Safety
Airworthiness Directives. - SZD 50-3 Puchacz Rudder Control Cable Fitting. EASA has issued AD 2015-046 calling for a one-time inspection, before 16 April, of the area around both rudder cable fitting blocks as instructed in Allstar PZL SB No. BE-063/SZD-50-3/2014. If cracking or detachment is detected then repair and reinforcement is required before next flight; otherwise, reinforcement is required before 16 March 2016. The AD is at http://ad.easa.europa.eu/ad/2015-0046 and the Service Bulletin is at http://szd.com.pl/downloads/54c60fcd9cc53be-063-szd-50-3-2014-en.pdf - DG1000T Engine Operation Restriction. EASA has issued AD 2015-052, superseding AD 2013-0217R1, requiring that Solo 2350C engines, including those that have been modified in accordance with the instructions of Solo Kleinmotoren SB 4603-14, are not operated. The AD also calls for a within 30 days inspection of propeller shafts and to report the findings to Solo Kleinmotoren. The AD is at http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/20150327EASAAD20150052E.pdf
BGA
Wally Kahn. It is with great sadness that we report the death of Wally Kahn MBE on 15th March. Wally served on the BGA Council from 1954-1990, was a member of the Royal Aero Club committee and received the Club’s Silver Medal in 1995. In 2011, he was awarded an MBE for services to gliding and, in 2014, was presented with a BGA Gold Medal. Wally first soloed in 1946 and earned his Silver C in 1947 (number 85 on the UK register) and Diamond Badge no 50 in 1975. Having created the Lasham Trust in 1983, he was instrumental in securing the purchase of the airfield from the MoD. More recently, along with the late Peter Redshaw, Wally was the driving force behind the creation of the Wally Kahn Library, a digital collection of UK gliding books. At 11am on Wednesday April 8th, Wally will be driven through Lasham for a final farewell, before the funeral at Basingstoke Crematorium at midday. After the service, return to Lasham for the official opening of the Wally Kahn Hangar followed by refreshments in the Clubhouse. Donations may be made to the Lasham Trust
Regulatory
GA Strategy. The Government has published its General Aviation Strategy document at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/417334/General_ Aviation_Strategy.pdf. The BGA and other GA Alliance members have contributed significantly to informing this welcome development which should ensure that GA remains of interest to Government beyond the Red Tape Challenge and the related good work during 2014 and 2015.
ANO Consultation. The CAA has announced a root and branch review of many of the national rules and regulations that affect UK General Aviation (GA). One of the first steps in the review is a consultation on the elements in the Air Navigation Order (ANO) that affect GA. The review follows a commitment made by the CAA, in response to the Government’s Red Tape Challenge, to reform the regulatory regime for the UK GA sector. Pilot licensing, operations and airworthiness rules are covered in the consultation with a view to deregulating or delegating

where possible in order to simplify compliance for GA pilots and organisations. An amended ANO will also speed up the CAA’s ability to introduce reforms already identified. The BGA will be responding to the consultation, which can be found at http://www.caa.co.uk/consultations. The consultation runs until 26th May 2015.
Help to Influence the Future of UK Airspace. The Future Air Space VFR Implementation Programme (FASVIP) was launched at the end of March. This programme, which is vitally important to the interests of all air sport pilots, particularly those who need class G airspace, has been developed by the Future Air Space VFR Implementation Group (FASVIG), which is informed and supported by the BGA. The programme has the support of a part-time paid programme manager who is, in part, funded by the Royal Aero Club using funds from its member organisations including the BGA. The FASVIG website is hosted by our colleagues at the LAA - www.laa.uk.com/fasvig/fasvig. All air sport organisations are looking for volunteers to help us to progress the 25 packages of change defined in the change programme at http://www.lightaircraftassociation.co.uk/FASVIG/FASVIP.html. Anyone that wishes to volunteer should email their contact details to FASVIGcoord@laa.uk.com
EGU Newsletter. The latest European Gliding Union newsletter has been published at http://www.egu-info.org/dwnl/EGU%20newsletter%201-2015.pdf. The newsletter offers a very interesting summary of current regulatory issues as they affect different countries in Europe.
