Flying rules

FLYING RULES

These rules are additional to the BGA Operational Regulations and the Air Navigation Order. All solo pilots are to possess the current edition of “Laws and Rules for Glider Pilots” and are to remain familiar with its contents. They are also to be able to interpret airspace restrictions appearing on an Aeronautical Chart scale 1:500,000.
Any infringement of the rules relating to controlled airspace will be subject to disciplinary action.

1. CIRCUIT FLYING, SOARING & AIRMANSHIP

  1. Flying will be preceded by a briefing from the duty instructor (or pilot responsible for solo days) Pilots not attending the briefing but intending to fly shall ask for a briefing before they fly.
  2. All pilots will ensure a good lookout is maintained at all times for other gliders, for the tug in circuit and for other aircraft in general.
  3. Aircraft flying base legs from opposite directions at the same time should normally each turn onto an approach to land on their respective near sides of the field so as to maintain adequate separation.
  4. Attempts to thermal on the downwind leg are only permissible if the other rules in this section are observed.
  5. Attempts to soar shall not be made unless the glider is at such a height and position that the pilot can fly at least the latter part of a downwind leg and continue a normal circuit should any attempt to soar prove unsuccessful.
  6. There will be no thermalling below 600’ AGL.
  7. In order to avoid conflict with other landing aircraft, gliders shall keep straight after landing and not attempt to taxy to one side.
  8. Pilots without a full Bronze C badge and Cross-Country endorsement must keep within safe gliding range of the airfield. Any deliberate violation is subject to disciplinary action. If this rule is inadvertently broken and it is hazardous to attempt to return to the airfield a suitable field should be chosen early enough to plan a circuit and the glider landed in it.
  9. All solo pilots will carry in their aircraft an up to date aeronautical chart showing all relevant airspace boundaries.

2. AEROBATICS, SPINNING AND COMPETITION FINISHES

  1. An “Aerobatic Manoeuvre” is defined as any manoeuvre listed in Annex 1 with the exception of spinning. Additionally, at East Sussex Gliding Club “Competition Finishes” are classed as an aerobatic manoeuvre under the Standard rating.
  2. Only pilots with the appropriate BGA aerobatic badge or under training for that badge will be allowed to perform aerobatics. Such pilots will only be allowed to perform those manoeuvres for which they have been specifically authorised.
  3. Pilots of aircraft performing aerobatics will wear serviceable parachutes.
  4. All aerobatics will be completed before 1500 ft AGL. Instructors with a current BGA aerobatic rating shall be exempted from this rule.
  5. Only instructors with a current BGA aerobatic instructor rating shall be permitted to demonstrate / teach aerobatics beyond Sports level and only within their rating. Assistant and Full rated instructors may teach aerobatic manoeuvres as detailed in the BGA Instructors Manual, with the permission of the CFI or his nominated deputy.
  6. No spinning will be commenced below 1000 AGL.
  7. All aerobatic training is to be recorded on an Aerobatic Progress Card.
  8. Competition finishes shall only be performed by pilots including instructors with signed approval in their logbook or on their aerobatic progress card. Such endorsement shall only be granted by the CFI or his nominated deputy. A specified minimum height will be defined. The absolute minimum height for competition finishes will be 100’ AGL.
  9. A competition finish shall only be performed after a pre-declared cross-country flight or a training exercise. Before the final glide commences, radio contact must be established with the launch point to advise others of your intentions. Another radio call when 1 minutes out must also be made. The approach must be on a continuous descending line. The finish line will be a line at right angles to the landing direction extending out both sides of the airfield level with the hangers.

