THE BMFA 'B' CERTIFICATE (SILENT FLIGHT - ELECTRIC)

1. The examination for the Electric 'B' Certificate may be taken on application to a Registered Examiner. The examination may be carried out by:
   1. Two Registered Examiners (the 'lead' must be a Silent Flight Examiner).
   2. A Silent Flight Chief Examiner.
   
   
2. If your club does not have any Registered Silent Flight Examiners, you should contact your local Area Achievement Scheme Co-ordinator who will be able to help. Names and telephone numbers of Area Co-ordinators are available from the BMFA Leicester office.
   
   
3. The candidate must successfully carry out the following test.
   1. Carry out pre-flight checks as required by the BMFA Safety Codes. Particular attention should be given to airframe. control linkages and surfaces.
   2. After complying with the site frequency control system, prepare the model for launch. The motor start and stop switch/speed controller sequence must be demonstrated to the examiner
   3. Check that the launch area and landing area are clear both on the ground and in the air. If a helper is used to launch the model they should be fully briefed as to what is required.
   4. Clearly announce, "launching" and launch the model under full control. Any deviation from the expected launch path must be corrected smoothly and quickly. Climb to approximately 100 metres. Switch off power and transition to glide without stalling. From this point on, power must not be used.
   5. Fly the model on a thermal search pattern. The model is to pass over three points, agreed with the Examiner prior to the start of the flight (e.g. corners of the field).
   6. Fly the model through consecutive 360 degree thermal turns to a position a minimum of 100m down wind of the pilot. The model should gain height if in lift or be flown with minimum loss of height if no lift is found. From this point on, power may be used as required
   7. Fly the model through either a half loop or half roll to inverted, hold straight, controlled inverted -flight for a minimum of five seconds and then half loop or half roll back to level flight.
   8. Fly the model a minimum of 150 metres up wind of the pilot, gain speed and perform a stall turn into wind.
   9. Fly into wind and complete one inside loop.
   10. Fly the model across wind and perform an unpowered stall, recover with minimum loss of height, still heading across wind.
   11. Turn the model down wind and perform an un powered stall, recovering with minimum loss of height on the same heading down wind.
   12. Fly the model up wind to prepare the model for the overshoot/landing phase.
   13. Call "landing" and prepare the model for a landing with a down wind leg, followed by a base leg and final approach.
   14. Overshoot from below 10 ft and climb back to circuit height. Note that this manoeuvre is an aborted landing, not a low pass.
   15. Again, call "landing" and prepare the model for a landing with a down wind leg, followed by a base leg and final approach.
   16. Land the model into wind within 10 metres of a predetermined spot.
   17. Retrieve the model from the landing area, informing other pilots that the landing area is clear.
   18. Complete post-flight checks required by the BMFA Safety Codes.
   19. Repeat the above schedule a second time, giving a total of two flights.
   
   
4. In addition to the flying schedule, the candidate must answer correctly a minimum of eight questions on safety matters, based on the BMFA Safety Codes for General Flying and local flying rules, at least four of which must be specific to electric flight.
   
   
5. All manoeuvres must be carried out in airspace pre- determined by the Examiner and Candidate prior to the commencement of the test flights.
   
   
6. The above complete two flight schedule is treated as one test attempt. Two attempts per examination will be allowed in anyone day.

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