Becoming a Glider Pilot (USA)

version 01/25

The "Private Pilot" license is your basic license. It allows you to fly without the supervision of a flight instructor and to carry passengers. You may not charge for flights but sharing expenses is allowed.

In a Nutshell

An FAA medical certificate is not required.
You must be at least 14 years of age to solo a glider.
You must be at least 16 years of age to get a glider private pilot license.
You must pass a knowledge (written) test.
You must pass a practical (oral and flight) test with an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE).

Club vs. Commercial Flight School

A club environment works well for most students but for some, a commercial flight school may be a better choice. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of each.

Getting Started As A Student

Learning to fly gliders will likely be an exhilarating and fulfilling experience. However, learning how to fly gliders takes time, money, talent, and determination. Because each of us has a different amounts of each of these items available, each person will learn at a different pace. Some people make it to the point of solo in as few as 25 flights or as many as 110. The average is about 35 - 40 flights. Much depends on the individual and how they go about their training. As a general rule, lessons should be as often as possible. About 2 lessons per trip to the airport is highly recommended as is flying every weekend. The longer the time span between lessons, the slower your progress will be because you tend to forget skills previously learned.

Required Books

Please purchase the following books prior to your first lesson.

Glider Flight Training Manual , by Tom Knauff.

If you already have a power aircraft rating, substitute Tom Knauffs' Transition to Gliders for the above manual.

Glider Pilot Log Book (If you do not currently have a log book).

Additional Reading

Although not required, it is highly recommended that you download (or buy) and read

The FAA Glider Flying Handbook. This book is a great reference and is useful for passing the FAA written test. This book is available online on the FAA web site.
The FAA Aviation Weather Handbook - another great reference, useful for passing your tests. Get it online on the FAA web site.
The FAA Aeronautical Information Manual. Get it online F AA web site.

If you prefer printed text, you can also purchase these books, from

Soaring Society of America (SSA)

Knauff and Grove

Bob Wander's Soaring Books and Supplies

Cumulus Soaring

and others. Lastly, a large number of soaring books are available from amazon.com - especially used or out of print books. If you're into books, check out the club's suggested reading list.

Homework to do before your first lesson

Read the next section of this web site, Flight Instruction at GBSC.
Your first lessons will be much more productive if you've read the first 28 pages of the Glider Flight Training Manual.

What to bring with you on each lesson

Your pilot log book

Your pilot training record

Questions that you thought of after your previous lesson and/or the reading material.

Flying Solo

If you are not a licensed pilot, you need to get a student pilot certificate (AKA, license). This is pretty easy and just involves some paper work. See the FAA resources section for details.

When your instructor has determined that you are ready to fly solo, you will be given a short (take home) Pre-Solo Written Test (FAR 61.87(b)). After that is evaluated, he/she will then endorse your logbook. If you are already a licensed pilot (but not a glider pilot), your instructor needs only to make an appropriate entry in your logbook (FAR 61.31(d)2). As a solo, non rated glider, pilot you may not carry passengers. You also have the following restrictions:

An instructor must be on the field and approve your flight (insurance company requirement).
You must fly with an instructor at least once every five flights (club requirement).
Within the previous 90 days, an instructor must have signed your log book authorizing solo flight (FAA requirement - FAR 61.87(n)).

When flying solo, your goal is to practice and increase your proficiency so that you meet (if not exceed) the standards required for you to pass your FAA license test.

Private pilot license requirements

You must be at least 16 years of age.
You must be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language.
You must have passed the required knowledge (written) test within the past 24 calendar months. Note that if you have a helicopter or airplane private pilot (or better) license, you do not need to re-take the knowledge test.
You must meet the following aeronautical experience requirements:

If you have less than 40 hours logged as a pilot in heavier-than-air aircraft:

10 hours of flight time in a glider; including
20 flights in a glider in the appropriate areas of operations.
2 hours of solo flight time in a glider in the areas of operation; with not less than 10 launches and landings being performed.
3 training flights in a glider with an authorized flight instructor in preparation for the practical test within the last 60 days.
a logbook endorsement from an authorized flight instructor to take the practical test.

If you have 40 hours or more logged as a pilot in heavier-than-air aircraft:

3 hours of flight time in a glider; including
10 solo flights in a glider in the appropriate areas of operations.
3 training flights in a glider with an authorized flight instructor in preparation for the practical test within the last 60 days.
a logbook endorsement from an authorized flight instructor to take the practical test.

Note that the flight hours and flight numbers are the minimums required by the FAA. Most students will have more experience by the time they are authorized to take the private pilot practical test.

The Sport Pilot Certificate

In 2004, the FAA established a new Sport Pilot certificate. Due to the many restrictions of this certificate (only 3 of the clubs' 9 gliders are sport pilot eligible), the club recommends that the typical student pilot should train to the Private Pilot standards, mentioned above.