Bronze Theoretical Study Guide Syllabus-For-Website PDF
Bronze Theoretical Study Guide Syllabus-For-Website PDF
The highlighted sections can be removed. The subject areas are as shown on the current
2018 papers
As part of the application for a Bronze C Endorsement, theoretical exams will need to be
taken and passed in the following subject areas:
‘Powered sailplane’ means an aircraft, equipped with one or more engines having, with
engine(s) inoperative, the characteristics of a sailplane. These can be self-launching or self-
sustaining.
The Bronze Theoretical Examination papers are issued to Chief Flying Instructors (CFI) at
British Gliding Association member clubs. The CFI may appoint instructors*2 as examiners to
supervise and mark the papers. Pilots who have undergone an approved course of training
may be recommended by their instructors to sit the examination.
General conditions applicable to the Bronze Theoretical Exam and exam requirements:
Questions have four possible multi-choice answers. All questions should be attempted. No
credit or penalty is given for unanswered questions or incorrect answers. Candidate should
indicate their answer on the grid provided by putting a cross in the appropriate box. No
papers other than those provided by the invigilator should be on the work table. Where rough
work is required it should be carried out on rough paper provided by the invigilator. Rough
paper must be handed to the invigilator on completion of the examination.
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The Bronze Syllabus
In all questions assume 1 Nautical mile = 6000feet. 1hectopascal = 30feet and variation =
5º W. When answering regulatory question assume gliders are EASA aircraft (i.e have G
registrations) and all gliders are exercising the privileges of a BGA Gliding Certificate with
Bronze and Cross Country endorsement or LAPL(S).
The pass mark is 75% (9/12) for all subjects. Once the exam has been passed it is valid for
24 months. After this time if the Bronze certificate has not been issued the whole exam will
need to be taken again.
If one section of the exam is failed, only the section(s) failed need be retaken. If a candidate
fails a section 3 times, a fourth attempt is not allowed. In this case, the candidate and
examiner must refer to the Training Standards Manager ([email protected]) for advice.
Instructors will need to satisfy themselves that a candidate is prepared to sit the
examination. The following syllabus has been prepared for the information of both student
glider pilots and instructors.
The syllabus
The syllabus has been broken down into the sections governing the examination topics listed
above.
All student pilots and instructors should note that the Bronze Theoretical Exam is a snapshot
test of pilots knowledge across a range of flying related matters in relation to gliding and
general aviation. It is not a comprehensive guide to developing soaring skills, discipline and
good airmanship.
Section 1
Syllabus / resources: BGA Laws and Rules, Air navigations Orders. CAP413 CAP 6345
The Sky Way Code
Aim: The student will refer to the BGA Laws and Rules publication as the main resource for
legal and operational aspects of gliding and memorize sufficient of its content to ensure safe
and legal conduct.
Knowledge
• The international laws and conventions that control the flying of sailplane
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The Bronze Syllabus
• The requirement for aircraft registration and identification
• The documents required for registration, airworthiness reviews.
• The need for and the documents required for personal licensing and the age limits
• Understand the requirements of medical certification
• The requirement of personal record including hours and privileges.
• Understand the procedure for faults in sailplanes, damage, actual or suspected and
hazardous incidents.
• Understand the content and reason for daily inspections.
• Winch launching and licensing requirements.
• Aerotow launching and licensing requirements
• Air Navigation Orders - Rules of of The Air.
• Define ‘night time’ and ‘hours of daylight’,
• Define the period during which a sailplane is in flight.
• Define the objects that may be dropped from a sailplane
• Procedures and regulations for air navigation including visual and instrument flight
rules.
• The structure and classes of airspace.
• The services offered by Air Traffic Management signals used
• Describe signals using lights and pyrotechnics,
• Describe common airfield markings,
• The information available to pilots through Air Information Services.
• Landing and taking off at other airfields.
• The facilities offered by search and rescue services.
• Matters concerning National Security.
• The definitions of an accident , accident reporting and investigation,
• Incident reporting and investigation.
• How the National Law may differ from international law.
Section 2
Syllabus / resources: This section covers a pilots overall fitness to fly and the possible
effects of some of the environments sailplane pilots may find themselves.
Aim: To explore those areas where a pilot may possess a current medical certificate
but conditions may have an effect of the pilot’s current physical state. These include ocular
theory, visual acuity, pressure changes, hypoxia, hyperventilation, CO poisoning,
hypothermia and nausea may affect a pilots performance.
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The Bronze Syllabus
• Describe the limits of visual acuity in conditions of flight and appropriate measures to
minimize their shortfalls.
• The effects of pressure changes and sensible precautions.
• The symptoms and remedies for hypoxia and hyperventilation.
• The causes, symptoms and precautions against carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Symptoms and effects of hypothermia.
• List the causes of nausea and possible remedies.
• Describe the law and advice regarding the use of oxygen.
