And I've flown in Italy and no-one even asked if I could fly!

On Mon, Feb 6, 2017 at 7:05 PM, <[email protected]> wrote:

> Yeah I sort of knew about the LAPL, but I didn't want to make my post any
> longer or more complex.
>
> However, my understanding is the LAPL* is an EASA license (not British as
> such) and is a lower level sporting license somewhat like the Australian
> RPL. The LAPL is only required to fly British gliders which have had their
> paperwork moved into the EASA system. I believe some gliders in Britain,
> not yet covered by the EASA rules, those still purely in the old BGA
> system, can still be flown without a license. I don't know if that's still
> a lot or hardly any.
>
>
> I believe still all in transition, merging, but not yet merged. Hence why
> I don't think anyone can say what the outcome of brexit will be for the
> lower levels of aviation**. If your glider is a tatty old Skylark only
> flown for a few local flights in any year, why go to the bother of an
> international license and international registration (provided the BGA
> still has a finger in the pie). Its a manufacturer orphan, any
> maintenance data etc left is held by the BGA so EASA wont help at all.
>
> Who knows what horse trading will happen in the leaving negotiations,
> either from any Brits who want "independence" or the Euros who will
> (probably) make life hard as possible for the Brits and similarly  who
> knows what inertia the whole EASA licensing thing has which might keep it
> going anyway.
>
>
>
> *I'm pretty sure this license or some sort of forerunner was given to all
> the German touring motor glider pilots back around 2005-6. IE a cut down PPL
>
>  **Obviously EASA set in concrete for commercial aviation.
>
>
> SWK
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From:
> "Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia." <
> [email protected]>
>
> To:
> "Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia." <
> [email protected]>
> Cc:
>
> Sent:
> Mon, 6 Feb 2017 18:51:38 +1100
> Subject:
> Re: [Aus-soaring] MEMBERSHIP AND A WORLD REVIEW
>
>
> That's correct Bernard but if you have a german licence already an
> Australian GPL will be an expensive waste of time and money for you.
>
> Stephen,
> The BGA has now merged their system and they have proper licences now
> (LAPL S).
> Brexit isn't likely to affect EASA it's fundamentally separate institution
> to the EU and many non EU countries are in EASA.
>
>
>
> On 6 Feb 2017 6:43 PM, "Future Aviation Pty. Ltd." <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> Hi Mathew
>
> I seem to have missed something!
> Your reply seems to indicate that the GPCertificate is upgradable to a
> GPLicence in Australia.
> Is that correct and how would one go about it?
>
> Cheers
>
> Bernard
>
>
>
> On 6 Feb 2017, at 4:36 pm, Matthew Scutter <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> The GPL exists and it is real. You can get one right now It's a lot of
> expensive CASA paperwork (I do begrudge the GFA for a few odd things, but
> they do an excellent job shielding us from CASA paperwork).
> Though there seems to be a widespread misunderstanding that having a
> licence means you can just go to a foreign country, jump in a glider and
> fly. It does nothing of the sort. You still need to validate your licence
> with the local authority, often at great time and expense. For my german
> validation for WGC last year, I had to pay hundreds of Euros and
> communicate via FAX (yes! really! they don't 'do' email) to get a 2 week
> validation. At the end of the process there was an error in their
> interpretation of my request and they issued me a single day validation
> Amending this error required paying the full fee again and starting from
> scratch.
> The only difference now that we have the licence, is we actually have
> something to fax them other than our logbook, which gets over the very
> first hurdle of  "where's your equivalent licence?". We are now on level
> footing with the rest of the non-EASA world and it's as good as it's going
> to get short of CASA joining EASA (GOD HELP US ALL) or some kind of
> fasttrack validation agreement between CASA/GFA/EASA (plausible?).
