The BGA wishes all pilots a good new year. We hope that you achieve all your gliding aims. Have fun and fly safe.
Safety
Airworthiness Directives. CEAPR DR300 and DR400 Air Filter and Magneto Switch EASA has published the following Airworthiness Directives: AD 2014-0002 (superseding AD 2011-0076) for the inspection of the engine air intake filter; and AD 2014-0003 for the inspection/ replacement of the magneto switch. The ADs can be found at http://ad.easa.europa.eu/ad/2014-0002 and http://ad.easa.europa.eu/ad/2014-0003.
BGA
Don Spottiswood. It is with sadness that we announce the death of Air Vice-Marshal Don Spottiswood CB. Don was Chairman of the BGA between 1990 and 1996 and up until his death was one of the BGA Vice-Presidents. He was Chair of the Instructors Committee during the 1980s and, as well as being a competition pilot, was a past Executive Committee Chairman of the RAFGSA. The funeral service will be at Bournemouth Crematorium at 1230 on 16th January (details at http://tinyurl.com/dsfuneral). Our thoughts are with Don’s family at this time.
BGA Sporting Conference and AGM. The 2014 BGA Sporting Conference and Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday, 1st March at the Nottingham Belfry. Highlights of the conference programme already confirmed include an update on the Gliding Heritage Centre and the activities of the Vintage Glider Club, the latest on Part-FCL licence conversion and a review of Aerobility and the Olympics (with indoor pyrotechnics!). As always, there is no charge for attending the conference and exhibition. You can now book your lunch and tickets for the Gala Awards Dinner at http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/notices/conference.htm.
Instructor Courses. We are holding a small series of BGA FI(S) courses in advance of the main 2014 programme. The courses available are: A Module – Pocklington (15/16 February) and Gransden (1/2 March). The A and C Module courses arranged at Lasham on 25/26 January and 22/23 February respectively are now fully booked. Full details are at http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/bgacourses.htm and bookings made should be made via Debbie Carr at the BGA office (debbie@gliding.co.uk). The main summer programme is currently being developed and details will be available on the web site (with Email notification) when finalised.
CFI Workshops – Conversion and ATO. The final two of the eight BGA regional Licence Conversion and Approved Training Organisation workshops for CFIs are being held at Halton and North Hill on the 8th and 15th February respectively. CFIs and/or their deputy who have not attended one of the previous workshops should try to attend. Please book a place at either venue via the BGA office.

Club Management
EGU Club Development Project. In response to concerns about falling participation levels throughout Europe, the European Gliding Union (EGU) has embarked on a club development project to share information and to help develop useful initiatives for clubs and National Associations to use. As part of this, an annual workshop is held where representatives from across Europe can meet, share and discuss initiatives. A summary of the last workshop is available at http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/clubmanagement/documents/eguwsproceedingsclubdevelopm ent2013.pdf
Competitions and Cross-Country
2014 Ratings and Nationals Entries. Nationals entry application forms are now available. Entries must be received by 31st January 2014. You can apply online and renew your FAI licence at the same time by going to http://www.gliding.co.uk/nationalsentry. FAI licence application/renewal without nationals entry can be made at http://www.gliding.co.uk/failicence. As last year, entry fees for Juniors are approximately halved to just £145 for any of the nationals (Juniors are those who will have not reached the age of 26 by 31st December 2014). The provisional ratings list to prioritise places for the 2014 Nationals is now also available. You can find out how to check your rating, including the protest procedure, and download the full list with all the details at http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/competitions/ratings.htm.
New UK Gliding Records. Santiago Cervantes has taken another UK Standard Class speed record. His flight from Portmoak on 10th October set a new 100km goal speed record with an average speed of 201.92kmph, beating Paul Fritche’s 2010 record.
General / Juniors
Philip Wills Memorial Fund Scholarships. The Trustees of the PWMF have generously agreed to make up to 20 scholarships available in 2014. 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, will open shortly and must be received by 15th March. Full details and application forms will be posted on the BGA and the Junior Gliding web sites in the next few days and Emails will be sent to everybody registered to receive general BGA updates when the information and forms are available. (If you have not registered to receive these Emails, you can register at http://www.gliding.co.uk/subscriptions.