November 2013 following the Government’s GA Red Tape Challenge and includes BGA Chief Executive Pete Stratten amongst its members. It is part of a Government initiative to reform the way in which GA is regulated in the UK, particularly with a view to implementing more proportionate, risk-based regulation.
National Licence Restrictions. Although the final date for conversion of National non-JAR licences for commercial and private aeroplane pilots to EASA licences is in April 2015, EU regulations mean that aeroplane pilots not in possession of a European licence by April this year (2014) will face certain restrictions. From 8th April 2014 to 8th April 2015, holders of National PPL, CPL and ATPL licences will be restricted to the privileges of the new European Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (LAPL) when operating an EASA aircraft (such as the PA25, DR400 etc.). This means the licence privileges will be restricted to: private VFR operations; flying single engine aircraft of 2,000 kg MTOM or less; a maximum of three passengers; flying without instrument or instructor / examiner privileges. More details are in a CAA Information Notice available at www.caa.co.uk/IN2013147
Competitions and Cross-Country
2013 Trophy Winners. The winners of BGA trophies for 2013 have been announced. The full list is at http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/competitions/trophies.htm. The trophies will be presented at the BGA Annual Awards Dinner on 1st March (more details above).
2014 Nationals Entry Lists. The Nationals entry lists are now available at https://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/competitions/news.htm. Entrants should ensure that they make payments before the due dates to avoid late payment charges. There are currently places available in each of the Nationals. You may still enter any of these competitions; if no places are available, you will be placed at the end of the reserve list. Enter online at www.gliding.co.uk/nationalsentry.
Distance Handicap Competitions. Booker and Bicester will both be running distance handicap task competitions during the coming months. The Booker event runs from 19th to 27th April and the Bicester event from 3rd to 10th May. Neither competition is BGA rated as these are being used to trial and prove a new format of racing and scoring software. Please contact the individual clubs for more details.
New UK Records. Following John Williams’ 431.9km flight from Portmoak on 10th December at an average speed of 119.97kmph, another two UK gliding records have moved north of the border. The flight set new UK 400km triangle speed records in the UK Open and 20m classes, beating Phil Jeffrey’s 2010 records by 3.40kmph. Congratulations again, John.
VFR Chart Changes. The CAA has announced changes to increase the clarity of information depicted on VFR charts. These changes will appear on 1:500k and 1:250k charts published from March 2014. Further information regarding the changes can be found in a NATS newsletter hosted on the NATS AIS website at http://www.nats-uk.eadit.com/public/index.php%3Foption=com_content&task=view&id=662&Itemid=298.html

Juniors
Philip Wills Memorial Fund Scholarships. Full details of the PWMF scholarships have now been published. The scholarships, which will each be up to £500 in value, are specifically aimed at helping post-solo development in younger pilots, up to age 30. Applications, which must be endorsed by club CFIs, are now open and must be received by 15th March. Full details and application forms are available at http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/pwmf/scholarships.htm.
RAeC Trust Bursaries. A reminder that applications for Royal Aero Club Trust bursaries must be received at the BGA office by 10th March. 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. Full details are on the RAeC Trust web site at http://www.royalaeroclubtrust.org/bursaries (note that applications must not be sent directly to the Trust as they need to be countersigned by the BGA).
Air League Scholarships. Applications for 2014 Air League Gliding Scholarships close on 22nd February. These are open to post-solo pilots, aged from 16 to 25, and are intended to help younger pilots widen their gliding experience. This year, awards are available covering basic aerobatic training, cross-country training and SLMG NPPL training. Full details are at http://www.airleague.co.uk/scholarships/gliding-scholarships/
GAPAN Scholarships. The Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators Young Members Group offer, through a selection process, anyone over the age of 14 the chance to fly at a BGA Junior Gliding Centre of their choice. The scholarships provide for a period of membership and 20 winch launches which could take a candidate to at least first solo. The scholarship funding does not cover the cost of travelling to London for interview or travel and subsistence costs during training. Closing date for receipt of applications is 12 March 2014 and interviews will be held in London on 2 May 2014. Full details are at https://www.gapan.org/career-matters/scholarships/
General
RAeC Awards. The Royal Aero Club has announced the recipients of its medals and awards for 2013. Once again, gliding is strongly represented with Mike Randle and Paul Conran both being awarded RAeC Diplomas; Ayala Truelove is awarded an RAeC Silver Medal; and Dr Sally Evans and Ian Dandie both receive RAeC Certificates of Merit. The awards will be presented at the Society’s annual awards ceremony at the RAF Club on Tuesday 13th May. A full list of recipients can be found at http://royalaeroclub.co.uk/medals-and-awards.php?title=&id=56.
FAI Secretary General. The FAI has announced the appointment of Susanne Schödel as its new Secretary General, starting on 1 March 2014. Schödel, a 41 year old German native, combines experience in airsports, management of non-profit making organisations and political matters. Schödel is a world-class glider pilot, member of the German National Gliding Team from 2004 to 2013, winner of the FAI Women’s World Gliding championships in 2009 and 2011 and holder of several gliding records. She is also a volunteer for several organisations such as the Dr. Angelika Machinek association which supports young female pilots in gliding.