http://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2018/1976/article/2Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1976 of 14 December 2018 laying down detailed rules for the operation of sailplanes as well as for the flight crew licensing for sailplanes pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilCommission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1976Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1976 of 14 December 2018 laying down detailed rules for the operation of sailplanes as well as for the flight crew licensing for sailplanes pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilKing's Printer of Acts of Parliamenthttps://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/eu-exit/https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02018R1976-20200408texttext/xmlen2025-10-22Expert Participation2025-09-15 DefinitionsArticle 2For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions and, unless terms are defined otherwise in this Article, the definitions of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 apply:‘sailplane’ means a heavier-than-air aircraft that is supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against its fixed lifting surfaces, the free flight of which does not depend on an engine;‘engine’ means a device used or intended to be used for powered sailplane propulsion;‘powered sailplane’ means a sailplane equipped with one or more engines having, with engine(s) inoperative, the characteristics of a sailplane;‘commercial operation’ means any operation of a sailplane, in return for remuneration or other valuable consideration, which is available for the public or, when not made available to the public, which is performed under a contract between an operator and a customer, where the latter has no control over the operator;‘competition flight’ means any air operation with a sailplane performed for the purposes of participating in air races or contests, including practising for such operation and flying to and from air races or contests;‘flying display’ means any air operation with a sailplane performed for the purposes of providing an exhibition or entertainment at an advertised event open to the public, including practising for such operation and flying to and from the advertised event;‘introductory flight’ means any air operation with a sailplane against remuneration or other valuable consideration consisting of an air tour of short duration for the purpose of attracting new trainees or new members, performed either by a training organisation referred to in Article 10a of Commission Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 or by an organisation created with the aim of promoting aerial sport or leisure aviation;‘aerobatic flight’ means an intentional manoeuvre involving an abrupt change in a sailplane's attitude, an abnormal attitude or abnormal acceleration, not necessary for normal flight or for instruction for licences, certificates or ratings other than the aerobatic rating;‘principal place of business’ means the head office or registered office of an operator of a sailplane within which the principal financial functions and operational control of the activities referred to in this Regulation are exercised;‘dry lease agreement’ means an agreement between undertakings pursuant to which the sailplane is operated under the responsibility of the lessee;‘national licence’ means a certificate issued by the British Gliding Association before the date of application of Annex III (Part-SFCL) to this Regulation or of Annex I (Part-FCL) to Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011;‘Part-SFCL licence’ means a flight crew licence which complies with the requirements of Annex III (Part-SFCL) to this Regulation;‘conversion report’ means a report on the basis of which a licence may be converted into a Part-SFCL licence;‘medical declaration’ means a medical declaration made in accordance with article 163(3) of the Air Navigation Order 2016 by a pilot holding a sailplane pilot licence (SPL), which has not ceased to be valid in accordance with article 163(4) of that Order ;‘Gliding Club’ means any member club of the British Gliding Association (BGA). Commission Regulation (EU) No 1178/2011 of 3 November 2011 laying down technical requirements and administrative procedures related to civil aviation aircrew pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 311, 25.11.2011, p. 1). Substituted by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/358 of 4 March 2020 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1976 as regards sailplane pilot licences (Text with EEA relevance).Inserted by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/358 of 4 March 2020 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1976 as regards sailplane pilot licences (Text with EEA relevance).Words in Art. 2(11) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1116), regs. 1(2), 86Art. 2(14) inserted (28.1.2021) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/10), regs. 1(2), 6(2)Art. 2(15) and semicolon substituted for full stop (15.9.2025) by virtue of The Aviation Safety (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/878), regs. 1(2), 18