Introduction (click to expand)
This set of shared training resources for gliding instructors is intended to support briefings ranging from a summary on the airfield, to a full classroom briefing of an hour or so. With content aimed at pre-SPL student pilots, it meets the needs of an instructor wishing to brief any topic, ranging from the first introduction to the sailplane, through to soaring methods for prolonged flight.
The Documents area of the Instructor Resources provides a collection of the patter for the flight exercises, describing what you say, what you do, and what response is expected from the student pilot. Tailored patter documents are provided for the Basic Instructor and Assistant Instructor.
The Students area of the website provides self-briefing Lessons suitable for self-study and revision of the flying exercises.
The goal is that all content is compliant with BGA standards. The advantage of an online resource is that it is shareable, standardised, always available, and accessible almost anywhere via a browser.
Your Contributions are welcome
Contact me if you would like to provide a briefing, or other content, for inclusion or linking here.
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UK CAA SFCL Sailplane Pilots License (SPL) Training Course and Exercise references
The SPL training course includes briefings and flight exercises. They are described on the CAA’s website, notably reference AMC2 SFCL.130 SPL (c) (5).
The briefings listed below include references to the relevant SPL exercises, shown as e.g. (Ex 1).
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Theory Briefings
Theory Briefings, intended for delivery in a classroom, by an instructor, with a duration of around 40 minutes:
Select your briefing below:
Familiarisation with the Sailplane & Safety (Ex 1, Ex 2)
Preparation for Flight & Initial Air Experience (Ex 3, Ex 4)
Effects of Controls, including Secondary Effects and Coordinated Rolling (Ex 5, Ex 6, Ex 7(vii))
The Straight Glide, Scan Cycle and Drift (Ex 7)
Slow Flight and Stalling (Ex 9a, Ex 9b)
Spins and Spiral Dives (Ex 10)
Winch Launch Failures and Recovery (Ex 11a(viii))
Airfield Briefings
Airfield Briefings are intended to be reminders of the main points of the Theory Briefings, followed by a description of the forthcoming flight exercise(s). With the background knowledge in your head, the use of these headings, written on a white board (etc), will prompt a decent brief:
- Aim: the purpose of this briefing and the exercises that follow.
- Why this is relevant.
- Theory: recap the essential elements.
- What we will do in flight.
- TEM as applicable to the flight exercises.
Airfield briefings should be short, lasting around ten minutes.
Pre-Flight Briefings
Pre-Flight briefings are given outside the glider, just before getting in. It should simply be a recap of what will happen in this flight, notably who will do what. It should last no more than a minute or two, and would summarise what was described in the Airfield Briefing.
Flight Exercises
This section is structured to match the BGA’s 2025 Instructors Manual (Edition 5), which complies with the UK CAA SFCL Sailplane Pilots License (SPL) Training Course, notably AMC2 SFCL.130 SPL (c) (5).
Most exercises are straightforward. Others are more involved, or multi-step. These are summarised below:
It is a Work In Progress.
Effects of Controls (Elevator, Ailerons & Rudder)
Coordinated Rolling to and from moderate angles of bank
Recognition and Avoidance of Spins and Spiral Dives
Effects of Controls (Airbrakes)
Documents
Basic Instructor: Trial Lesson Briefing
Provides more than enough presentation material to cover the theory and pre-flight briefings for the most enthusiastic Trial Lesson student. The content includes some of the briefings above, for ease of learning. Either the website or the notes can be used to deliver the briefings.
Basic Instructor: Trial Lesson Patter (and Chatter)
Covers the standard BGA patter, combined with the instructor’s actions, for ease of learning, supplemented with additional chatter to care for your student.
Assistant Instructor: Patter and Actions
BGA patter combined with the instructor’s actions, for ease of learning (November 2024).
Copyright of the originals owners is hereby acknowledged for any non-original content. Richard Lancaster’s slides are re-used on a non-commercial basis.
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