These are This page started with the notes I [[User:TW466]] took at the 2019 CGC Bronze Theory course. They are not meant to be completethe syllabus or a textbook; if you want to take the exam, read ''Bronze and Beyond''<ref>[http://www.mccullagh.biz/ John McCullagh, ''Bronze & Beyond'']</ref> or attend the course. Feel free to edit this page with any improvements or additions. = Introduction = == Requirements == * > 50 solos or 20 solos + 10h including solo flying* flying test + oral test* written exam* tests within 24 months === Written exam === * 10 sections* 12 questions each* pass mark 75% / section == X/C endorsement == ; Requirements: soaring flights of 1h and 2h (one each), supervised == See also == * BGA "Laws and Rules"<ref>[https://members.gliding.co.uk/laws-rules/ BGA Laws & Rules]</ref>* CAA "Skyway Code"<ref>[https://www.caa.co.uk/General-aviation/Safety-information/The-Skyway-Code/ The Skyway Code]</ref> = Communications = ; See also: "Bronze Confuser" on CGC website – not necessarily correct! == Radio licence == # physical radio licensed by OfCom (previously CAA)#* also covers handheld backup used in cockpit#* different licence for ground stations# FRTOL (Flight RadioTelephony Operator's Licence)#; required to communicate with#: ATC, FIS, A/G#; ''not'' required to communicate with#:* other aircraft#:* gliding-specific channels#:* emergency channel#:* operating ground stations (except ATC, A/G) == Range == * signal ≈ line-of-sight {| class="wikitable"! Height! Range|-| 1000 ft| 33 nm|-| 2000 ft| 75 nm|} Generally, \[\frac{\text{horizon distance}}{\text{nm}} \approx \frac{\sqrt{\text{altitude}}}{\text{ft}}\] == Phraseology == <ul><li>standard: CAP413 Radiotelephony Manual</li><li><p>at gliding sites, make traffic calls, e.g.</p><pre class="example">GRL TrafficGlider ___Downwind R/HRwy 04GRLGear Fixed (ref:gearfixed)</pre>The ''"Gear Fixed"'' call is GRL-specific.</li><li><p>use "hundred" and "thousand" for altitudes only (except QNH 1000!)</p></li></ul> === Call signs === ; gliders: prefix "Glider"; ''gliding'' airfields: suffix "Base";* e.g. "Gransden Lodge Base" – '''not''' "Radio"; vehicles: suffix "Mobile";* e.g. car towing glider DM is "DM Mobile" == Gliding channels == * 8.33 kHz channels are '''not''' frequencies** documents saying e.g. "129.9 ''MHz''" are frequencies, '''not''' channels* gliding-specific channels do not require a FRTOL (table [[#tab:gliding-channels|1]]) {| class="wikitable"! Channel! Use|-| 129.905| ground retrieval, shared with other air sports|-| 129.980| situational awareness; (Common Glider Field Frequency<ref>control within 10 nm & 3000 ft of specific airfields</ref>)|-| 130.105| situational awareness; competition start/finish|-| 130.130| cross-country training; competition start/finish|-| 130.405| cloud flying; other situational awareness|-| 131.280| CGC own frequency (not on map, but is on frequency reference card)|-| 135.480| [[#SafetyCom|2.8]] (not gliding-specific)|} === 130.405 (cloud flying) annoucements === ; on entering cloud: call sign, altitude (QNH), position; inside cloud: altitude at 500 ft intervals; on leaving cloud: clear of cloud == Mayday == Re-tune to 121.5 if time (London Centre / Distress and Diversion, telephone: 01489 612691). === Mayday relay === * note all Mayday details when heard* retransmit on 121.5* maintain radio silence == ATSUs == ; ATZ transit: "request zone transit"; landing: "request join" == Cambridge Letter of Agreement == * within 4–5 nm + extra sectors* position reports '''required''' == SafetyCom (135.480) <span id="SafetyCom"></span> == * within 10 nm and 2000 ft of "unattended" airfields* callsign e.g. "Borton Traffic" == Signal square and light signals == * see Skyway Code* light signals in slides* international standard (Chicago Convention) = Human Factors and Performance = {| class="wikitable"|+ IMSAFE checklist| I| Illness|-| M| Medication (e.g. antihistamines sedate!)