Safety
FLARM Update. FLARM has announced a scheduled and mandatory firmware update for all FLARM and FLARM-compatible devices, including classic FLARM, PowerFLARM and FLARM manufactured by LXNAV, LX Navigation, Garrecht/AIR Avionics, and others. The free update will be released by early March 2015 on http://www.flarm.com. If the update is not applied, the device will no longer operate after March 31, 2015. Full details of the update are on the FLARM web site at http://www.flarm.com/
BGA
BGA Conference. One final newsletter reminder about the BGA Annual Conference, Exhibition and Awards Dinner - 7th March at the Nottingham Belfry. As always, the conference and exhibition are free to attend and the programme includes presentations on aerobatic competition flying; all that is new in the world of instrumentation; what should be a very interesting airspace update; and aircraft conspicuity and visual detection. With over 20 exhibitors, there will be something for everybody in the dedicated gliding exhibition and, in the evening, you can let your hair down at the ever-popular awards dinner. Full details and online booking are at http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/notices/conference.htm
Regulatory
Southend Class D Airspace. The BGA deeply regrets that the CAA has seen fit to impose Class D airspace at Southend. We believe that a Radio Mandatory Zone (as had been temporarily in force) is a more appropriate solution to the needs of all airspace users. It is hard to understand why the CAA has imposed Class D airspace and, following their earlier decision regarding Class F airspace, represents a worrying trend of ignoring the carefully expressed needs of General Aviation. One consolation is that Sarah Kelman has already been in discussion with Southend and has been met with a constructive willingness to create letters of agreement which will hopefully make some of the new CAS available to us. Details of the new airspace are in the CAA Decision Letter available at http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/2111/20150128%20Southend%20ACP%20Decision%20Letter%20v 6.pdf and a fuller comment from John Williams, BGA Airspace Committee Chairman can be found at http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/airspace/documents/southend-cas.pdf
Inverness Airspace Change Proposal. The Inverness ACP has been held open until 22nd February. The BGA is working with our GA Alliance colleagues to ensure a fully detailed response is submitted; however, you may also want to comment. Every voice counts. There is no apparent safety case for the controlled airspace being requested and the projected passenger growth at Inverness (5% pa) is being overstated. We believe that the airport’s needs can be adequately provided for by an RMZ. If you have time, please read the ACP, make up your own mind, and respond in your own words at http://www.hial.co.uk/inverness-airport/jetcentre/nats-nautical-information-service/

GA Event at Duxford. The next stage of the Government’s plans for General Aviation will be unveiled on Saturday 28th March in a public GA strategy update during a joint Government/ CAA event at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford. Key players in the GA world will be speaking including Grant Shapps MP, Minister without Portfolio; Patrick Ky, EASA Executive Director; and Andrew Haines, CAA Chief Executive. NATS specialists will also be present to offer advice on a range of GA airspace safety issues. The event, from 10.30am to 3pm, is open to anyone involved in GA. If you wish to attend then please RSVP to GAevent@caa.co.uk including the number of people in your party and whether you intend to fly in. Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Confirmation of successful registration and further information will be provided nearer the date. Those attending will also have free access to the Imperial War Museum and reduced landing fees are available.
Competitions and Cross-Country
2015 Nationals Entry Lists. The Nationals entry lists have been published at https://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/competitions/news.htm. Entrants should ensure that they make payment before the due dates to avoid late payment charges. Apart from the Club Class, there are still places available in each of the Nationals and you may still enter any of the Nationals. If the entry list is full, as is currently the case with the Club Class, you will be placed at the end of the reserve list. (The Club Class reserve list is not long so new entrants have a good chance of being able to compete). Enter online at www.gliding.co.uk/nationalsentry.
New Records. The flight by Kay Draper from Lasham on 3rd August 2014 has been confirmed as a new 200km UK Feminine Goal Speed record in the Open, 20m, 15m and Standard classes. The flight, at an average speed of 119.33km/h beat the long-standing Open and 20m records set by Anne Burns in 1963 in an Olympia 419 and set first-time records in the 15m and Standard classes. The following day, Kay set new UK Feminine records in the same classes for the 200km triangle, with an average speed of 104.95km/h from Lasham, beating Sarah Kelman’s 2003 records. Congratulations!
