Safety
Olympic Airspace. All airspace restrictions relating to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games have now been lifted. The last restricted zone, shown as P114 on aviation charts, in place for the Paralympic Games, ended at midnight on Wednesday 12 September. During the restrictions, no gliders were involved in infringements and the BGA Executive Committee thanks all pilots for their diligence. The CAA Chief Executive, Andrew Haines, said: “Establishing such a large airspace security zone for that length of time was unprecedented, particularly as it covered some of the most congested airspace in the world. The fact that it was so successful is in no small part due to the role played by the GA associations and their members.”
GASIL. The latest editions of GASIL (7&8/2012) have been published and are available at http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/2012%2007.pdf and http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/2012%2008.pdf respectively.
Regulatory
Use of Radio. The BGA has received a small number of complaints about incorrect use of the radio frequencies assigned to the BGA. Pilots are reminded that the frequencies we are allocated should be used in accordance with BGA Laws and Rules RP32 to RP34 at http://www.gliding.co.uk/forms/lawsandrules.pdf. On a decent day there can be hundreds of glider pilots airborne and monitoring the limited number of frequencies. To avoid confusion and to help each other, we should aim to use aircraft call-signs and keep messages to the absolute essential. It can become intensely distracting and annoying when maintaining a listening watch on a frequency to have to put up with unnecessary background chatter and banter. Before pressing transmit, it probably makes sense to think about whether it’s necessary or helpful to do so. The CAA publishes a guide to RT phraseology which may be of interest at http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/AviationGuideFinal20090917_LOCKED.pdf
Change to Examiner Authorisation (SEP and TMG). A number of current CAA examiners will not be authorised to revalidate SEP or TMG ratings after 17th September as a result of the change to EASA Part-FCL licensing. All BGA power pilots are urged to talk to their CAA examiner to identify whether or not their normal arrangements will be affected. Please note that NPPL ratings (SSEA & SLMG) are not affected. Queries or question can be directed to the BGA SRE SLMG, Andy Miller on 01249 821031.

BGA
BGA Club Management Conference. The 2012 conference will be held on Saturday 17th November, at Warwick University. This BGA hosted event is for anyone involved in running a UK gliding club. There will be presentations and discussions on current matters of interest, as well as a chance to hear from and talk to other club volunteers. In addition to the Chairmen’s Conference and Treasurers’ Forum, this year Mike Fox will be hosting a CFI Forum. Information and booking forms will be sent to clubs during September. The agenda is currently under construction, so if you have any ideas for useful talks or discussions, please email Alison Randle at alison@gliding.co.uk
Regulatory
LAPL Medical Certificates. Information about the new EASA Light Aircraft Pilot Licence (LAPL) Medical Certificate has been published on the CAA website at http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid=49&pagetype=90&pageid=13886. The LAPL medical certificate is the minimum required to hold a LAPL. As previously reported, our activities - flying gliders and powered aircraft - are subject to a UK derogation that temporarily exempts us from the EASA pilot licensing rules and associated medical requirements until April 2015. Our EASA Pilot Licensing webpage (http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/licensing/easalicensing.htm) has been updated with the latest information. The BGA recognises that the LAPL Medical Certificate meets existing BGA medical standards and as such the LAPL medical will be identified as an option for BGA glider pilots and instructors in Edition 18 of BGA Laws and Rules.
Medical Certificates and Insulin-Treated Diabetes. The CAA has announced that pilots with diabetes treated with insulin (and other medications that significantly lower blood glucose), may now be considered for medical certificates. For more information, see http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=14&pagetype=65&appid=7&newstype=n&mode=d etail&nid=2161. (The latest BGA guidance regarding the incoming EASA medical requirements that have to be in place for private pilots including glider pilots by April 2015 are at http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/easamedical.htm)
Club Management
RAeC Awards. We are approaching the time of year when we need to consider annual BGA, FAI, and Royal Aero Club (RAeC) awards and who, among the very many deserving people at our clubs, should be receiving them. The BGA would be grateful if club committees could consider who might be worthy of national recognition by nominating them for a RAeC, FAI, or BGA award. Details of RAeC and FAI awards are at http://www.royalaeroclub.org/awardhst.htm. BGA Diplomas (usually in recognition for service to gliding clubs or specific activity within gliding) and BGA Medals (usually in recognition of meritorious or distinguished service to gliding) are presented after careful consideration by the BGA Executive Committee. Nominations should be submitted by email including the title of the proposed award, a persuasive citation and both the nominator’s and nominated person’s full contact details including email address to Pete@gliding.co.uk to be received no later than 19th October 2012.
