General Requirements & Information
- You must be a member of the Gliding Federation of Australia to be trained to fly a glider.
- Flight training is provided by volunteer instructors who are approved by the Gliding Federation of Australia.
- Flight training takes place at Horsham Aerodrome on Saturdays and Sundays, or by arrangement with one of the club’s instructors.
- The training syllabus has been developed over many years by the Gliding Federation of Australia and is followed by all gliding clubs and commercial schools throughout Australia. This consistent standard ensures the safety of our sport.
Medical Requirements
- You must meet the health and fitness requirements to drive a car in Australia. Before you fly, you will need to sign a medical declaration.
- If you are in doubt regarding you health, we recommend you seek the advice of an Aviation Medical Examiner.
Age Requirements
The minimum age to go solo is 15 years. There is no maximum age limit, although after 70, you will need a doctor to sign once a year that you are fit to fly.
Costs
- $420.00 per year Membership of the Gliding Federation of Australia, which includes a magazine.
- $200.00 per year Membership of the Horsham Flying Club
- Instruction is provided free of charge when available.
- Glider Hire for club members is $1 per minute (Average training flight is 20 minutes)
- Aerotow launch by Pawnee is $7.50 per minute (Average launch $45.00)
- The average training flight will cost the member $65.00
- For visitors flights, an air experience flight will cost from $180.00
- Flight training is on a “pay as you go” basis
- Extra costs are incurred if a visitor would like to experience aerobatics during their flight.
NB: An air experience flight is the term used for visitor flights and gives the visitor the opportunity of full hands on flying the glider with an instructor in the rear seat. This is a personal choice, for some people the thrill of flying a glider is unique and they are not interested in a hands on approach during their first flight, while others relish the chance of controlling their flight safely while under the watchful eye of an instructor.
Gliding Australia Membership & Fees
To Solo and Beyond
- Most students will ‘Go Solo’ or fly for the first time by themselves in about 30 to 35 flights.
- Your progress to ‘Solo’ is dependent on you own ability, some students with previous flying experience have gone solo in under 10 flights, others have taken more than 50. There are no set minimum number of hours to be flown.
- It’s a good plan to have 2 to 4 training flights each time you come to the club. Also come as regularly as possible in order to reinforce your progress. After all, practice makes perfect.
- The main aims of going solo are to make sure that you are safe to fly alone, and also to make sure that you have completed certain exercises to a good level so that you are able to cope with any potential problems.
- Of course, learning doesn’t just stop when you go solo. Most would even say that solo is just the start of your involvement in the sport, you never stop learning! Further training is available for almost as far as you wish to go.