>
>
> >I am pretty sure that up till the mid 2000s, people flying German
> (and most other European countries) gliders on the old GFA white card were
> doing it strictly illegally, just no one asked
> Yes, this is my understanding too. Even pilots who think they are doing
> the right thing are often not. For example, a validation to fly a German
> glider... only allows you to fly German gliders in Germany. Almost any
> glider you rent for a foreign WGC will not come from the country hosting
> the WGC - i.e. German glider taken to Poland.
>
> On Mon, Feb 6, 2017 at 4:44 PM, Future Aviation Pty. Ltd. <
> [email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Hi Ulrich
>>
>> One of the reasons for implementing the GPC was to allow our
>> (competition) pilots to fly in countries
>> that require a proper pilot licence, However, after almost 10 years the
>> GPC is still NOT recognised
>> overseas and I can’t help but feel that the watering down of the original
>> requirements has something
>> to do with it.
>>
>> I did not wait any longer and extended my German Glider Pilot Licence for
>> self launching gliders and
>> for touring motor gliders - at very considerable expense in time and
>> money, I might add.
>>
>> A licence might be a dirty word for some but one way to overcome all
>> these issues is to take the next
>> step and upgrade the GPCertificate to a GPLicence. Like others, I would
>> be keen to learn why this
>> has not been progressed.
>>
>> Richard, can you find out and enlighten the rest of us, please?
>>
>> Many thanks and kind regards
>>
>> Bernard
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 6 Feb 2017, at 1:00 pm, Ulrich Stauss <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>> The main aim – to provide a piece of paper or plastic that is recognised
>> overseas – was not achieved.
>> The GPL, as I understand it, is now supposed to allow glider pilots to
>> fly overseas (BUT not in Australia). Just out of interest, has anyone
>> actually done that yet?
>>
>> Also, if my understanding is correct it is possible fly a self-launcher
>> with a C certificate (plus corresponding training/endorsement) under the
>> supervision of an instructor(?). And now the call from someone within the
>> upper rungs of the GFA that “anyone cleared to fly a Self Launcher
>> automatically has L2 OPS annotated on GPC“. Hmmm. Maybe the people who
>> (want to) doctor around with the MOSP should actually read and (try to)
>> understand it.
>>
>> Ulrich
>>
>> *From:* Aus-soaring [mailto:[email protected]
>> <[email protected]>] *On Behalf Of *Future
>> Aviation Pty. Ltd.
>> *Sent:* Monday, 6 February 2017 09:57
>> *To:* Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia. <
>> [email protected]>
>> *Subject:* Re: [Aus-soaring] MEMBERSHIP AND A WORLD REVIEW
>>
>> Hi Richard
>>
>> Please count me in!
>> I have held a L2 independent operator endorsement for the last 25 years
>> and can operate without any restrictions or interference by others.
>> The same should apply for other suitably qualified pilots who often even
>> hold a PPL. After all, they have been examined on such issues as
>> airspace, weather assessment, radio procedures, handling of emergencies,
>> air law etc.
>>
>> Obviously CASA saw fit to allow them independent and unsupervised
>> operations. Why can't we do the same???
>>
>> Bernard
>>
>>
>>
>> On 5 Feb 2017, at 4:06 pm, Richard Frawley <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> i put my hand up to take this to the exec. who else (must be GFA member)
>> i can count on for support?
>>
>> step 1: anyone cleared to fly a Self Launcher automatically has L2 OPS
>> annotated on GPC (will that work?)
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 5 Feb 2017, at 4:10 pm, James McDowall <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Elsewhere in this discussion it was noted that the majority of GFA new
>> registrations last year were powered. The interests of these people need to
>> be accommodated NOW, not when the powerless gliders can't be launched
>> because it is too expensive or I just cant move my zimmer frame fast enough
>> to run a wing. This will encourage investment. Also GFA needs to develop a
>> system of permitting retrofits of power systems (by using the experimental
>> certificates provisions) to add value to un-powered gliders. Cutting loose
>> independent operators (from clubs) will remove the liability that CFI's and
>> RTO's fear. That is operators hold a GPL or GPC issued by GFA and simply
>> agree to fly according to the operational arrangements approved by CASA
>> under CAO 95.4.
