Learn to fly
Learning to fly
Instruction is free. You pay for launches and glider time: about $10 for a typical instructional flight.
Ages
- Any ageto start training, no experience needed
- Age 14to fly solo
- Age 16to hold a full Glider Pilot Licence
What it costs
$10 is about what a typical 10-minute instructional flight costs: a $5 launch plus $5 of glider time.
Membership is $150 a year, $75 for juniors and $15 for youth and Air Cadets.
Your path to a Glider Pilot Licence
Most students go solo after around 40 instructional flights. With previous aviation experience or a pilot licence, it can be as few as 10 to 20.
1. Flight lessons
Dual lessons in the air with an instructor, at your own pace. Book each one on the schedule.
2. Medical: do this early
Most students use a Category 4 medical, a self-declaration with no doctor's visit. Do it and your student licence paperwork early. A Category 1 or 3 also counts.
3. Ground school and the GLIDE exam
15 hours, self-directed or with pilottraining.ca, then Transport Canada's GLIDE written exam (60% to pass).
4. First solo, from age 14
Once your instructor is satisfied you are ready.
5. Licence, from age 16
Solo practice, then a flight test. You need at least 6 hours of flight time, including 1 hour dual, 2 hours solo and 20 solo flights.
What the licence requires
| Requirement | From scratch | With PPL(A) credit |
|---|---|---|
| Medical | Category 1, 3 or 4 | Your existing Category 1 or 3 |
| Ground school | 15 hours | Waived |
| Written exam | GLIDE, 60% to pass | Waived |
| Total flight time | 6 hours | 3 hours |
| Dual instruction | 1 hour | 1 hour |
| Solo flight time | 2 hours | 2 hours |
| Solo flights | 20 | 20 |
| Skill assessment | Flight demo and recommendation | Flight demo and recommendation |
A private pilot licence (aeroplane) waives ground school and the written exam, and cuts the flight time you need. Power pilots
Who can learn
- All flying before solo is dual, with a certified instructor as pilot-in-command.
- You need to reach the controls comfortably (roughly 5 ft tall) and be ready to learn (typically 12 and up).
- Maximum weight for an introductory flight is 230 lbs.
- Our two-seat trainer is a Schleicher K7.
Come regularly if you can
Skills fade between visits. Flying as many weekends (and even weekdays) as you can over a stretch of the season gets you solo sooner and costs less in total.
Two fast tracks
Youth and cadets
$15 membership and $1,000 in bursaries toward launches and glider rental.
Power pilots
With a PPL(A), ground school and the written exam are waived, and you need 3 flight hours, not 6.
Learn at home, free
- SOAR manual: a free PDF from the Soaring Association of Canada
- Safe winch launching videos: British Gliding Association
- Glider Flying Handbook: free from the FAA
The welcome pack
Nine pages for new students: booking lessons on the Flying Schedule, the morning you fly, costs, the path to a licence and the fleet.
Ready?
Your first lesson is a Discovery Flight. Join when you are ready with the membership form.