Course materials
The course consists of a set of videos, backed up by pdfs of the slides which take you through different parts of the course. There is also some useful pre-reading.
The course assumes you have Bronze standard knowledge (that is, you've passed the Bronze badge theory). If not, you may well find it useful to look at the Background Theory page, which links to some resources that will be useful reading and viewing.
The six parts of the course are listed below.
Pre-reading
The pre-reading contains material you need to know - at least look it over before getting too deeply into the videos.
BGA FRTOL course - Annex - Pre reading V2.0.pdfPart 1 - Introduction
BGA FRTOL Part 1 breakout V2.pdfThe instructions for installing and using Script Rehearser can be found here.
Robbe Sainsbury's guide for using Script Rehearser on a PC (and possibly a Mac) can be found here. Please let us have feedback if you find this useful.
Part 2 - The flight
In this part we carry out a fairly typical cross country flight in a glider.
The slides for Part 2 can be found here.
During the online session we will make use of the following. It would be useful if you could make sure that you can see them during the session (either on screen, or by printing).
Part 2 group work
Part 2 Group Work Script Enstone and Oxford V5.pdfThe script rehearser file for Part 2 Group Work (v4) can be found here
Lastly, there's quite a good explainer on Air Traffic Zones from the Air Safety Initiative which I've included below.
AerodromeTrafficZone.pdfPart 3 - The flight (continued)
The second half of our flight
The slides for Part 3 can be found here.
During the online session we will make use of the following. It would be useful if you could make sure that you can see them during the session (either on screen, or by printing).
Part 3 - Lakenheath (Rev F uploaded 22 Jan 23)
Part 3 Group Work - Lakenheath RevF.pdfPart 3 - Brize
Part 3 Group Work - Brize RevE.pdfThe Script Rehearser files for Lakenheath and Brize can be found by clicking on the links.
Part 4 - The TMG flight
In this section we look at how a powered flight would work, using a TMG flight between Sywell and Cambridge as an example.
The slides for Part 4 can be found here.
During the online session we will make use of the following. It would be useful if you could make sure that you can see it during the session (either on screen, or by printing).
Part 4 Group Work - Cambridge
Part 4 Group Work - Cambridge V1.pdfThe Script Rehearser script for Cambridge (V2) is here
Other videos
The video below is a good example of a real life flight from Redhill to Norwich by The Flying Reporter. The RT isn't perfect, but it will give you a good sense of how it all actually works.
In the same series we have a flight to an airfield with an AGCS
A flight to an airfield with an AFIS
A flight to an airfield with ATC
And a flight to an airfield in CAS
Lastly a helicopter flight. The RT in this is not bad, though not perfect. It's a well made video though - it's a nice flight.
Part 5 - Emergencies
Here we deal with emergencies and direction finding
The slides can be found here
The breakouts are going to be a little different for this week. You can find the brief for them here.
The flight is going to be based on the Sywell to Cambridge flight from Part 4. To help, we've included an extract of the half million map for that flight. You may need to download it to make it big enough.
Map © Copyright Civil Aviation Authority 2019. Used under copyright teaching exemption. See: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/exceptions-to-copyright
Thanks to Chris Walsh for the following video which explores how a Listening Squawk can be helpful in avoiding serious airspace infringements
Part 6 - The test (but mostly practice)
In this part we will describe how the exam will work - however, we won't know exactly how till nearer to the session.
Most of the time will be spent practising in breakouts. To be getting on with, here is the route that you can practice, with a full script. Try and get to the point where you don't need the script, and can cope with different things happening.
We updated the following scripts as of 31 March 2021, so if you have earlier versions it's worth downloading these, and replacing the ScriptRehearser scripts
Practice Route 1
BGA FRTOL Practice Route 1 v8.pdfBGA FRTOL Practice Route 2 V4.pdfBGA FRTOL Practice Route 3 V4.pdfBGA FRTOL Practice Route 4 V3.pdfPractice Route 5
BGA FRTOL Practice Route 5 V2.pdfAdobe Fill and Sign
A video describing how to use Adobe Fill and Sign (on a iPad, iPhone or Android) is below. Note that the latest version of Adobe Acrobat on the PC also has Fill and Sign functionality (it's just a neat way of adding some text and a signature to a pdf file).