|-| S| Stress|-| A| Alcohol / drugs|-| F| Fatigue, flying currency|-| E| Eating (target: 50g/h carbs)|} == Physiology == * effective scanning: organised, short, regular spacing* by default: eyes focus at 1–2m* no flying with a cold – damage to eardrums/sinuses* cloud flying: trust instruments over senses/body signals** in a turn, inner-ear semicircular canals "reset", it seems straight and level after a while even though it isn't* motion sickness: mismatch between visual signals and signals from semicircular canals* <math display="inline">\approx \frac{1}{200}</math> people overly sensitive to negative G (babies especially)** babies learn eventually and get used to it, but very sensitive early on** people go head back, stick forward to back and lock up – dangerous! == Respiration, oxygen and altitude == * hyperventilation: too little CO<sub>2</sub>!** light-headed, reduced consciousness** confused with hypoxia – similar symptoms** technically, excess oxygen* oxygen makes "dismantling" glucose for energy efficient** aerobic respiration – oxygen as final e<sup>–</sup> acceptor* blood oxygen: ≥ 90% of haemoglobin with oxygen is healthy** at 8000m: expect ≈ 60%* oxygen OK until ≈ 10000 ft, hypoxia above** hard to recognise – look at pressure gauge etc** pulse oximeter?* BGA mountain guide: use O<sub>2</sub> by 3800m / 12000 ft** generally: set D5 (5000 ft floor)** exam: above 10000 ft, use oxygen* CO<sub>2</sub>: occupies haemoglobin, 5× more likely than oxygen** undetectable except with specific detector* nitrogen insoluble in blood, only soluble by overpressure** get "the bends" from rapid decompression, e.g. in wave flying** rare, but happens == Alcohol == * metabolise 1 unit/h* small amount: wait 8h before flying == Dehydration == * insidious, also on cool days* on cold days, blood goes into central core of body, making it seem like there's too much fluid ⇒ drink more than seemingly needed! = Air Law = * UK law ≈ EU law ≈ ICAO framework* EASA regulation through manufacturers for G-reg aircraft** exceptions: old BGA system ("Annex II / Annex I aircraft")* SERA: ''Standard European Rules of the Air''** variations in the UK, e.g. class D airspace VMC minima<ref>[https://www.caa.co.uk/sera SERA]</ref>* need and EASA licence and medical for G-registered aircraft after 2020-04-08* "PART-gliding" → "Sailplane Rule Book" – unfinished EASA regs* on the exam, assume:** gliders are EASA/G-registered** pilots are flying on BGA Bronze / XC endorsement** SERA + UK amendments + BGA Laws & Rules apply* CAP393: ANO & RotA for non-EASA '''powered''' aircraft == Regulations == * "SERA, ANO and RotA – Consolidation"<ref>[https://www.caa.co.uk/sera SERA]</ref>* Skyway Code<ref>[https://www.caa.co.uk/General-aviation/Safety-information/The-Skyway-Code/ The Skyway Code]</ref> (mainly power)* ''Bronze and Beyond'',<ref>[http://www.mccullagh.biz/ John McCullagh, ''Bronze & Beyond'']</ref> edition ≥ 20* BGA Laws & Rules<ref>[https://members.gliding.co.uk/laws-rules/ BGA Laws & Rules]</ref>** "operating regulations"** "managing flying risk" == NOTAMs == ; AIPs<ref name="ais">[https://ais.org.uk/ AIS]</ref>: authoritative data on danger areas, wave windows, etc. (sometimes useful); AICs<ref name="ais" />: flight safety, technology, legislation, etc. Before every flight, must check (EASA & Bronze rules): * weather* NOTAMs* aircraft airworthiness* documents including ARC == Right of way == * approaching head-on: both turn right* overtake on the right, except gliders may overtake '''each other''' on either side* ridge soaring rules: see below* "on the right, in the right", '''but''':** hierarchy: balloons > gliders > airships > aerotow combinations > powered aircraft** "impaired maneuverability" has right of way (e.g. emergency)** always pass behind, not over/under/in front* no formation flying except by prior agreement == Ridges == * glider with ridge on the right has the right of way and doesn't alter course* if you have the ridge on your left, fly further out* usually turn away from ridge, overtake very carefully
== References ==
