Safety
Airworthiness Directives. The following ADs have been published by EASA: Stemme S10 series. AD 2012-0154 for the inspection and replacement of fuel, oil and coolant hoses on all S10, S10-V and S10-VT motor gliders; service bulletin SB A31-10-093 refers. See http://ad.easa.europa.eu/blob/easa_ad_2012_0154.pdf/AD_2012-0154_2 Grob G109 series. Elevator rod inspection. AD 2012-0181 mandating MSB817-64 published in April 2012 for the inspection and corrosion inhibiting of the vertical elevator rod. Please note this AD and the MSB supersede BGA inspection 036/06/2003. See http://ad.easa.europa.eu/blob/easa_ad_2012_0181.pdf/AD_2012-0181_2 Solo 2350C Engines. Propeller shaft inspection/replacement. AD 2012-0197 for the inspection and replacement of the propeller shaft installed on DG-1000T motor gliders. Solo TM/SB 460313 refers. See http://ad.easa.europa.eu/blob/easa_ad_2012_0197.pdf/AD_2012-0197_1 Lycoming Engines. Revised crankshaft inspection. FAA AD 2012-19-01 has been published revising the model and date requirements for crankshaft inspection and replacement in certain Lycoming engines, superseding AD 2006-20-09. See http://ad.easa.europa.eu/blob/20121901.pdf/AD_US-2012-19-01_1
Grob G2500 Engines. Following a recent engine failure, the BGA strongly recommends that whenever valve clearances are checked or adjusted on Grob G2500 engines, the engine is turned to fully open the valve and a check carried out to check clearance between the rocker arm and the valve roto cap. Please pass this instruction on to your maintenance engineer.
Single D&D Cell. The Distress and Diversion (D&D) Cells located at Swanwick and Prestwick currently provide emergency coverage throughout the London and Scottish Flight Information Regions (FIRs) respectively. However, as of 12 December 2012, the Scottish/Prestwick D&D Cell will close, with the London/Swanwick D&D Cell taking responsibility for both the London and Scottish FIRs. The emergency frequency (121.5MHz) will be unchanged and we are assured that service levels will be unaffected. From 12th December, pilots in both FIRs should use the call-sign “London Centre”. More detail is in CAA Information Notice IN-2012/178 at http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/InformationNotice2012178Corrected.pdf
GASIL. The latest edition of the General Aviation Safety Leaflet, GASIL (2012/09) has been published at http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/2012%2009.pdf
Regulatory
Laws and Rules. Edition 18 of BGA Laws and Rules has been published. This contains significant changes from the previous edition, reflecting the 2012 changes to the Air Navigation Order, as well as developments relating to future EASA requirements and a number of associated BGA changes to instructor revalidation requirements and glider pilot certification. The new edition has been completely reformatted with the aim of making information easier to find and to highlight information that the BGA feels is particularly important. It is strongly recommended that all pilots familiarise themselves themselves with this significantly changed Edition 18 in its entirety. Further changes are predicted, as EASA licensing and other

requirements continue to be developed. This edition is, therefore, currently only available for download from the BGA web site at http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/lawsandrules.htm.
SERA. The draft Standardised European Rules of the Air (SERA) regulation was adopted by the European Commission on 26 September and will apply from 4 December 2012. However, the UK has elected to use the provision not to apply the regulation until 4 December 2014. The CAA is developing detailed plans for implementation by that date. The BGA will provide advice and guidance nearer the 2014 date and will update Laws and Rules accordingly.
BGA
Club Management Conference. This year's conference (Saturday 17th November at Warwick University) is for anyone involved with running a UK gliding club. In addition to plenary sessions and the chairmen’s stream, there are specific forums for treasurers and CFIs. The day is greatly valued by those who attend for the opportunity it gives to to discuss useful issues with others with similar backgrounds and experiences. Clubs are invited to send more than one delegate to help get as much as possible from the day. Full details, including booking forms are available at http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/clubmanagement/index.htm
ATO Quality Manager. During 2013, the British Gliding Association will require the remunerated part-time services (approximately one day per week) of an Approved Training Organisation (ATO) Quality Manager, whose primary task will be to establish and maintain compliance with the applicable regulatory requirements. The right person to provide these services will have experience of managing quality, have held a gliding instructor rating, be very familiar with glider pilot training in both winch launch and aerotow environments at clubs, and have good knowledge of the EASA regulatory requirements for non-complex Approved Training Organisations and for pilot licensing. More information, including the closing date for applications is at http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/documents/ATOQM.pdf
RTO Appointments. The BGA has made new Regional Technical Officer appointments for South West England and for East Midlands & East Anglia. The full list of RTOs and the clubs that they are assigned to is at http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/technical/documents/rto-list.pdf.