Section 3
Meteorology – 12 questions
Syllabus / resources: Included in this part of the syllabus is the global movement of the
atmosphere that surrounds the earth, with its air masses, pressure systems, both stable
and unstable. The various cloud formations, lapse rates, tephigrams, dew points, local
variations, convection, winds and how the various systems interact
Aim: The student will be able to relate the behaviour of global weather systems, to
soaring weather and relate soaring weather to local topology and forecast conditions
and make decisions leading to safe and successful soaring.
Knowledge: The student should be able to identify and predict weather conditions suitable
for flying sailplanes for short of prolonged flights
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The Bronze Syllabus
• Motion of the atmosphere.
• Pressure gradient.
• Vertical and horizontal motion.
• Convergence.
• Divergence.
• Surface and geostrophic wind.
• Effect of wind gradient and wind shear on take-off and landing.
• Relationship between isobars and wind, Buys Ballot’s law
• Turbulence and gustiness cause and effect.
• Local winds.
• Föhn winds.
• Land and sea breezes.
• Radiation.
• Advection.
• Frontal.
• Freezing fog formation and dispersal.
• Reduction of visibility due to mist.
• Snow, smoke, dust and sand.
• Assessment of probability of reduced visibility.
• Hazards in flight due to low visibility, horizontal and vertical.
Airmasses:
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The Bronze Syllabus
Ice accretion:
• Precautions.
• Prevention and clearance of induction.
• Carburettor icing.
Thunderstorms formation:
• Airmass.
• Frontal.
• Orographic - conditions required - development process - recognition of
favourable conditions for formation.
• Hazards for aeroplanes.
• Effects of lightning and severe turbulence.
• Avoidance of flight in the vicinity of thunderstorms.
• Hazards.
• Influence of terrain on atmospheric processes.
• Mountain waves.
• Windshear.
• Turbulence.
• Vertical movement.
• Rotor effects.
• Valley winds.
Climatology:
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The Bronze Syllabus
• Transition altitude, layer and level.
• Weather charts.
• Symbols, signs.
• Significant weather charts.
• Prognostic charts for general aviation
Section 4
Communications - 12 questions
AIM: The student should understand the need for personal and equipment licensing along
with the information that can be obtained using VHF radio. Together with the correct
terminology used in airborne radio communications.
Knowledge:
Departure procedures:
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The Bronze Syllabus
• Radio checks.
• Taxi instructions.
• Holding on ground.
• Departure clearance.
En-route procedures:
• Frequency changing.
• Position.
• Arrival clearance.
• Calls and ATC instructions during the:
a) circuit
b) approach and landing
c) vacating the runway
Communications failure:
• Action to be taken.
• Alternate frequency.
• Serviceability check including microphone, headphones, loud speakers.
• In-flight procedures according to type of airspace.
Section 5
Principles of flight
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The Bronze Syllabus
Aim: To teach the student sailplane pilot what the air mass is and the mechanics of the
way air moves around things, or conversely how the movement of the sailplane through the
airmass allows it to fly. To understand the Four Forces of flight: lift, weight, thrust and drag.
How changes in the movement of the air over the sailplane affects each of these forces and
how changes in the shape of the sailplane affect its movement through the air.
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The Bronze Syllabus
• The Flight envelope.
Stability:
The stall:
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The Bronze Syllabus
• Movement of centre of pressure.
• Symptoms of development.
• Aeroplane characteristics at the stall.
• Factors affecting stall speed and aeroplane behaviour at the stall.
• Stalling from level, climbing, descending and turning flight.
• Inherent and artificial stall warnings.
• Recovery from the stall Avoidance of spins.
• Wing tip stall and the development of roll.
• Recognition at the incipient stage.
• Immediate and positive stall recovery.
The spin:
• The causes of a spin.
• The recovery.
• Prolonged spins.
• The dangers.
Section 6
AIM: The student will understand the principles of efficient, safe airfield management and
operations referring to the BGA Laws and Rules publication as the single resource for
legal and operational aspects of gliding and memorize sufficient of its content to ensure
safe and legal conduct.
Knowledge: Specifically the student will have knowledge of the following topics.
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The Bronze Syllabus
• Describe prelanding checks.
• Explain the procedure for out landing and the field landing code of practice.
• Describe accident reporting procedures.
• Describe sailplane radio licencing requirements and frequencies used,
• Describe pre-flight control checks.
• State why sailplanes should not be launched with ice, snow, or water on wings.
• Describe thermal protocol and techniques.
• Describe ridge soaring protocol and techniques.
• Describe wave soaring protocol and techniques.
• Understand threat and error management in relation to airfield operations.
• Understand the action to be taken in the event of an emergency and accident
reporting procedures.
Section 7
Syllabus / resources: To learn how a sailplane performs under differing weather and
configurations
Knowledge: Specifically the student will have knowledge of the following topics.
• How the forces of mass and weight interact around the centre of gravity.
• Co-ordination of the controls.
• Interpretation of polar curves for minimum sink.
• Interpretation of polar curves for best glide angle.
• Interpretation of polar curves for minimum weight.
• Interpretation of polar curves for maximum weight.
• Interpretation of weather forecast for task setting.
• Flight preparation and planning for task flying.