3. WINCH LAUNCHING

  1. No attempt shall be made to launch with a crosswind component likely to result in a cable dropping over the field boundary alongside the road.
  2. All pilots will compensate adequately for any cross field drift on the launch so that if a launch failure occurs at any stage of the launch, the cable (whether broken or not) will drop well inside the field boundary. Any pilot who demonstrates an inability to adequately correct for drift will be required to do further two seater training.
  3. When two cables are in operation they will be retrieved to such a position that the downwind cable can be used first and pulled across to the glider to be launched to separate it from the other cable.
  4. While aerotowing is in operation the tug take off run must be kept clear of the winch cables.
  5. Cables are not to be left laid out when the winch is not manned.
  6. Once a cable is connected to the glider by the correct weak link the entire assembly from the hook to the cable end of the parachute is to be pulled out in a straight line and the various links checked to ensure they are correctly fitted.
  7. Signalling to the winch is to be by UHF (currently handheld Motorola) radio link. The signaller must first warn the winch driver by stating the glider to be launched and the cable. Eg “Ringmer winch, Ringer launch, get ready for a K13 on field side cable.” The winch driver will confirm this with “Ringmer launch, getting ready for K13, field side cable.” When it is clear to launch this commences with the message: “Ringmer winch, take up slack K13, field side cable.” The winch should confirm “Taking up slack K13, field side cable.” The signaller then repeats “Take up Slack” at intervals until all the slack is taken up. (There is no need for the winch driver to confirm each Take up Slack.) When all the slack is taken up the “All OUT, All OUT “ signal is given.
  8. Any person who considers that starting or continuing a launch would be dangerous is to immediately shout, “STOP! STOP! STOP!” The pilot of the glider to be launched is to release the rope or cable immediately and the wingman should then lower the wing. As soon as the signaller hears the order to stop he must signal to the winch driver to stop using the same command “STOP! STOP! STOP!”

4. AEROTOWING

  1. No aerotow combination is to take off before 09.30 hours or after 18.00 hours on any day except Sundays, which will be 11.00 hours and 16.00 hours. The only powered aircraft take off allowed outside these hours will normally only be for the purpose of repositioning to another airfield for servicing and maintenance. No powered aircraft is allowed to take off on the Sunday before a Bank Holiday Monday. Any breach of this rule will be subject to disciplinary action.
  2. No more than 20 aerotows are to take place on a Sunday and no more than 36 on any other day. Copies of these and other conditions attached to the club’s planning permission to aerotow will be posted in the clubhouse and all flying members are to be familiar with them and observe them.
  3. Tug pilots must be aware of the climbout routes as shown on the marked map. The planning permission may be withdrawn if the aerotow routes are violated.
  4. Except in an emergency no visiting powered aircraft are allowed to land unless prior permission has been obtained.

6. SERVICEABILITY OF AIRCRAFT

  1. Before any glider is taken to the launch point, the appropriate Daily Inspection Book will be filled in to certify that the glider is serviceable and fit for use. The person carrying out the inspection will also do a FULL release check and carry out a “positive” control check on each primary control surface. This “positive” check is carried out with the aid of a helper by applying pressure on each control surface in turn between the cockpit control and the surface. The battery should be installed and all electrics tested. A serviceable parachute/parachutes should be placed in the glider.
  2. Any suspected or known unserviceability is to be reported to the Duty Instructor before the glider is flown.
  3. No person is to carry out any modification to a glider unless under the supervision of the club ground aircraft engineer or a BGA inspector.
  4. The daily inspection must be carried out in accordance with the instructions as laid down in the front of the Daily Inspection Book provided.

7. PROTOCOL FOR POWERED AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS

  1. All powered aircraft departing Ringmer are to log details of their intended flight in the Movements book located in the President’s Hangar. The only exception to this is for the Tug aircraft when carrying out Aerotow duties at Ringmer. Log keepers will also log powered movements on the aerotow log sheet.
  2. All departing aircraft must notify their intentions the Control Vehicle (with an acknowledgement from the Winch) Prior to departure. This will normally be by Radio on 129.975mHz. Where the departing aircraft is not fitted with a serviceable radio a previously agreed unambiguous signal must be used.
  3. When powered aircraft are departing while winch launching is in operation the cables must be in the wound in position, i.e. drogue chutes at the winch. The only exception to this is when there is no possibility of the cables being crossed during taxying or takeoff.
  4. The plasma launch cable is not easily seen and is easily snagged, it also can be easily damaged by being run over by aircraft or vehicles. Pilots should ensure that they know exactly where the cables lies and that the winch is manned before attempting takeoff.
  5. Following an abandoned take-off the Tug aircraft may cross the line of the cables while turning to give the towed glider room to manoeuvre, extreme caution or help will be required taxying clear afterwards.

