Canadian National Soaring Championship

[Chris Gough]

The Canadian National Soaring Championships are being held in Arthur, Ontario at York Soaring Association starting today, June 20. There are 29 pilots competing. The website for the contest is here: http://www.yorksoaring.com/contest-home

For those wondering what a gliding contest is, a course of around 200-400km is set and glider pilots race around to get the fastest speed using only the weather to propel them.

[single_swine_herder]

I've always been interested in getting a glider licence when I retire, but can't abide by the club atmosphere, and taking anything from a few months, to a couple of years to get the training in.

Is there a more commercial-style operation where I can go, book a flight, get some dual, pay my bill and leave without being expected to hang around for 8 hours before maybe getting a 12 minute flight from a winch?

[Chris Gough]

I've always been interested in getting a glider licence when I retire, but can't abide by the club atmosphere, and taking anything from a few months, to a couple of years to get the training in.

Is there a more commercial-style operation where I can go, book a flight, get some dual, pay my bill and leave without being expected to hang around for 8 hours before maybe getting a 12 minute flight from a winch?

In Canada, the only place to get commercial training is a few places in BC. I am not too familiar with their operations but you can find their contact info on the SAC website http://www.sac.ca.

The lack of efficiency/instructors/gliders/flights is something most clubs are conscious of and trying to fix. Some clubs are better than others at meeting individual needs so you might want to try a couple different ones to see which one is the best fit.

[single_swine_herder]

Thank-you for the site tip ... appreciate it.

[challydriver]

Hey single_swine_herder:

I understand the issue you have with waiting around to go flying at the gliding clubs.

I belong to the Montreal Soaring Council in Hawkesbury, Ontario (between Montreal & Ottawa on Hwy 17).

We are a gliding club but...

We ran our first "intensive" CPL/ATPL to GPL course at the end of May. We had four students attend. By day two everyone was solo, by day three the students we flying our single-seat club ships (Grob 102s), by the end of day four they were all licensed glider pilots and by the weekend the new glider pilots were flying with the other club members.

The course was pretty intense. It was scheduled for one week (the weather was good so we didn't need all days for training). We had students assigned to the same instructor for the duration of the course (normally you fly with the instructor that's on duty). We had extra tow pilots and even a cook (yup, we had a cook for a couple of days). It was busy, starting at 07:00 and usually finishing around 18:00 but it worked well and we plan on making this an annual event.

We have places for people to camp out and use the club house, areas for trailers/motor homes or a deal on the rates with the local Best Western.

Once you have your SAC membership and your GPL you are generally welcome at any other SAC club in Canada (providing you have a club membership somewhere).

Checkout the MSC website: www.flymsc.org

Give it some though but just know we get what you're saying about waiting around to fly. For some members, it just doesn't work for their initial training.

Challydriver.

[Meatservo]

Hullo Challydriver,

That intensive course sounds really excellent. Could you give us some idea of cost/schedule &c.?

I think I would really enjoy something like that if I could afford it. The intensive-er the better. That's how I learn, and I could really benefit from doing some recreational flying for fun for a change.

[Changes in Latitudes]

Hullo Challydriver,

That intensive course sounds really excellent. Could you give us some idea of cost/schedule &c.?

I think I would really enjoy something like that if I could afford it. The intensive-er the better. That's how I learn, and I could really benefit from doing some recreational flying for fun for a change.

Yea ditto on that, I'm quite curious as to the details. I was pretty impressed by what you stated.

[challydriver]

No problem. The course breaks down like this...

Based on historic weather, we decided to run the course for four students at the end of May. The course was scheduled for seven days but we only needed four of them because the weather was great.

To join the course the students had to become club and Soaring Association of Canada members.

We also charged for a couple of reference books about flying gliders (pretty standard at any school).

There's no charge for an instructor at the club (that pretty standard at any gliding club in Canada).

Then we put everyone on a "plan." The plan basically allows you to fly certain club gliders as much as you want during a season. For a course like this it's actually cheaper than paying by the minute (which we do offer as well). The plan at our club will cover all of your flights in those specific aircraft until the end of the season. In this case it is for our basic trainers and the single seat club ships.

The big variable for the course is the tows to altitude which you have to pay for flights during (and after) the course (but that's pretty standard in any club).

Once the course is complete there's a license fee.

For an average student it worked out to about $2200.00 CDN to convert from a Transport Canada CPL/ATPL into a GPL. Keep in mind that all the students who attended the course have their aircraft rentals fees covered until the end of this season because they are on a plan. They only pay for their tows.

Most of this stuff is on the club's website under the MEMBERSHIP RATES tab.

Check it out: http://www.flymsc.org

I hope this helps.

Challydriver

[Meatservo]

It sure does. I'm going to look into going next year. I can't remember the last time I flew "just for fun".

I'm going to wear shades and a fake mustache so none of the rest of you goons can guess who I am. A whole bunch of us should go. I've always thought of soaring as pure flight. I'm getting all emotional thinking about it.

[single_swine_herder]

Thanks Chally.

I'm encouraged that it won't take two years and a couple of hundred hours of hanging around witnessing indecision and disorganization to get enough time in to convert from ATPL to GPL.

[challydriver]

No problem.

All you need is a week off and make your way out to Hawkesbury.

You'll love soaring. On the good soaring days most of the club's pilots will launch just after 11:00 and they don't come back until 17:00. It won't take long and you can be doing the same thing. Our club also does mountain wave flying (and training) in the fall in Lake Placid, New York as well as ridge flying (and training) in the spring in Pennsylvania. These activities are open to all club members.

The Course Administrator (Yves Bastien) telephone number is on the brochure that's on the home page of the club. Give him a call sometime and he can walk you through the very specifics.

We were really happy with the result of the course and I think the students were too.

BTW, during the course we assign you to one instructor so that you have the continuity of one person teaching you.

Challydriver

[DaveC]

+1

I spoke to a rep from the soaring club in Hamilton (SOSA). I asked as a commercial pilot, how long would it take to convert. The guy said 6-8 months! I followed up with asking how long it takes for a person with no experience and he said 8-12 months. I find it hard to believe that a CPL (even a low timer) would take 6 months to figure it out. Glad to hear it can be done in a reasonable amount of time.

[pez]

Both of the two commercial operations in BC should be happy to help out, so long as weather allows. There's one in Invermere, and one in Port Alberni (where I work).

If you're looking to just do a quick conversion from a CPL, it's generally very quick, the only thing that really takes time and costs money is the 20 solo flights. Generally not a problem to do in a few days, if you'd like.

After the conversion, we have a single seat glider available through the local soaring club, which is available to rent for a flat rate fee for the season.

VISC website: www.visc.ca

Cheers,
Colin

[black hole]

FWIW: the minimum is 20 flights and a flight test. If you are a pilot now and have some savvy and some decent weather you can do it in a few days. Where are you?

BH