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Pilot Instruction & Flight Time Requirements
For Ab-initio (New) Students
The minimum requirements to qualify for a Transport Canada Glider Pilot License are:
- Not less than 6 hours glider flight training which must include a minimum of 1 hour dual and 2 hours solo including no fewer than 20 solo take-offs and landings;
- Not less than 15 hours of ground school. The license examination may be written following the ground school study and prior to completion of the solo flying requirements. (Not required for holders of a current Private Pilot License or higher).
- A medical declaration, and proof of identity required before solo. Age requirements are dual flight at any age, provided you can reach all controls; solo flight at age 14 and license status at age 16.
- A written pre-solo exam given by one of our instructors.
After completion of at least 20 solo flights, a flight test if required which normally consists of 2 flights with our flight examiner.
Generally, our clients with no previous history of
flying, can fly solo after approximately 50 flights with
an instructor. Frequency and aptitude may shorten or lengthen this
time. A further 20 - 30 flights are usually sufficient to prepare
the pilot for the License Test Flight(s) when the learned skills
are demonstrated to our flight examiner.
Glider Pilot Licenses have been obtained during
concentrated 3 to 4 week training periods, where the
student is flying 5 to 6 flights a day. Overseas and domestic
clients have gone onto becoming licensed glider pilots, commercial
pilots and glider pilot instructors.
For Private Pilot License Holders
Licensed power private pilots, who are current usually, require
from 6 to 10 flights with an instructor to practice these
new gliding skills before flying solo. Intermittent dual flights
will then provide an opportunity to learn how to sustain flight in
thermal, ridge and wave lift.
Minimum Requirements to Qualify for a Transport Canada Glider
Pilot License are as follows:
- Not less than 6 hours glider flight training which must include a minimum of 1 hour dual and 2 hours solo including no fewer than 20 solo takeoffs and landings.
- Not less than 15 hours of formal Ground School.
At Pemberton Soaring Centre we are proud to offer to our clients top-notch training equipment, well-trained certified staff and beautiful mountainous environment for your glider training.
EQUIPMENT
Lessons are conducted in two L-23 Blaniks, which
are a two-person tandem-seat all-metal sailplanes,
The L-23's are towed aloft by a 180 HP Citabria.
It was one of the greatest rushes I have ever felt.