>> I am reminded of a couple of quotes attributed to Edmund Burke:
>> "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do
>> nothing." and "All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good
>> conscience to remain silent."
>> but most all a common saying:
>> “Some people make things happen. Some people watch things happen. And
>> then there are those who wonder, 'What the hell just happened?”
>>
>> I think most of the gliding fraternity will wake up one day and "what the
>> hell happened"?
>>
>> On Sun, Feb 5, 2017 at 3:05 PM, Richard Frawley <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>> It is well know that the biggest resistance by far to the current GPC
>> change (which was a good step forward) was by instructors and especially
>> CFI’S and RTO’s
>>
>> I would be more than happy to help champion the issuance of GPC as
>> equivalent to Level 2 Independent ops, but I can tell you now it will the
>> CFI’s and Panels that will resist the most
>>
>> Given however the small number of self launchers, this requirements is
>> still moot.
>>
>> As long as you still need others (tugs, wing runners, ropes) there is no
>> true independence and their in lies the root cause.
>>
>> Bring on the world of electric self launchers and true independence, the
>> sooner the better and even then it only really comes if its private owner
>> or small syndicate.
>>
>> Club aircraft will always be over protected. This is the nature of a
>> shared asset. Shared asserts by human nature are never as well looked after
>> as those owned. (rental cars + public transport vs the private car)
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 5 Feb 2017, at 2:28 pm, Future Aviation Pty. Ltd. <
>> [email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> Hi James, hello all
>>
>> I have argued along exactly the same lines when I was on the panel as the
>> head coach for SA.
>>
>> Coming from a different country I was bewildered that there is no formal
>> qualification for glider pilots in Australia. I argued
>> for a Glider Pilot Licence (GPL) instead of a Glider Pilot Certificate
>> (GPC) but I was told that only CASA has the authority
>> to issue licences. The GFA wanted to retain control and for mainly this
>> reason we are now stuck with a certificate rather
>> than a licence. A certificate is (almost) worthless but a licence implies
>> that you can operate free of interference by others
>>
>> For years (or should I say decades) I have argued that the current system
>> is no longer appropriate and need urgent fixing.
>> Please let me commend Mark Newton for articulating this major problem
>> accurately and publicly. He has expressed what
>> many disgruntled glider pilots have long complained about privately and
>> what has caused a lot of bad publicity for gliding
>> over the years. I know that it has prevented many other potential
>> aviators to join. This will continue until suitably qualified
>> pilots can freely operate outside of the supervision of instructors who
>> in many cases have much less knowledge, less
>> know-how, less experience and far less competence than the pilot(s)
>> involved.
>>
>> I hasten to add that I have not experienced an abuse of power by
>> instructors panels or CFIs but I’m aware of the fact that
>> this has occurred in other parts of the country. In too many cases the
>> affected individuals have left the sport or switched to
>> power flying where they were treated with the respect they deserve. Let’s
>> not forget that the power jockey's gain came at
>> our expense! Their member base is still increasing while our numbers are
>> largely on the decline.
>>
>> I can’t help but feel that we have lived with the current system for such
>> a long time that many of us are unwilling to even
>> contemplate a system that makes for truly independent pilots. In the
>> medium term it will undoubtedly be another nail in the
>> gliding coffin down under.
>>
>> However, gliding is not yet in the coffin, and we should not lose hope
>> altogether. Some of you might recall my series of articles
>> with the title “Time for a change?”. These articles were published in
>> 'Gliding Australia’ and proved to be the trigger for the GFA
>> to implement the GPC. However, to my way of thinking this should have
>> only been the first step. The logical next step would
>> be to bring our system in line with best overseas practices.
>> Unfortunately it won’t happen if we don’t get organised and if we
>> don’t drive the necessary changes at grass root level. Only when we push
>> very hard and collectively will we stand a chance
>> to convince the GFA to act and that is time to act *NOW*.
