Dartmoor Gliding News - 19th October 2024 - Bronze medals all round

As an adjunct to flying on Saturday the clubhouse had been prepared by the CFI for another activity.  Access was limited to the back door only so that teas could be made whilst the normal preparations and morning flight briefings happened outside.

The reason?  Four of our members were sitting the Bronze Theory exam today.  After months of study, lectures, videos, and practice papers they were ready.  It's a multiple choice paper so it would seem straightforward.  Not really.

Ten sections, each with 12 questions, on: Air Law; Human Performance; Meteorology, Communications; Principles of Flight; Operational Procedures; Flight Performance and Planning; Aircraft General Knowledge; Navigation Part One; and Navigation Part Two.

Rick, the CFI, must been keen for them to do well as he made teas for the candidates as they settled down to start their papers.

After two hours the unfolding and folding of charts, use of rules, wielding of marker pens, and trips to look at the the chart pinned on the clubhouse wall (to carefully study the chart's legend) indicated that the candidates were on the last section; Navigation Part Two.

After handing in the papers there was a chance for some fresh air in the sunshine whilst Rick marked the papers.  Then the candidates were called in individually for a debrief and a talk through the questions where they had got the answers wrong.

Alastair, who as an early solo pilot was sitting the bronze for the first time, achieved the required 75% pass mark.  Congratulations.  It's an important step in his progress to getting a Sailplane Pilot Licence (SPL) and to become a licensed pilot.

The other three candidates, Scratch, Phil, and Gavin were sitting the paper again, after many years since taking their last one. This was to establish the level of their knowledge prior to starting the training to become a Flight Instructor (Sailplane), FI (S), or Assistant Category Instructor in old speak.  This was a little more challenging as the pass mark is increased to 80%, but even more challenging that the 80% pass mark had to be achieved in each of the ten sections, so there was not much room for error or silly mistakes!

The good news is that all three achieved the requirement and passed.  Then it was a matter of Rick and the candidates signing the respective page in their BGA Assistant Instructor Course Programmes and to look forward to starting Part 1 training.  A Part 1 course is scheduled to take place at our sister club, Devon and Somerset Gliding Club (DSGC), at North Hill this autumn and winter.  DGS is providing three candidates and DSGC is providing four candidates.  Extensive use is planned of DSGC's much improved simulator, their motor glider, as well as their gliders when the weather allows.

The successful four (shortly after the exam Phil had to leave early for grandchildren duties)

With that it was time to get back to the normal day's flying on an October day that was shaping up in quite a promising fashion.

I look forward to reporting on the progress of other DGS members who are studying for the Bronze Theory exam.  To paraphrase our very own media star Val Keily "If we can do it, then you can too!"

Congratulations all. 

Gavin Short