Glider License

[CapitalGuy]

I hold a commercial license but haven't flown in many years. I was thinking of getting into gliding as a low cost way of getting back into it. Do I need to take the glider ground school? How many hours dual/solo do I need for a GPL?

[Colonel Sanders]

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/r ... htm#421_24

(6) Credits

(a) Knowledge
(i) An applicant who holds a pilot permit or licence in any other category of aircraft, except ultra-light aeroplanes, shall be deemed to have met 10 of the 15 hours ground school instruction requirement.
(ii) An applicant who holds a pilot licence - aeroplane may be deemed to have met the ground school instruction requirement.
(iii) An applicant who holds a pilot licence - aeroplane shall be deemed to have met the written examination requirement.

(b) Experience
An applicant who holds a pilot licence - aeroplane category shall have the total glider pilot flight training time reduced to a minimum of 3 hours, which shall include the minimum flight training specified.

(4) Experience
(a) Within the 24 months preceding the date of application for the licence, an applicant shall have completed a minimum of 6 hours of glider pilot flight training, under the direction and supervision of the holder of a Flight Instructor Rating - Glider.

(b) The flight training shall include:
(i) a minimum of 1 hour dual instruction flight time, and
(ii) 2 hours solo flight time, including a minimum of 20 takeoffs and 20 landings.

[CapitalGuy]

Thanks much!!!

[Colonel Sanders]

My bill is in the mail

[Taiser]

2 hours of SOLO with 20 take offs and landings? Is that possible with getting hooked up and towed at each take off?? Forgive my ignorance, never been in a glider...

[Cat Driver]

For the twenty solo flights the sooner you can safely release and glide back to the airport the better , say around ten or so minutes per flight.

[Beefitarian]

Or you can use a winch.

[ahramin]

Taiser a normal up and down glider flight is six to twelve minutes.

[Cat Driver]

I got lucky on my last glider flight.....towed to two thousand feet and thermal-ed and wave rode for three hours...got to cold to stay up.

[Panama Jack]

That is how I knocked ot my 2 hours of solo flight back in the day, with the winch taking me up to 700-800 feet. Count 'em: 20 lines of 0.1 hour flights in my logbook. Most economical way of gettin' er dun.

[Stephen Szikora]

Why would anyone want to be "gettin' er dun" that fast? Sit back and enjoy it! The launch is the most expensive part of the flight ... once aloft, have fun and become a better pilot, rather than just a licensed pilot. If you're just looking to pad the resume or build time, keep in mind that 50 hours of glider time counts towards your ATPL. Personally, I think every professional pilot would do well to get a glider license. That, and an ability to swim, could really come in handy some day!!!

[Chaxterium]

I've been wanting to get my glider licence for years now but as far as I know there are no soaring clubs close enough to where I live but just incase does anyone know of any clubs near Trenton? I think there's one or two near Toronto and Ottawa but that's all I know of.

Cheers,
Chax

[Chaxterium]

What are the expenses like for gliding anyway? I know it's nowhere near as expensive as renting a 172 or the like. Do you simply pay for the launch or also per hour?

Cheers,
Chax

[Taiser]

What are the expenses like for gliding anyway? I know it's nowhere near as expensive as renting a 172 or the like. Do you simply pay for the launch or also per hour?

Cheers,
Chax

+1

What he said!

[Beefitarian]

The one near YYC only charges for tow tickets $30 each. But you need to bea member for just under 1500 bucks per season. Pretty good deal I think.

http://www.cunim.org/index.php?option=c ... &Itemid=54

[trey kule]

Glider flying, is in my opinion, one of the nicest things about aviation. And glider clubs, for the most part, are real clubs if you like that sort of thng.
When you get up into the air, it is quiet...real quiet..And sitting under a canopy the view is so much better and different than looking through a windscreen. No tall tales when you land..You ability to understand thermals, ridge waves etc, is practically tested, and flying co ordinated turns becomes a necessity....GPS has made the orientation amazingly simple now so you can concentrate on the flying more...

It is to bad that so many air cadets that have glider licenses dont consider it anything but a stepping stone (and I am partially guilty of that). The gliding program has been around for some 45 years now with literally thousands of air cadets being trained. It would be good to see many of them return to the fold, so to speak..

Which is my way of saying ....gitty up...go for it...You will find a type of flying that is really as close to pure as possible...

[Stephen Szikora]

Another benefit of joining a gliding club is that you can get checked out and do some towing as well. That's free flying and it's quality experience. I've spent as much as 5 hours in a day towing and every flight is a challenge - not just boring holes in the sky. Flying is a lot more fun when you have a mission to accomplish.

[gaamin]

+1 fly gliders!

That's how I started flying. I still miss it. Back where I learned, a winch launch was about $12, about 2000ft in 45 secs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5DWrzDNvnA
Off the top of my head, glider rental was about $40 per hour.
All that only 10km from work/30km from home...

[Taiser]

I think there is still a glider club out around here in Kakabeka Falls....I may just pop over there this summer!

[Masters Off]

Fees in Canada usually break down as follows;

A membership fee. anywhere around $500 per year is typical. Many members have camping, own a glider and pay associated fees for that, much like owning a Cessna.
Per day, most members pay one of two ways, per minute (0.50-1.00)/hour (30-75)/day(100+) or a block rate per season on the cost of the glider.
As well, launch rates are per tow height, time of tow, winch, etc. Typically 2000 feet costs around $30, winch rates cost less.
Instructors are all volunteer, thus all dual cost are same as solo rental. Training for anyone to learn can be as short as 2 weeks (or less if you have previous flying experience.) For simple flying, one can get away with paying $2-3000 per season for some decent flying.
Of course the sky's the limit, as some advanced ships like the ASG-29, Antares 18, LS-8, DG-800, and Discus, Ventus, Arcus, and Quintus series can all easily run above $100K depending on model. Some gliders are self launching, others have sustaining engines, able to accomplish a small rate of climb in calm air.

With exception to BC and Alberta, there is no notorious ridge or wave soaring around. The rest of the country depends on thermal lift, although flights of 500 km, 6-7 plus hours are easily attainable in most of the country.

Most gliding clubs today work with less than 50 members, although there are a few near major cities that have over 100 members each. The club is based on volunteer work. In the US, and elsewhere there are commercial operations that will, at a cost, provide full service to glider pilots.

It's a great hobby and sport for some, and many in the aviation have little or no idea.
If anyone would like more information, feel free to PM me or Adam Oke, Stephen Sekorzia (sorry if I spelt your name wrong). There's a wealth of knowledge to learn, in the same sky you fly in.