>>
>> Kind regards to all
>>
>> Bernard
>>
>> PS: On request I will make my articles “Time for a change?” available to
>> members of this great forum. I just love it!!!!
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 5 Feb 2017, at 9:13 am, James McDowall <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>> CFI's (Cheif Flying Instructors) responsibility should end when you get a
>> GPC (which really should be a GPL valid in Australia).
>>
>> On Sun, Feb 5, 2017 at 8:27 AM, Richard Frawley <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Yes, the GFA has operational responsibility as that is what is imparted
>> and set up to do, but the key and central relationship still remains
>> between CASA and the Pilot. If you breach airspace are they going to chase
>> the GFA?
>>
>> If anyone thinks that you can get a better deal from CASA in terms of the
>> required process and structure, then you are most welcome to get on the GFA
>> exec and give it a go.
>>
>> Given what CASA demanded in order that the community keep what freedom we
>> have (ie not go to a GA style process), no one will will argue that what we
>> have is not a compromise, but I can tell you that without the 2+ years lot
>> of effort went into the last major round with CASA we would be a lot worse
>> off.
>>
>> If you think that anyone in the last few series of GFA exec teams wanted
>> to keep any of the current structure for their own personal empowerment,
>> how wrong you are. It simply means you have not met or known the people
>> involved nor being involved the activities that were required.
>>
>> The only abuse of ‘power’ I have personally observed has been at the CFI
>> and associated Instructor Panel level. Unfortunately, in the current
>> structure they are not actually accountable to anyone and can put rules and
>> process in place as they wish. In this sadly, I have seen some club members
>> treated quite badly and without justification
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 5 Feb 2017, at 7:28 am, James McDowall <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Nonsense, as the document says the parties to the agreement are the GFA
>> and CASA. Sure, I agree to the rules of the association which may include
>> the Operational regulations referred to in CAO 95.4 (which are different to
>> GFA's Operational regulations) but members are not party to the agreement
>> entered into by the incorporated separate legal entity that is the GFA.
>>
>> On Sat, Feb 4, 2017 at 10:44 PM, Richard Frawley <[email protected]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Did you know that the Deed with Casa is between the glider pilot and CASA
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 4 Feb 2017, at 11:06 pm, Mark Newton <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> On 4 Feb 2017, at 5:55 PM, Greg Wilson <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>
>> One low cost step toward improving the gliding "product" would be to make
>> GPC holders responsible for their own flying instead of relying on a L2
>> instructor's presence at launch.
>>
>> I can understand how the current system evolved from clubs wanting to
>> control pilots in their aircraft but surely it's time for this outdated
>> system to be relinquished.
>>
>>
>> It didn't evolve from clubs wanting to control pilots in their aircraft.
>> It evolved from GFA wanting to control club operations.
>>
>> GFA implements a chain of command:
>>
>> Pilot -> Duty Instructor -> CFI -> RTO -> CTO -> (CASA, but we're not
>> meant to believe that)
>>
>> Each link in the chain is, as previously observed, equivalent to a
>> "rank." Authority flows downwards, with each layer following the command of
>> the layer above. Responsibility flows upwards: The duty instructor is
>> "responsible" for the operation (how? never really defined). The CFI is
>> "responsible" for the panel. And so on.
>>
>> Sitting at the middle of everything is GFA, HQ, setting policy centrally,
>> implemented by the chain of command.
>>
>> It's all right there in the MOSP ("standing orders.")
>>
>> I speculated earlier that it happened like this in the 1950s because so
>> many of the early GFA people had military aviation involvement, so setting
>> up a command hierarchy would've been a natural way to approach civilian
>> aviation. Society was a lot more hierarchical then too.
>>
>> It isn't anymore.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Enough discussion here may even start movement in that direction from
>> GFA. What do you think?
>>
>>
>>
>> Can't be here. GFA started their own website forums for members
>> specifically so they wouldn't need to listen to this one.
>>
>> Members need to get upset about this. Get organised.
>>
>>      - mark
>>
>>
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