learn to fly
Our qualified instructors can train you through the syllabus set down by the British Gliding Association, regardless of your flying experience, to allow you to become a fully qualified glider pilot and support you with your post-solo aspirations.
Overview
The steps to obtain a fully qualified gliding licence can be roughly broken down into four stages:
Training to Solo
Your glider pilot training will consist of a combination of theory briefings and practical flying in a two seater glider.
first solo
You will be sent solo once you have all the necessary skills to safely take-off, fly and land the glider.
Bronze Badge
After completion of the syllabus, you will carry out a general flying skills test and a theoretical knowledge test and be issued with a Bronze Badge.
Cross Country Endorsement
Finally, you will carry out a navigation, field selection and landing test, as well as a solo soaring flight. At this point, you are a qualified glider pilot!
training to solo
Following your trial flight with us and your decision that you would like to proceed with your gliding training at Chilterns Gliding Club, our British Gliding Association (“BGA”) qualified instructors will deliver your basic flying training using the standard BGA syllabus - some of which includes the following:
pre-flight checks
stalling
lookout
taking off
effect of controls
circuit-planning
speed control
approach control
aircraft handling
landing
spinning
You will be provided with a record card to display your progress against the syllabus, together with a logbook in which to track your flying. If, and when, the opportunity arises, you will also be taught how to soar a glider in ridge lift or in thermals.
Your training will be carried out in our two-seater gliders - you will sit in the front with your own set of controls and your instructor will be seated behind you with a duplicate set of controls.
time and cost
You will need to take out annual membership with the club in order to learn to fly with us. The club is a volunteer-based organisation and, therefore, has no paid employees - all instruction is provided free of charge.
Your flying charges will consist of the cost of your launches, together with any soaring fees. The majority of your training will happen via winch launches.
The time and cost taken to go solo varies from person to person - particularly their commitment and aptitude. It is important to fly regularly in order to progress and long intervals between flights will mean it will take longer and cost more.
Please refer to the ‘Membership and Fees’ pages for the latest charges.
limitations
There is no minimum age to start training, however, the earliest you can be sent solo in a glider is 14 years old. There is no upper age limit.
There will be some practical considerations to consider for younger or smaller pilots, such as whether you are big enough to reach the controls. In addition, gliders are designed for pilots weighing 102kg or less. Finally, if you are over (roughly) 6ft 3in, you may be uncomfortable, but are welcome to try sitting in the cockpit.
To fly solo, you must also be able to show that you meet the medical requirements for holding a car driving licence set out by the DVLA. Those who cannot meet this requirement can continue to fly accompanied by an instructor.
SOLO
Once you have completed the training syllabus, you will be able to act as pilot in command of a glider, including preparing a glider for flight, handling a glider correctly on the ground, take-off and landing.
On a reasonably calm weather day, when your instructor is comfortable that you can fly competently under supervision, you will be sent solo in the two-seat glider you underwent your training. This is always a memorable life experience and something you will never forget!
Bronze Badge
Following your first solo, your training will include a mixture of check flights with an instructor and supervised solo flying. We will help you to hone your skills and deal with more challenging weather conditions. You will progress to flying single seat gliders and develop your soaring skills.
The next step towards becoming qualified is to obtain your ‘Bronze Badge’. The requirements are as follows:
Complete the relevant parts of the flying training syllabus and be at least 14 years old.
Complete 50 solo flights in a glider or 20 solo flights and 10 hours flight time.
Complete a general flying skills test to demonstrate your judgment and airmanship.
Complete a multiple choice, theoretical knowledge test on a range of topic areas.
Cross Country endorsement
The final stage to become fully qualified is to obtain the ‘Cross Country Endorsement’. The sport of gliding includes flying cross-country on pre-declared ‘tasks’. This endorsement provides the training to stay-up for longer, to navigate and to safely land out in the countryside, if needed. The requirements are as follows:
You must be at least 16 years old.
Complete a solo soaring flight lasting at least one hour.
Complete a field selection and landing test in a motorglider.
Complete a navigation test in a glider or motoglider.
cross-country and beyond
Once you are fully qualified, the sky really is the limit - our members partake in whichever area of the sport they find most fulfilling. You can locally soar and work towards your badges (see below), fly cross-country, fly in competitions (once you have your Silver Badge) or learn glider aerobatics, and even become an instructor if you want to help out and give back to the sport.
There are a number of different internationally recognised FAI (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale) Badges to be earned for distances flown and heights gained, approximately as follows:
Silver
A flight of over 5 hours
A 50km cross country flight
A heigh gain of about 3,300 feet
Gold
A flight of over 5 hours (if not already)
A 300km cross country flight
A height gain of about 9,900 feet
Diamond
A 300k goal cross country flight
A 500km cross country flight
A height gain of about 16,400 feet
Once you are a ‘Three Diamonds’ pilot, there are further distance diploma’s which are awarded for flights covering 750km and 1,000km! These are very difficult and prestigious diplomas to achieve in the UK.
If you want to fly in Europe and beyond, you can convert your licence into a Sailplane Pilot Licence (which everyone will be required to do in the UK from September 2025).