8. SOLO FLYING DAYS

  1. The CFI’s permission must be obtained if flying is to take place without a rated instructor present.
  2. Only solo pilots holding a silver badge and above are permitted to fly under these conditions.
  3. Only silver pilots nominated by the CFI and who have passed the "club supervision course" are allowed to organise a solo flying day.
  4. Flying can only take place if there is a "listed" silver pilot present, who is in current practice and who is willing to be responsible for the organisational requirements for the day. This includes providing a morning briefing and remaining on the ground until a suitable relief pilot becomes available.
  5. No mutual flying or type conversions are permitted under these conditions.
  6. No trial lessons, mini courses or any public flying will take place during a solo flying day.
  7. When the aerotow facility is used for the solo day, the supervising silver pilot will be responsible for the ground operations; however, the tug pilot is responsible for the overall decision making for the day.

9. GENERAL MATTERS

  1. Parachutes will be worn for all glider flights unless specifically authorised by an instructor.
  2. All club members wishing to fly must bring their logbook, flying card and a valid membership card as they may be asked to produce them.
  3. No passenger flying is permitted unless agreed by CFI and counter signed in the log book.
  4. Full flying members from other clubs wishing to fly with the East Sussex Gliding Club on a free reciprocal scheme must produce a valid membership card issued by their home club and must sign the ESGC temporary membership form. They must also sign the flying list which states that they have a valid medical. All visiting pilots shall have a site check at the discretion of duty instructor.
  5. Any visitor flying in an ESGC or private glider MUST complete (at least) a temporary membership form.
  6. All persons wishing to fly who are not members of any gliding club must sign the ESGC temporary membership form and pay the fee before flying. The pilots authorised to fly these persons must be an ESGC full instructor, assistant or basic instructor.
  7. Instructors from other clubs are not permitted to instruct at Kitson Field unless they have been cleared to do so by the CFI.
  8. Vehicles are to be parked in the car park and not on the field, unless owned by private owners or by instructors on duty.
  9. All solo pilots are required to carry out annual flying checks . These checks will be carried out with any of the club’s rated instructors and must be completed (in the 12 months following the previous check) Pilots who have not carried out their flying checks will not be permitted to fly solo again after this date without a daily check until annual checks are completed. All instructors are exempt from these checks provided that the CFI is satisfied that the instructor’s rating is valid and BGA requirements re: hours and flights have been met.
  10. Mutual flying in the club two seaters is permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
    1. P1 must be current, hold a Silver badge or higher certificate, have at least 50 hours PI on gliders and have his/her logbook endorsed and signed by the CFI or deputy.
    2. P2 must have the minimum of a Bronze “C” and at least 10 hours P.1
    3. P1 is to be designated before the flight and must occupy the front seat. Where both pilots have silver, either may carry out any phase of the flight.Where P2 has Bronze
    4. P1 must carry out launch and landing.
  11. ALL club members must read and understand the instructions laid down for the log keeper. These instructions are to be adhered to and they are to be kept in the launch point caravan whenever flying takes place.
  12. All incidents, accidents and over flights below 2500 ft must be reported.
  13. Non usual events must also be reported using the agreed form.
  14. Any alterations to these rules will be published in the club newsletter and posted on the club notice board.
  15. Club vehicles shall only be driven by members holding a Full Driving Licence for motor cars.
  16. The gates at the entrance to the field shall be kept closed at all times whilst the airfield is active.
  17. No member shall become an owner (part or whole) of a glider based at ESGC without prior permission of the CFI.
  18. Whilst flying the wearing of any hat which limits vision upwards or sideways (eg.baseball hats) is prohibited.
  19. The CFI’s permission is necessary for any “non usual” flying events such as charity flights, flights involving external publicity agents or flights involving aerial photography.
  20. Glider manuals including the motor glider) are available in the clubhouse and must be read by pilots before any type conversion

ANNEX 1 - BGA aerobatic categories

STANDARD

Diving and Climbing 45 degree lines
Positive G Loop
Chandelle
Climbing turn
2G Turn
Spinning

SPORT as above plus

Humpty Bump
Quarter Cloverleaf
Stall Turn

INTERMEDIATE / UNLIMITED as above plus

Inverted turn
Slow roll
Half roll erect and inverted
Cuban Eight
Half Cuban
Half reverse Cuban
Split S

ESGC Flying Rules October 2010