Safety
Glider Integrity. Accidents resulting from gliders that had been incorrectly prepared for flight continued in 2014. These events were a direct consequence of shortcomings in rigging, DI, or pre-flight checks. The most serious were three gliders being flown with unconnected elevators, one with an unconnected airbrake, and one without the main pin when the wings stayed on during flight but fell off during landing. CFIs have been asked to promote the key safety messages to their members but here is a summary:
 Rigging should be directed by a person experienced on the type, in accordance with the flight manual, without interruption or distraction
 Always DI a newly rigged glider.  The DI is conducted by a person experienced on type, without interruption or distraction  The pilot carries out proper pre-flight checks, again without interruption or distraction
A new Safety Briefing on this subject will be produced in the next few days.
Airspace Files. As frequently advised by the BGA and others, pilots should ensure that the airspace files used in GPS navigation devices are kept up to date and check, when files are supplied by a third party, that the data is accurate. In addition, as GPS devices can easily suffer from the garbage in, garbage out syndrome (otherwise known as finger-trouble), pilots should of course ensure that they cross check airspace information using a current ½ million chart.
Regulatory
ANO Review. Following on from the Government’s GA Red Tape Challenge, the CAA has conducted a comprehensive review of all aspects of the ANO that could impact on General Aviation. The resulting consultation presents the output of the initial review in a thematic format. Details of the consultation are available at https://www.caa.co.uk/CAP1271.The BGA will be responding to the consultation which closes on the 26th May 2015.
Approved Training Organisation. The BGA is engaged with the CAA, the European Gliding Union and EASA with the aim of removing by 2018 the existing EASA requirement for formal approval to carry out gliding training. The EASA working group includes an EGU representative and is being informed by an EGU working group led by the BGA’s Andy Miller. This is part of a wider BGA approach responding to EASA Executive Director Patrick Ky’s commitment to move EASA towards adopting proportionate and light-touch regulation for GA. Meanwhile, under the UK’s extended exemption from EASA’s Aircrew Regulation which ends in April 2018, gliding and gliding training remains under the long established BGA processes.
CAA GA Report. The CAA General Aviation Unit has published its first annual report. This introduces the team at the CAA, summarises achievements over the last 12 months and describes some of the key plans for 2015/6. The report is at http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP%201283%20GA%20ANNUAL%20REPORT%20MARCH%2 02015.pdf

Competitions and Cross-Country
Rulebook Update. An update to the 2015 Competition Rulebook has been published to implement the mandating of FLARM Stealth Mode in National competitions. The competition registration form has also been updated to reflect this. All documents can be found at http://old.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/competitions/forms.htm
Competition Surveys. A reminder that the surveys asking for views about two current issues are still open. The survey about cloud flying in BGA rated competitions is at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/cloudflying and the survey concerning Club Class handicapping is at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/clubclass. The BGA Competitions Committee welcomes the views of all interested competitors.
General
Mars Milk Play Fund. The Mars Milk Play Fund is now accepting applications for funding from clubs and individuals. There will be two awards, each of £300, each week between now and the end of September and the entry that receives the most online votes each month will receive an additional £1000. The awards cover just about everything including equipment, travel costs, extra participation time, training, or competition entry fees. Full details are at http://www.marsmilk.com