Flight training

What we provide

Instruction flights are flown with FAA certified flight instructors that allow the beginner to progress from novice to private glider pilot and beyond. Some of our students have been able to earn their Private Pilot Glider Certificate in one flying season. Flight instruction is available for our regular, family and youth members.

Requirements for Glider Pilot certification

Student Pilot Certificate

Minimum age to obtain a Student Pilot Certificate is 14. Generally 30 to 40 flights with an instructor are necessary prior to solo. This is roughly equivalent to 10-12 hours of flight time and is dependent upon the progress of the individual student. A student pilot certificate must be endorsed by an FAA-Certified Flight Instructor-Glider (CFIG) prior to flying solo.

Private Pilot Glider Certificate

After solo, student pilots generally continue working toward their private pilot glider license. The minimum requirements to obtain this license are: be at least 16 years of age and have logged at least 10 hours of flight time in a glider. That flight time must include at least 20 total glider flights, with 2 hours of solo flight time in a glider. The prospective pilot must also pass an FAA written examination, and pass the practical flight exam administered by an FAA Examiner.

Commercial Pilot Glider Certificate

Applicants for Commercial Pilot-Glider must be at least 18-years of age, hold a Private Pilot license with 25 hours of flight time in gliders and 100 glider flights as pilot-in-command, or a total of 200 hours of flight time in heavier-than-air aircraft.

Add Glider Pilot Rating to existing Certificate

Holders of a valid FAA powered aircraft private pilot certificate with 40 hours as pilot-in-command need a minimum of 10 solo glider flights to qualify to take the FAA glider flight test. No written exam is required to add a glider rating to a power license. In all cases, refer to the current Federal Aviation Regulations for details on pilot licensing.