An instructional event

There was definitely a noise in the room.

First it was just a murmur, and then, as Rob Grimwood continued to speak it grew into something else.

“He’s got VX and VY wrong,” one member of the audience behind me observed.

Another noted, “what does he mean, air density increases with increased moisture content?”

What was going on? Had Rob really lost it?

How had one of our most senior instructors and a member of the panel of examiners got it so wrong?

Well, you’ll be relieved to know that of course he hadn’t.

This was all part of a session focussed on pre-flight briefings that he and Marcus Dalgetty were demonstrating at this year’s BMAA Instructor Seminar. And of course, he just couldn’t resist throwing in a few howlers to ensure that everyone in the audience was awake, which was a fair shout as this session was being delivered in the enviable after lunch slot. Plus there is no better way to ensure audience participation from this particular cohort, than to state something incorrectly as if it is a fact.

And it worked a treat!

It was one of a number of excellent presentations and discussion topics, and one that I think everyone found extremely useful.

I mentioned recently that I felt the BMAA’s annual instructor seminar format needed freshening up: to be more relevant and useful to the intended target audience – us, the instructors. Well, this year’s event, held at the excellent Chesford Grange hotel, was a step change in terms of content and relevance.

Not only did we have a session on instructor revalidation, something I’m sure all of us worry about, but there were also representatives from the AAIB to talk through a recent investigation into an avoidable flexwing fatality. The CAA were there and spent time talking through proposed licensing and medical changes, and crucially, asked for our views and input on this subject too. There were many more interesting and informative sessions alongside these from GASCo, Rotax, Pooleys and others.

Outside of the formal agenda, it was a chance to catch up with friends and colleagues from across the microlight community. In fact I managed to catch up with all four of the instructors and examiners (outside of James, whom I see frequently at Attitude HQ of course) who’ve had huge input into my flying career so far.

Many members of the BMAA team were of course also in attendance, to both present and chat informally over coffee. Chloe Erikison, who was involved in the AAIB presentation, also found time to chat about her role as BMAA Flight Training Liaison & Safety Officer (or the longest job title in the BMAA).

In summary, this year’s seminar was a real leap forwards from those of previous years. With a focus more firmly on instruction, safety and legislation instead of promotion and general microlighting, it is one that I, and many of the other attendees, feel was both more relevant and beneficial for the audience. Well done to the BMAA for listening to us, making the changes and giving us the seminar we wanted.

See you all next year!