Local Competitions. Following an encouraging response from the recent competition survey, the BGA Competitions Committee is looking into ways to encourage more people to fly club/regional-based mini-competitions, including the Inter-Club League. To help understand existing best practice, the committee would be grateful if club members currently involved in the running or organisation of their local Inter-Club League events would Email Andy Cockerell (ls4a535@gmail.com) with their views. These can cover any aspect of local competitions, but a starting point might be specific thoughts on the ICL - what is and isn’t working and why; what might be changed; barriers to participation; etc.
Women’s Climb and Glide Masterclass. Saturday 14 Feb 10:30-17:30 at Weston-on-theGreen (Oxford GC). This masterclass (mistressclass?) run by Women's team members will focus in the morning on how to improve your climb, and in the afternoon on how to improve your glide. Please bring logger traces if you have them or questions if you don't. Everyone is welcome regardless of soaring experience - the team will offer advice that's appropriate to you on how to practice and improve your soaring. Please send an Email as soon as possible to info@womenglide.co.uk to book your spot. Tea, coffee, and lunch will be available for around £5 all-in. Please advise if you want lunch or if you have any special dietary needs. See http://www.womenglide.co.uk/ for more information on Women Glide UK events.

Juniors
Junior Nationals. The 2015 Junior Nationals will be held at Aston Down from 22-30 August. As usual, a two-seater training course will run alongside the competition. You need a silver badge to fly in the competition. (You can enter before you obtain this, but your place will not be confirmed until you do). Apart from your age, there are no requirements to apply for the twoseater training, other than being very keen. Applications are now open for both the competition and the course. If you are not sure whether to enter the competition, you can apply for both. Applications from those aged 25 or under at the end of 2015 should be submitted by 30th April. As usual, there is likely to be no entry fee, and some free aerotows available. Sponsors are always welcome and any leads would be appreciated - please email pete.masson@launchpoint.co.uk. More information and online entry is at www.gliding.co.uk/juniorsentry.
Philip Wills Memorial Fund Scholarships. The trustees of the Philip Wills Memorial Fund have agreed to offer gliding scholarships once again in 2015. The scholarships are specifically aimed at helping post-solo gliding development in younger members - those aged 30 or less by 30th April 2015. There will be up to 20 scholarships, each valued at up to £500 and applications must be received by 6th March 2015. Full details and application forms are at http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/pwmf/scholarships.htm
Royal Aero Club Trust Bursaries. A reminder that applications for 2015 RAeC Trust bursaries are still being accepted. Bursaries of up to £1500 are available to young solo pilots, aged 16-21, to help them to achieve greater competence in their particular air sport and advance from one recognized level of air sport to the next (for example, gain a bronze badge or XC endorsement). Additionally, Follow-On bursaries are available to previous recipients of Trust bursaries, up to age 24, to help well qualified pilots enter international or national competitions or other prestigious events. Applications for 2015 bursaries in respect of gliding have to be endorsed by the BGA. These need to be received at the BGA office 10 March 2015. Full details are on the RAeC Trust web site at http://www.royalaeroclubtrust.org/bursaries.
General
Royal Aeronautical Society Lectures. The RAeS History Group has announced its 2015 lecture series. Included in this is a lecture to be given on 16th March by Howard Torode and Afandi Darlington entitled ‘The History and Development of High Performance Sailplanes’. Full details and registration are at http://www.aerosociety.com/Events/Event-List/1861/The-Historyand-Development-of-High-Performance-Sailplanes
See the Northern Lights. Aerobility, the charity which offers disabled people the chance to fly, has organised an 'Aurora Flight' to see the Northern Lights from Luton on 21st February. The event starts with presentations and entertainment at easyJet HQ and then, at sunset, you board EZ4848 heading to 61 degrees north where you will, hopefully, see the aurora borealis. On board you will hear from experts about what you may see and there will be live music from Steve Young. Tickets are £349 (£199 child); full details at http://www.aerobility.com/aurora
New Gliding Art Award. A new prize is being introduced at the Guild of Aviation Artists’ annual exhibition in London, 20-26th July. The Margaret Kahn Trophy, together with a £100 cash award and certificate, will be awarded for the best gliding-related oil painting. The trophy has been donated by Wally Kahn to commemorate his late wife’s outstanding gliding and cloudscape paintings. More information is at http://www.gava.org.uk