• Explain the BGA Field landing Code of practice.
• In flight task monitoring and replanning.
• Understanding the different requirements of flying for enjoyment, badge flying and
competition flying.
Section 8
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The Bronze Syllabus
Aim: To understand how things work and are cared for.
Knowledge: Specifically the student will have knowledge of the following topics.
Section 9a
Aim: The student will understand the relevance of the various types of airspace to
sailplane navigation in the UK and the requirements for three-dimensional navigation.
In all questions assume 1 Nautical mile = 6000feet. 1hectopascal = 30feet and variation =
5º W. This Section requires candidate to be in possession of a maker pen, rule, protractor
and a recent 1.500,000 ICAO chart, normally covering the area around the home club.
Knowledge: Specifically the student will have knowledge of the following topics.
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The Bronze Syllabus
Understand the basic of navigation with respect to lines of latitude and longitude
• State the types (and dimensions where appropriate) of UK airspace and
associated IFR and VFR flight regulations and procedures for sailplanes,
• Interpret the legends on quarter million and half million scale ICAO aeronautical
charts.
• Describe atmospheric pressure and its measurement in millibars, hectopascals and
pounds per square inch.
• State the value of the ICAO Standard Atmosphere as 1013.2 mB,
• Describe use of QFE, QNH and flight level pressure settings.
• Describe the difference between true north and magnetic north.
• Describe the construction of a ‘wet’ compass.
• Describe the advantages and limitations of a ‘wet’ compass.
• Describe angle of dip and acceleration errors.
• Describe magnetic variation and the use of isogonal lines on air charts,
• Explain the limited use of a ‘wet’ compass and describe ‘acceleration/dip free’
design.
• Understand the mechanics of dead reckoning navigation.
Section 9b
Aim: The student will need to understand the relevance of the various types of airspace to
sailplane pilot and will be required to prepare an out return flight, to identify hazards and
navigation features along the route and the requirements for three-dimensional navigation.
In all questions assume 1 Nautical mile = 6000feet. 1hectopascal = 30feet and variation =
5º W. This Section requires candidate to be in possession of a maker pen, rule, protractor
and a recent 1.500,000 ICAO chart, normally covering the area around the home club.
Knowledge: The student should with the data supplied in each question and
using a current 1:500000 aeronautical chart be able to:
• Prepare an out and return cross country flight plan to a given way point taking into
consideration such factors as local weather conditions, airspace, condition of
fields, NOTAMs, TNWs, etc.
• Identify the magnetic and true headings in each direction.
• Measure the length of each leg.
• Describe the techniques and considerations for selecting, preparing, marking-up
and using maps for cross-country navigation,
• Describe the difference in appearance of visual features under varying flight
conditions,
• Identify danger, restricted and prohibited area along the route.
• Identify obstacle that may feature along the route and their respective
heights.
• Relate ground features along the route as aids to visual navigation.
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The Bronze Syllabus
• Relate map symbols to the ground features along the route as aids to
visual navigation.
• Identify controlled airspace en-route and its relationship to gliding.
• Relate flying heights to topograhical features such as town and cities.
• Relate flying heights and distances to features such as gas venting
stations, ATZ’s MTZ’s CTR’s
• Describe approximation of position, ‘dead reckoning’ methods of navigation and
actions when lost.
• Describe procedures for use when uncertain of position,
• Identify likely sources of ‘lift’ and describe techniques for their optimal use,
• List the factors to be considered when preparing for a field landing, including
identifying wind direction and effects of obstructions on field boundaries,
• Understand the use of moving maps and global positioning systems
• State the relationship between heading, track and bearing.
• State the differences between QFE, QNH and Flight Levels.
• Understand how to calculate average flight speeds and final glides.
Study Guides:
The BGA is the national governing body of sport gliding. Gliding takes place under a mix of
national, European and self-regulation. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is the
EU aviation regulator. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is the UK aviation safety regulator.
The BGA works with the CAA to achieve mutually agreed objectives.
‘Laws and Rules’ details BGA requirements and guidance, which complies with applicable
EASA regulations, and signposts to detailed EASA & CAA regulations for those who need
more information https://members.gliding.co.uk/laws-rules/
The reference quoted below were correct at the time of writing. It is the pilots responsibility to
keep abreast of changes to legislation and practice.
Theoretical Knowledge:
Most trainee pilots learn faster by reading up on some theory between flying lessons. The
BGA recommends the publication ‘Passenger to Pilot‘, which includes easy to absorb text
and diagrams and was written by the author of the BGA instructors manual. As a pilot
progresses in training beyond solo, the BGA recommended publication is ‘Bronze and
Beyond‘, which was written by and is periodically updated by an experienced gliding
instructor. Other publications by a variety of authors are shown below.
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The Bronze Syllabus
Gliding Competitively John Delafield
I’M SAFE US Federal Aviation Safety publication
https://www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing/2015/media/SE_Topic_15_03.pdf
Manufacturers or Type Certificate Holder Manuals for Individual sailplanes.
Manufacturers Manuals for parachutes, instruments or accessories.
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