References
General RT references
CAP 413 - the primary reference for RT. Edition 23 A1 (2021)
CAA Safety Sense leaflet 22 - a good primer aimed at GA covering much of the syllabus. This is the 2023 version.
RT Discipline - Safety Sense leaflet. An interesting background read.
RT Reference Guide for Commercial and Air Transport pilots. Another interesting background read.
D&D Cell leaflet - A useful guide to what happens at the D&D Cell (London Centre).
An EASA guide to good RT practice. A pdf with embedded audio.
Useful books
Pooley's EU Par-FCL PPL - Radiotelephony Communications Manual. Useful if you like reading books, but all the content is covered in the course
Pooley's EASA PPL (A) and (H) Communications Examination Preparation. Again, everything in here is covered in our course, but if you want the book...
Exams and Examiners
Current CAA list of FRTOL examiners - under Radio Telephony here [Currently unavailable, expected to be back end Jan 23]. New (May 23) -The CAA have published a new list of examiners, which can be found here. Andrew has also created a (smaller) map of examiners we know about, who are happy to do the glider related test, which you can find here. Note that prices vary, so you may wish to shop around.
The examiner will need to fill in SRG1171 which is here, so that's worth reading
And the examiner will report on the test using SRG2160, and you can see what' s mandatory on this form.
Test Guidance and crib sheet
Appendix A of the Guidance for FRTOL Practical Test Candidates contains a crib sheet that you will be able to use in the exam.
The Flight Reference Cards that you'll need in the exam can be found here and the Gliding FRC here.
General flying references
The Skyway code. V3, published in March 2021 is a useful reference
SFCL regulations. If you want to know all the licensing detail. You want Annex III.
Other useful material
There's a useful app and website called G-UDRT which provides a number of scenarios for RT which might be useful for those who want more practice. It's very much power GA orientated, but it could be useful and isn't too expensive.
Applying for your FRTOL
The BGA has published guidance on how to apply for your FRTOL at the same time as your SPL. It can be found here.
Acknowledgements
Chula Rupasinha (London GC) and Andrew Watson (Cambridge GC) for their substantial input to the course materials and online course. Chris Marren (Lasham GC) particularly for input on the routes.
All the coaches who have given up their time to help.
Airspace for All for their facilitation of the original course materials.
Changes
V1 - 24 March 2020 - Original release
V1.1 - 10 April 2020
Changes to reflect CAP413 SI 2020-01 (already in V1 but marked as subject to completion). Effective date is 8 June 2020
Slight change to phraseology for level instructions (Not above X -> X or below ; Not below X -> X or above). CAP413 change.
Change to order of wind report and clearance in take off and landing clearances ( "Runway 21, cleared to land, wind 270 10" -> "Runway 21, wind 270 10, cleared to land"). CAP 413 change.
V1.1b - 14 April 2020
Slight changes to the Annex (pre-reading) to reflect improved way of explaining how to pronounce numbers. A few references fixed.
Course material for coaching sessions: V1 added 19 April 2020
Example videos for Part 4 added 9 May 2020
References and acknowledgement added 13 May 2020
Pre-reading extended to include TK material - 18 May 2020
V2.0 January 2021 - Various minor changes and updates to the course slides.
20 March 2021 - minor revisions to the Part 6 scripts.
31 Jan 2022 - Part 2 group work (Enstone) and issued slides updated
1 Feb - 1 March 2022 Various changes to scripts - make sure you've got the latest
28 Mar 22 - I've tried to get rid of most of the OneDrive links since people were having problems. Let's try Google instead!
2 Jan 23 - minor updates to reflect new course and small changes to regulatory issues (examiners etc)
5 jan 23 - detail added to Exam and Examiners section in Course Materials page.