Safety
Rigging Issues. In the last 40 years, there have been 117 glider accidents and incidents in the UK involving disconnected or insecure controls, an insecure wing, or an insecure tailplane. These accidents have resulted in 10 fatalities and 8 serious injuries. Although BGA data indicates that owners of ASW19, ASW20, Pegase, Kestrel and Libelle gliders are particularly vulnerable to inadvertently failing to correctly rig their gliders before getting airborne, it is really important that all of us accept that we can suffer from universal human shortcomings like distraction, forgetfulness, making unjustified assumptions and rushing to complete a task. We are only human after all. Accidents of this type can be avoided if: - rigging is carried out by a person experienced on type, familiar with the flight manual, and without distraction; - a separate daily inspection is carried out after rigging by a person experienced on type, and without distraction. The DI of course should include all the connections required during rigging; - positive control checks are carried out. A positive control check is where, with care, the control surface is restrained and an attempt is made to move the control.
AAIB Report. The AAIB has published its report into last year’s fatal winch accident caused by a wing drop and subsequent cartwheel. The report made a number of recommendations regarding the design of cable release mechanisms and also widely quoted the existing safe winch launching advice from the BGA. While the safety recommendations are being acted upon, the BGA reiterates the winch launch advice relating to wing drops. A summary of this advice, together with more information about the AAIB report is at http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/safety/documents/aaib_G-EENN.pdf. Full information about safe winch launching is on the BGA web site at http://www.gliding.co.uk/safewinchlaunching. See also the article in the October/November edition of S&G.
Regulatory
Part-FCL Licence Applications. A significant percentage of the applications already received by BGA for Part-FCL licences have had to be rejected back to the applicants due to simple errors. The two main reasons for rejection are missing log-book evidence and poor quality copies of the applicant’s identification. Please submit a high quality colour copy of your submitted certified ID. And to help applicants, we have created a summary sheet within the application form which should be used with all applications to list the submitted certified logbook evidence. This summary sheet is part of the conversion application form available at http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/licensing/easalicensing.htm.
CAA Complaints Policy. The CAA has published a new complaints policy, clearly setting out the process for stakeholders to follow to raise concerns about the services the aviation regulator provides, the conduct of its staff, or to complain about any problems they encounter with its work. The complaints policy is available at www.caa.co.uk/complaints.

Airspace
Exeter TMZ. A temporary Transponder Mandatory Zone (TMZ) will be in place around Exeter Airport during a planned outage of its Primary Surveillance Radar from 16 September for up to 28 days. Anybody intending to fly adjacent to or within the TMZ should consult NOTAM B1828/13. Anybody unable to comply with the NOTAM and regulation should contact Exeter ATC for advice on routing or timing of the planned flight. A chart of the TMZ can be found at http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid=7&pagetype=90&pageid=15074
Blackpool RMZ. The UK’s first Radio Mandatory Zone was established at Blackpool from 27 August to cover the replacement of the airport's radar. Although the RMZ was planned to be effective until 23 September, it was withdrawn just 3 days later as the radar work was completed ahead of schedule. RMZs are a new airspace feature, designed to enhance flight safety without the need to establish a higher category of airspace. Details of the CAA policy re RMZs are at http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/20130809RMZPolicyDocumentFinal.pdf. The BGA was involved in the development of this and you can see the BGA input to an earlier consultation at http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/airspace/documents/bga_rmz_response.pdf
BGA
New Face at BGA Office. We are pleased to welcome a new member of the BGA office staff. Sheila Weston has joined Liz Pike and Debbie Carr in the administration team, taking over from Jenny Hartwell who has moved on to new challenges.
BGA Inspector Benefit. Following negotiation by the BGA Chief Technical Officer, Halfords have agreed that BGA inspectors can be issued with Halfords Trade Cards which offer significant discounts on Halfords products. BGA inspectors will hear more about how to apply for the card from Jim Hammerton in due course.
