Updates in 26th - 30th editions
Maps in colour
All black and maps have been converted to colour.
VFR Rules
New diagram of VFR Riles. For many glider pilots this diagram is irrelevant because they will only ever fly in Class G and so they are not currently required to comply with VFR here. However, TMZs will probably become more frequent, and a few will wish to cross Class D airspace.
There is one further complication. The boundary at 3000 ft above sea level moves upwards if the terrain below is higher. This boundary for VMC is raised to 1000ft above the ground even if the aircraft is above 3000ft. However, in a glider you not currently required to keep to VMC in Class G anyway.
Weak links
Weak link must always be fitted to a winch or auto-tow cables whatever the breaking strain of the cable.cable unless the cable strength is below the breaking load
Annex 2 has become non-Part-21
Driver licence
If you passed your car driving test from 1 January 1997, from autumn 2021, you are now allowed to tow trailers up to 3,500kg MAM without a test.
Radio licence
The FRTOL does not entitle the holder to operate a radio station which is installed anywhere other than in an aircraft.
The radio chapter has also been extensively increased to give much of the theory required in the FRTOL course, but it does not give you enough to pass the exam. You must attend a course with plenty of opportunities for practice.
Mayday
Mayday relay doesn’t appear to be a known phrase in CAP 413
Charts
English charts are re-issued every 12 months but recently Scotland’s chart has changed only after 18 months.
Medical
Under the CAA’s SFCL Rules, for your first solo, you will need to hold either a valid Class 1, 2 from an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME), or a LAPL medical certificate from your own doctor. Once you have an SPL licence, if you only want to fly UK (G) registered aircraft in UK airspace, you can use the on-line Pilot Medical Declaration (PMD) to declare your own fitness. After the age of 70, a new declaration must be submitted every three years. Instructors need a medical from their own doctor or an AME.
Threat and Error Management
There is a reference to Threat and Error Management in the CAA’s Skyways Code.
Oxygen
The Skyways Code and the Sailplane Rules transferred from EASA state that oxygen should be used above 10,000ft. Above 18,000 feet, cannulas aren't as effective as masks. If you breathe through your mouth or talk a lot, you start to take in lower-oxygen air.
Airbrakes and spoilers
Airbrakes increase drag and so increase the rate of descent, mainly when landing. They also increase stability. Airbrakes will also help to keep the speed of a modern glider below VNE, but only if it is not diving too steeply (typically by not more than 45°). Spoilers mainly reduce lift.
Books
I have added Soaring Adventure by Mike Fox. This book is aimed at early solo pilots. Its main aims are advice and motivation, rather than theory and regulations, and so it is complementary to Bronze & Beyond.
Edition 29
One map for a danger area has been made larger to show reference number and asterisk
Edition 30
Clarified the need to use a transponder over FL100 even in Class G unless gliding use of a Non-SSR Gliding Areas (NSGA) has been NOTAMed by 4pm the day before. Even so, but switch on your transponder, if you have one. If transponder is fitted to a glider, it must always be switched on in any class of airspace, unless glider lacks sufficient power
Pointed out the different colours of the boxes and information for class A airspace versus D & E
Pink shading of a zone of controlled airspace shows shows it goes down to the ground
ATZs have published hours of operations. If an ATZ has only the status of an information service or air-ground radio, they cannot refuse permission, but you would be well-advised to take heed of any information that you may be given by anyone on an ATZ's radio
BGA have now published minimum heights at which you should call an airfield with instrument approach "feathers", if you are near the runway centre-lines.
When deciding if an accident is serious, serious injury is defined as a patient spending more than 48hr in hospital, or a major fracture or a serious laceration.
Any accident when there was no-one on board does not have to be reported to AAIB, but must reported to the BGA
All black and maps have been converted to colour.
VFR Rules
New diagram of VFR Riles. For many glider pilots this diagram is irrelevant because they will only ever fly in Class G and so they are not currently required to comply with VFR here. However, TMZs will probably become more frequent, and a few will wish to cross Class D airspace.
There is one further complication. The boundary at 3000 ft above sea level moves upwards if the terrain below is higher. This boundary for VMC is raised to 1000ft above the ground even if the aircraft is above 3000ft. However, in a glider you not currently required to keep to VMC in Class G anyway.
Weak links
Weak link must always be fitted to a winch or auto-tow cables whatever the breaking strain of the cable.cable unless the cable strength is below the breaking load
Annex 2 has become non-Part-21
Driver licence
If you passed your car driving test from 1 January 1997, from autumn 2021, you are now allowed to tow trailers up to 3,500kg MAM without a test.
Radio licence
The FRTOL does not entitle the holder to operate a radio station which is installed anywhere other than in an aircraft.
The radio chapter has also been extensively increased to give much of the theory required in the FRTOL course, but it does not give you enough to pass the exam. You must attend a course with plenty of opportunities for practice.
Mayday
Mayday relay doesn’t appear to be a known phrase in CAP 413
Charts
English charts are re-issued every 12 months but recently Scotland’s chart has changed only after 18 months.
Medical
Under the CAA’s SFCL Rules, for your first solo, you will need to hold either a valid Class 1, 2 from an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME), or a LAPL medical certificate from your own doctor. Once you have an SPL licence, if you only want to fly UK (G) registered aircraft in UK airspace, you can use the on-line Pilot Medical Declaration (PMD) to declare your own fitness. After the age of 70, a new declaration must be submitted every three years. Instructors need a medical from their own doctor or an AME.
Threat and Error Management
There is a reference to Threat and Error Management in the CAA’s Skyways Code.
Oxygen
The Skyways Code and the Sailplane Rules transferred from EASA state that oxygen should be used above 10,000ft. Above 18,000 feet, cannulas aren't as effective as masks. If you breathe through your mouth or talk a lot, you start to take in lower-oxygen air.
Airbrakes and spoilers
Airbrakes increase drag and so increase the rate of descent, mainly when landing. They also increase stability. Airbrakes will also help to keep the speed of a modern glider below VNE, but only if it is not diving too steeply (typically by not more than 45°). Spoilers mainly reduce lift.
Books
I have added Soaring Adventure by Mike Fox. This book is aimed at early solo pilots. Its main aims are advice and motivation, rather than theory and regulations, and so it is complementary to Bronze & Beyond.
Edition 29
One map for a danger area has been made larger to show reference number and asterisk
Edition 30
Clarified the need to use a transponder over FL100 even in Class G unless gliding use of a Non-SSR Gliding Areas (NSGA) has been NOTAMed by 4pm the day before. Even so, but switch on your transponder, if you have one. If transponder is fitted to a glider, it must always be switched on in any class of airspace, unless glider lacks sufficient power
Pointed out the different colours of the boxes and information for class A airspace versus D & E
Pink shading of a zone of controlled airspace shows shows it goes down to the ground
ATZs have published hours of operations. If an ATZ has only the status of an information service or air-ground radio, they cannot refuse permission, but you would be well-advised to take heed of any information that you may be given by anyone on an ATZ's radio
BGA have now published minimum heights at which you should call an airfield with instrument approach "feathers", if you are near the runway centre-lines.
When deciding if an accident is serious, serious injury is defined as a patient spending more than 48hr in hospital, or a major fracture or a serious laceration.
Any accident when there was no-one on board does not have to be reported to AAIB, but must reported to the BGA
