RAF SHAWBURY GLIDING CLUB ADDITIONAL HALF‑DAY INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS Q&A
Recent changes to Part‑SFCL and the British Gliding Association (BGA) syllabi have increased requirements for instructor recency, competency, and delivery skills. These changes necessitate a structured approach to professional development to ensure that instructors remain fully compliant and operationally current.
Between 1 Apr and 5 Sep Club Flying Days are programmed for each Saturday and Bank Holidays. In this same period the club will programme two additional half-days per month into the programme to take place on a Sunday.
In what period of the year do these additional half-days take place? These two additional half-day per month flying days will take place on Sundays between 1 Apr and 5 Sep.
How will these additional half-days be programmed? The two additional half-days per month will be programmed and shown as Instructor Development Days (IDD) on the normal Club Members Booking Area. However, the decision as to whether the IDD will take actually place will only be decided on the Thursday before the nominated Saturday.
Will these additional IDD half-days mean an added burden for members on the Duty Crew rota? No, the additional IDD half-days will require the nomination of a DI, DP and DTP in line with club CORs, but nominated on the day from attendees. Note that if no tug pilot is in attendance, then flying will be scrubbed, but ground school theoretical development work may take place.
What are the objectives on these additional IDD half-days? With the heavy commitment by club members to our MEF cohort on a normal flying day, the aim is to address several club development areas:
· Maintain compliance with Part SFCL requirements for recency and competency.
· Meet updated BGA syllabus expectations in instructional delivery and cross-country training.
· Strengthen instructor confidence and performance in both airborne and classroom instruction.
· Provide structured opportunities to refresh navigation and motor glider cross country skills.
· Develop potential future instructors and maintain a sustainable instructor pipeline.
· Sustain JR access to bursary supported flying opportunities.
· Build Motor Glider hours to support tug pilot progression.
How will these additional IDD half-days fit in with other Shawbury airfield activities? These additional IDDs take place on the same day as the schedule for RAF Shawbury runway sweeping. The day will commence after the sweeping is finished. There should be no other conflict.
Are these additional IDD half-days open to all members? These additional IDD half-days are open to solo pilots only in particular to provide structured opportunities to refresh navigation and motor glider cross country skills. However, if there is a club student pilot close to solo and requiring pre-solo checks only, then they may be flown.
Will Private Owners be able to fly their own aircraft on these IDD half-days. Absolutely, provided that we can meet our core objectives on the IDD. As usual, any cross-country intentions need to have resourced recovery plans in place.
Will there be an opportunity at the weekend to swap these IDD Sundays if the weather on the nominated Club Flying Day on Saturday prevents flying? Yes, if the weather on a scheduled Club Flying Day looks bad then there will be an opportunity to change days.
What happens after 5 Sep 26? The club will revert back to normal Sunday Club Flying Days from 5 Sep 26 to avoid conflict with the local shoot on the Saturday.
Will the club host any visitors on these additional IDD half-days? Aero-tow training and aerobatics training will be made available to visiting solo pilots, subject to capacity, and booked in the normal way. We may also choose to schedule the MEF programmed aerobatic flight on these IDDs to relieve the launch delays created by 4,000ft aero-tows on a normal scheduled Club Flying Day.