Competitions and Cross-Country
Waypoint List. The 2015 BGA Waypoint List has been published, and contains 1277 WPs, an increase of 12 over last year. Due to the new Southend Control Zone, the following have been removed: CTM (Chatham), CVY (Canvey), DAE (Danbury E, replaced by a new point Danbury N), SOM (Southminster), and SPY (Sheppey). In other areas, HB7 (HusBos Finish E) has been replaced by a new HB4, and WIT (Wittering Tower) has been removed because this is an active RAF airfield and there is no longer a gliding club at this site. There are 19 new points, referenced to Canterbury (1), Exeter (7), Ipswich (1), Lasham (1), Leicester (1), Newcastle (1), Oxford (2), Plymouth (1), Ullapool (2), Yeovil (2). Finally, there are 12 more minor updates in other areas. The list can be downloaded from http://www.spsys.demon.co.uk/turningpoints.htm
London Parachute School. London Parachute School began its 2015 season at the start of March from Chiltern Park Aerodrome (just south of the RAF Benson ATZ). Operations will be every Saturday and Sunday (weather permitting) until the end of November, apart from a couple of weekends in August. This season they have introduced a new hold based on an unpublished waypoint and pilots flying in the vicinity, which is close to the Didcot Gap, should familiarise themselves with the LPS operations. A briefing document is on the BGA web site at http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/airspace/documents/chilternparkairspace.pdf . The DZ is 1.5nm in radius centred on 513330N 0010638W. The lat/long shown on the briefing document is the aiming point for the parachutists. The school is keen to point out that when there are no parachute operations in progress, gliders are welcome at Chiltern Park and that aerotow retrieves will normally be possible. They do ask that you give them a call on 134.025.
New Records. John Williams has set new UK speed records for 400km and 500km triangles in both the Open and 20m classes. His 503.5km flight from Portmoak on 9th February at an average speed of 121.66kmph beat John’s own 400km records from 2013 and Phil Jeffery’s 500km records from 2010. Phil, however, took another record for himself when he broke the long-standing National 750km triangle speed record set by Pam Kurstjens in 2001 with a 151.96km flight from New Tempe, South Africa at an average speed of 151.96kmph. Congratulations to both.

Competition Rulebook. The 2015 Competition Rulebook is now available for download from http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/competitions/other/competitionrules2015.pdf.
Rules Consultation. The BGA Competitions Committee is seeking the views of pilots about cloud flying in BGA rated competitions and about the best handicap system to use for the UK Club Class. They have produced papers describing some of the issues surrounding each subject, available at http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/competitions/other/cloudflyingdocument2015_000.pdf and http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/competitions/other/clubclasshandicap2015.pdf respectively. The committee would like to hear your views via two quick surveys which can be completed at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/cloudflying and https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/clubclass
Competition Organisers Handbook. The 2015 edition of the handbook has been published at http://www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/competitions/other/comporg2015.pdf
Women
Great Glider Opportunity. Do you want more flying but can't afford a glider of your own? WomenGlide UK has received a generous offer of an insurance share in a Standard Cirrus to a suitably qualified WGUK supporter. The Cirrus is competition-ready, in a brilliant trailer, and will only be lightly used this year by its owner - so you get access to nearly all of a glider for very little money. If you don't have your own glider to fly, you can apply for this to us via info@womenglide.co.uk, telling us about your flying experience and what extra you would be able to do if you were the lucky winner. You need a Cross-Country endorsement, or be postBronze and part-way through getting your XC endorsement. The right attitude is even more important than experience - this is going to go to someone who is planning lots of regular safe XC flying. Closing date for applications is midnight on Friday 10th April.
Compette, 2-4 May at Lasham. Entries are now open for the 6th North and South Compette. More details are on the WomenGlide web site at http://www.womenglide.co.uk/ and entries can be made at http://www.womenglide.co.uk/compette-2015/ for this great fun and informative weekend. There will be live tracking from ONGLIDE, met by David Masson, the chance to race top pilots and debriefing afterwards. All free for Womenglide (UK) members!
General
RAeC Newsletter. The spring edition of the Royal Aero Club newsletter is available at http://royalaeroclub.co.uk/media/Newsletter%20Spring%202015.pdf
FAI Annual Report. The 2014 FAI Annual Report has been published. You can read it at http://www.fai.org/downloads/fai/2014_FAI_Annual_Report
FAI Breitling Awards. The FAI is seeking nominations for the Breitling Milestone Trophy and the Breitling Award. The Milestone Trophy is for a group or an individual who, in the last year, has achieved a significant milestone, technological step or invention in aeronautics or astronautics (first flight, new technology, etc.) that might contribute to future developments, especially in the practice of air sports. The Youngster Award is for someone who, in the past year and before his/her 26th birthday, achieved an outstanding sporting performance, or excelled in a certain area of his sport and is considered as a reference, or significantly contributed to the development and promotion of aeronautics or astronautics. The awards were established in 2013 and the first winner of the Youngster award was Bobbie Rizk who, at 14, won our title of Advanced National Champion in Glider Aerobatics. More details are at http://www.fai.org/awards/fai-breitling-awards. The closing date for nominations is 31st May.