Sailplane Pilot Licence
Theoretical Knowledge
exam course


These video briefings are intended to help you pass the BGA SPL TK exam.

They were originally created for the very similar Bronze written exam syllabus. Revised SPL versions will be be  progressively released after October 2025.

Click on a briefing summary to play the relevant video.

Introduction

Last Revised: 4 Oct 2023

1
Bronze written exam, Structure of this course (23')

Air Law & ATC Procedures

Last revised: 23 Jan 2024

1
Some history, Current Air Law, Scope of the Bronze Theory exam, Air Law Publications (15')
2
Licences, Logbooks, Medicals, Registration, Airworthiness, Documents, Interception, Oddments (12')
3
Rights of Way, Low Flying (15')
4
Pressure, Altitude, Height, FLs, QFE, QNH, ASRs, Organisation of UK airspace, ICAO class A – G airspace, What to do if you mess up (23')
5
Sources of Airspace information, VMC, IMC, Transponders, TMZs, RMZs (22')
6
ATZs & MATZs, Prohibited, Restricted, Danger Areas, Parachute DZs, IAPs (17')
7
NOTAMs, Aerobatics, Aerotowing & Winching, Cross-country, Accidents & Incidents, Oxygen, Oddments (21')
8
Sample questions (4')

Meteorology

Last revised: 28 Dec 2022

1
Atmospheric layers, Pressure systems & winds, Humidity & dew point, Lapse rates, Orographic Clouds (36')
2
Stability & thermal formation, Precipitation, Thunderstorms, Fog (31')
3
Fronts, Cloud types, Mountain weather, Other weather hazards, Forecasts & weather information (30')
4
Sample Questions (5')

Communications

Last revised: 2 Apr 2023

1
Equipment, Legalities, Channels vs. Frequencies, Line-of-sight operation, Radio use, Transmitting letters & numbers (21')
2
Channel assignments, Call signs & Initial contact, Standard phrases, Common mistakes (15')
3
Test transmissions, Pre-landing radio calls, Cloud flying, Distress and Urgency, FRTOL (24')
4
Aerodrome signals, Light signals, Sample questions (8')

Aircraft General Knowledge

Last revised: 15 Apr 2025

1
Glider variations, Airframe terminology, Construction methods and materials (31')
2
Legally-required instruments, Altimeter, Air Speed Indicator, Variometer, Turn Indicator, Electrics, batteries, fuses (39')
3
Sustainer types, Sustainer conversion, Self-retrieve procedures, In-flight emergencies, FES notes (16')

4
The polar graph, Performance speeds, Best glide angle, Best glide in sink or headwinds (10')
5
Centre of Gravity, Placard, How weight affects performance, Water ballast, Speed-to-fly, MacCready Ring (23')
6
Rigging & DIs, ADs, SDMP, ARCs, Annual Inspection, Aircraft Manuals, Maintenance, Landing gear (32')
7
Straps, Parachute care and storage, Parachute use, Bailing out, Parachute landing (13')
8
Sample questions (4')

Navigation

Last revised: 3 Sep 2022

1
Position, time, distance, speed, Track vs. Heading, Charts, Magnetic compass (31')
2
Vertical navigation, Pilotage, Moving maps, Cross country preparation, Sample questions (26')

© Copyright 2022-2025 Andrew Watson. All Rights Reserved.

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