ARC Signatory Course. Courses for inspectors wishing to become ARC signatories will be held on Saturday, 17th November 2012 at Lasham and on 17th March 2013 at Portmoak. Start time 10.00. Booking is essential as limited places are available. Candidates must have been BGA inspectors for a minimum of 7 years or have a lapsed BGA ARC signatory authorisation.
Inspector Continuation Training Seminar. Seminars, to refresh the continuation training requirements for BGA inspectors, will be held on Sunday, 2nd December at Shenington GC and Saturday 8th December at Norfolk GC. Start time for both is 9am. To certify aircraft using your BGA inspector authorisation, your continuation training must be in-date. Training expiry dates are shown on inspector authorisation certificates. Booking is essential; please advise if you require lunch when booking. Please contact Debbie Carr (debbie@gliding.co.uk) to book this or the ARC signatory course. Bunk rooms are available at Shenington; please book these directly with the club. Seven additional seminar dates have been arranged around the country in 2013. For a full list, see http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/technical/news.htm
2013 BGA Conference. Bookings are now open for the 2013 Annual Awards Dinner and for lunches at the conference. Make sure that you reserve your seats or your club table as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Online bookings can be made at https://www.gliding.co.uk/bgashop/applications/conference/conference.php; a postal booking form is at http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/documents/confbooking2013.pdf

BGA Fees. A number of BGA fees have changed with effect from 1st October, reflecting the budgets presented and approved at the last BGA AGM. You can see the latest charges at http://www.gliding.co.uk/forms/bgafees.pdf. When applying for services from the BGA office, please ensure that you enclose the correct payment to avoid any delay.
Competitions and Cross-Country
2013 Calendar. The 2013 Competition Calendar has now been published at http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/competitions/calendar.htm
New UK Records. Congratulation to John Williams (Scottish Gliding Centre) who broke his own 300km out-and-return records (UK Open and 20m classes) during a 319.1km portion (GFL-RNIGFL) of a 658km flight from Portmoak on 29th September. The new records stand at an average speed of 166.88kmph.
Women’s Development Initiative. The group is meeting on 10 November to agree activities for the winter season. They would welcome your input on what would be useful. Please Email ideas to Liz Sparrow (ebertoya@iee.org) or post them on the group’s Facebook page, Women Glide (UK) at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Women-Glide-UK/373426012685880
Juniors
14 Year Olds Solo. Young pilots wasted no time taking advantage of the new rules that allow 14 year olds to fly gliders solo. 15 year old Alex Harris from Essex GC was the first under-16 solo glider pilot in UK, soloing on 10th October. At the time of writing, we know that Alex has now been joined by three others. On the 13th October, Connor McIver (14) from Dumfries & District GC soloed at Millfield (home of Borders GC) and on the same day Michael Harrison (15) made his first solo at Lasham. James Dunford (15), also from Lasham, followed a week later. We believe that there are others out there as well who we haven’t received paperwork from yet. Congratulations to all of them.
General
The Flying Show. The BGA will, again, be taking part in the Flying Show at the NEC on 1st and 2nd December. Discounted entry rates are available to members of BGA clubs when booked in advance (enter your club name in the ‘Membership Number’ field). The discounted rate is £6, compared to £12.50 at the gate. Under 18s are admitted free. More details of the show, including how to buy tickets are http://theflyingshow.co.uk
FAI Honour for Peter Saundby. Dr Peter Saundby, for many years the BGA Medical Advisor, was appointed as an FAI Companion of Honour at the FAI General Conference, held last month in Antalya, Turkey. Dr Saundby is only the third UK recipient of this award in the history of the FAI. The honour recognises, among other things, his work as past-president of the FAI MedicoPhysiological Commission.
FAI Diploma for GFAC. Congratulations to the IGC GNSS Flight Recorder Approval Committee (GFAC) which has been awarded a Group Diploma by the FAI. The group, which is chaired by Ian Strachan (Lasham) and to which Peter Purdie, Dickie Feakes and Tim NewportPeace are Technical Advisers, was awarded the diploma for their significant contribution to the progress of aeronautics in creating the secure GNSS Flight Recorder System. The system, including IGC files and IGC-approved recorders, now supports gliding competitions, badge and record claims worldwide, and is used by many other airsports. Over the years, the committee has approved 51 recorder approvals.