Club Management
Sport England Grant for Booker and Cambridge. Booker and Cambridge have both been successful in gaining grant aid from Sport England’s lottery-funded Inspired Facilities Fund. Booker has been awarded £47,820 to transform its hangar to create a training and resource centre to house its gliding simulator, which is to be used for group activities to introduce gliding to local young people and those unable participate fully in the sport because of medical requirements or low income. Part of the funding will go towards a trailer for the simulator so that it can be taken to other venues for use by youth and community groups. Cambridge has been awarded £50,000 for the purchase of a new winch which should be operational next year. The Inspired Facilities Fund has just been given a further £40million to extend its activities through to 2017. Full details of the fund are at http://inspiredfacilities.sportengland.org/
Competitions and Cross-Country
Junior World Championships. The Junior World Gliding Championships were held last month at Leszno in Poland. The top British pilot was Ollie Barter who finished 7th in the Standard Class, with Matt Waters 12th and Charlie Jordan 25th. Matt Davis was the leading British pilot in the Club Class in 16th place, with Luke Dale 26th and Sam Roddie 35th.
Nationals Results. The JS-1 recorded a clean sweep at the Open Class Nationals at Aston Down. Andy Davis was the winner, followed by Russell Cheetham and Iain Evans. In the Standard Class, also held at Aston Down, Richard Hood came first, with Howard Jones and David Bromley second and third. The 18m nationals, held at Bicester, resulted in a win for Russell Cheetham, followed by Steve Jones and Ed Johnston.

Junior Nationals. Matt Davis retained his title at the Junior Nationals, held at Nympsfield. Sam Roddie was second, followed closely by Luke Dale.
Inter-Club League. Congratulations to Oxford GC who are this year’s winners of the Inter-Club League.
Juniors
RAeC Trust Bursaries. The Royal Aero Club Trust has announced that its bursary scheme – part of its Flying for Youth programme - will be operating again in 2014. Bursaries include the President's Award (two bursaries each worth up to £750), the Peter Cruddas Foundation Scholarship worth up to £1,000, the Breitling Bursary worth up to £750, and the Bramson Bursary worth up to £500 as well as a number of additional bursaries worth up to £500 each. Bursaries are available to those wishing to advance from one recognised level of air sport to the next and/or wishing to upgrade existing qualifications. In the last round, 17 of the 37 awards went to glider pilots, so these are definitely worth applying for. Applicants must be British Citizens, aged 16-21 and permanently resident in the UK. Full details and application forms are on the Trust web site at http://www.royalaeroclubtrust.org/bursaries. Applications must be submitted via the BGA and should be received at the BGA office no later than 10th March 2014.
The Winter Series. The Winter Series enters its second season after a very successful 2012/13 series. The first round will be at the Long Mynd from 25-27 October, followed by Lleweni Park (21-23 February) and Dunstable (25-27 April). The series is designed to keep you flying over the winter and combines great gliding sites with great social activities. More details, along with footage from the 2012/13 season are on the Juniors Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ukjuniorgliding
Careers in Aerospace LIVE. The Royal Aeronautical Society is holding a Careers in Aerospace event at its London headquarters on Friday 8th November (1030 – 1530). This will be a unique opportunity to meet potential employers at the only UK careers fair dedicated to the aerospace and aviation community. Exhibitors from across the industry are available to answer your questions and give you information about their recruitment opportunities. In addition there are CV and professional development workshops, company seminars and a programme of talks about different aspects of the aerospace industry. There will also be impartial advice and free aptitude tests for pilots from GAPAN and free CV advice and workshops from the RAeS careers team. More details at http://www.aerosociety.com/Careers-Education/careersinaerospacelive
General
Light Aircraft Design Courses. Coventry University has developed 8 specialist courses for those wanting a wider and more in-depth understanding of light aircraft and the theory behind flight and aircraft design. The courses will use facilities in the university’s High Performance Engineering Centre, including a closed single return wind tunnel – designed and supplied by the Mercedes AMG PETRONAS Formula One team – and the flight simulation centre. Discounts are available to BGA club members; to book at the lower fee, quote your BGA club name or BGA inspector number. A full prospectus, together with details of the discounts available is at http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/technical/documents/coventry_course_propectus.pdf
RAeS Light Aircraft Design Conference. On a similar theme, the Royal Aeronautical Society is holding their 2013 Light Aircraft Design – Methods and Tools conference in London on 11th November. As the BGA is sponsoring the conference, a discounted rate of £50 (+VAT) is available to members of BGA clubs. For full details see http://aerosociety.com/Events/EventList/918/Light-Aircraft-Design-Methods-and-Tools-2013