UPDATES TO FIFTH AND SIXTH EDITIONS
These changes have been incorporated in the fifth and sixth editions (which were almost identical)
Change in syllabus
EASA have proposed changes to the licensing of pilots throughout Europe and this will include gliding. At present the proposals are at the consultation stage, but the probable theoretical syllabus is becoming clear. It is anticipated that glider pilots will have to take an exam in air law before they can fly solo. This has caused a re-grouping in the chapters of the book for the seventh edition and a new chapter which describes the source of the rules and regulations that we must follow. New solo pilots will be able to read the first few chapters to pass this paper without having to read the material related to cross-country flight. Information about registration and Cof As to comply with EASA has also been added here.
I have established a separate chapter on instruments which never really belonged in the principles of flight. I anticipate that a further chapter will be needed on structures, but given the amount of new drawings that will be needed, this will have to wait until the eighth edition.
Added by John McCullagh 1 August 2008
NOTAMS
National Air Traffic Services have changed the structure of individual NOTAMs once more. The NOTAMs are probably now more readable and there seem to be fewer abbreviations. However it has given rise to problems to the software that has been used to plot these automatically on a chart.
Added by John McCullagh 1 August 2008
Principles of flight
I have changes the datum that is used to measure the angle of attack to the more conventional chord line. To some extent the datum chosen is academic, but more people disagreed than agreed on the use of the line of zero lift, so I changed it.
I have added a paragraph on Newton's Second Law, though I have not mentioned the great man himself. Basically if you push something twice a heavy, you will have to push twice as hard to get the same acceleration. If you push something of the same weight twice as hard, it will accelerate twice as fast.
Added by John McCullagh 1 August 2008
Other changes
Other things that have changed, apart from minor rewording, are:
In examples of conversations on the radio, I have now used the glider's official registration.
For some reason I said that food makes little difference to how fast you absorb alcohol. This is incorrect as anyone who has drunk on an empty stomach can testify. What I should have said is that it makes no difference to how fast you eliminate alcohol.
Dehydration is greatly increased by flying for long periods in the drier air at higher altitudes. After taking off in 32 degrees Celsius and then flying at 10,000-12,000 feet for a few hours, I can confirm this effect. The thirst mechanism also degrades after the age of fifty. (Incidentally this is why an experiment of requiring more water to be drunk by the inmates at an old people's home, greatly reduced the number of falls.)
My section on problematic attitudes was not aimed at any particular pilot that I have met, though one thought it was specifically addressed to him!
I have added "Advanced Soaring Made Easy" by Bernard Eckey to my reviews of books for further reading. (It is excellent.)
Added by John McCullagh 1 August 2008
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