Competitions and Cross-Country
World Championships. The GB Gliding team won silver in the Team Cup at the World Gliding Championships (flapped classes) at Uvalde in Texas, reflecting the strength in depth of British Gliding. The top individual performance was Mike Young’s bronze in the 18m class, just pipping

Russell Cheetham who finished 4th. In the 15m class, Ed Johnston came 6th, with Matt Cook 23rd. Pete Harvey was 5th in the Open Class.
World Aerobatics. Not to be outdone, the GB team at the World Gliding Aerobatics Championships achieved excellent results at Dubnica, Slovakia. Richard Brown finished 8th and David Morgan 17th, while in the Unlimited Class, Maz Makari was 14th and Paul Conran 20th.
UK Nationals Results. Luke Rebbeck is the new Standard Class National champion, having led throughout the contest at Nympsfield. Howard Jones finished second, and last year’s winner, Jez Hood, was third. Matt Davis won the Junior Nationals, held at Lasham with Tim Fletcher second and Sam Roddie third.
Juniors
Air League Scholarships. The Air League has confirmed that they will be making their gliding scholarships available again in 2013. Applications will open in December. For information about the 2012 scheme, which has now closed, see www.airleague.co.uk/scholarships/glidingscholarships. See next month’s newsletter for details of Royal Aero Club Trust bursaries.
General
OSTIV Award. Hugh Browning has been awarded a special OSTIV prize for his “outstanding safety work which thoroughly investigated and significantly contributed to understanding glider winch launch dynamics which improved the training of pilots to reduce accidents during the launch.” The presentation was made by OSTIV President, Loek Boermans, during the opening ceremony for the 2012 OSTIV Congress at Uvalde in Texas. As Hugh couldn’t be present, the award was accepted on his behalf by Pete Harvey, who had come straight from winning that day’s 700km race in the World Gliding Championships open class. Hugh’s work has, of course, been instrumental in the success of the BGA safe winch launching initiative and we send him our heartiest congratulations.
Aerobility Global Flight Simulator Challenge. Aerobility, the charity that offers disabled people the opportunity to fly an aeroplane, is challenging over 100 people, including celebrities, to help it enter the record books by flying a flight simulator virtually around the world over a 10 day period, involving 200 hours of flying. The challenge aims to raise the £100,000 needed to purchase and run a simulator for the next five years, to help disabled people experience flight and learn to fly. Pilots confirmed so far include Buzz Aldrin, Yves Rossy, Bertrand Piccard, David Hempleman-Adams and Willie Walsh. For £500 you can join the flight team. For more information see http://www.aerobility.com/global-flight-sim/index.html.
EAS Newsletter. The latest newsletter from Europe Airsports is available at http://www.europeair-sports.org/fileadmin/user_upload/newsletter/EAS_NL_August_2012.pdf
Visit ATC Day. The popular Visit ATC Days will take place again this autumn. Pilots curious to see life from an air traffic controller’s perspective can sign up for a tour at their nearest unit during October and November. The scheme, now in its fourth year, aims to increase the mutual understanding of pilots and controllers. All visits require prior registration and are open only to holders of pilot licences (NPPL, PPL, BGA certificate etc) and to student pilots. Those attending will be required to show their licence or evidence that they are learning to fly. ATC units already confirmed include Swanwick, Prestwick, Manchester, Farnborough, Bristol, Birmingham, Belfast and Norwich. A full list of participating units, with dates when each unit is open for a visit, and contact details for pre-registration, are available on the ASI website http://airspacesafety.com/news/visit-atc-day-is-back