Glider school - Sailplane pilot license

Become a glider pilot.

A glider pilot training is necessary if you want to fly a glider in Canada.

Here is the glider pilot course structure as it is described by Transports Canada for the private glider pilot licence.

IMPORTANT: This is for information only. Always check the latest info from the officials sources.

421.24 Gliders - Requirements

(1) Age : An applicant shall be a minimum of sixteen years of age.

(2) Medical Fitness and Validity

(a) An applicant shall hold a Category 4 Medical Certificate valid for a pilot licence - glider.

(b) An applicant who meets the medical conditions specified on and signs the Civil Aviation Medical Declaration shall be deemed to have met the Category 4 Medical Standards.

(c) The medical validity period for the licence holder is 60 months.

(d) The licence is maintained by a valid Category 1, 3 or 4 Medical Certificate.

(3) Knowledge

An applicant shall have:

(a) completed a minimum of 15 hours of glider pilot ground school instruction on the following subjects:

(i) Canadian Aviation Regulations,

(ii) Aerodynamics and Theory of flight,

(iii) Meteorology,

(iv) Airframes and Systems,

(v) Flight Instruments,

(vi) Navigation,

(vii) Flight Operations,

(viii) Emergency Procedures, and

(ix) Human factors including pilot decision-making, and

(b) obtained a minimum of 60% in the written examination Pilot Licence - Glider (GLIDE).

(4) Experience

(a) Within the 24 months preceding the date of application for the licence, an applicant shall have completed a minimum of 6 hours of glider pilot flight training, under the direction and supervision of the holder of a Flight Instructor Rating - Glider.

(b) The flight training shall include:

(i) a minimum of 1 hour dual instruction flight time, and

(ii) 2 hours solo flight time, including a minimum of 20 takeoffs and 20 landings.

(5) Skill

(a) Within the 12 months preceding the date of application for the licence, an applicant shall demonstrate in flight and on the ground familiarity with, and the ability to perform both normal and emergency manoeuvres appropriate to the glider used in the test and with a degree of competency appropriate to the holder of a pilot licence - glider.
(amended 1998/03/23

(b) An applicant shall submit a letter from the holder of a Flight Instructor Rating - Glider, qualified on the method of launch for the glider used for the test, attesting to the applicant’s satisfactory completion of the skill requirement.
(amended 1998/03/23)

(6) Credits

(a) Knowledge

(i) An applicant who holds a pilot permit or licence in any other category of aircraft, except ultra-light aeroplanes, shall be deemed to have met 10 of the 15 hours ground school instruction requirement.

(ii) An applicant who holds a pilot licence - aeroplane may be deemed to have met the ground school instruction requirement.

(iii) An applicant who holds a pilot licence - aeroplane shall be deemed to have met the written examination requirement.

(b) Experience

An applicant who holds a pilot licence - aeroplane category shall have the total glider pilot flight training time reduced to a minimum of 3 hours, which shall include the minimum flight training specified.

(7) Licence Issued On the Basis of Foreign Licence
(amended 1999/03/01)

(a) An applicant who holds a pilot licence - Glider issued by a Contracting State or an organization acceptable to that state, shall be considered:
(amended 1999/03/01)

(i) to have met the ground school instruction requirement; and
(amended 1999/03/01)

(ii) to have met the written examination requirement, the experience requirement and the skill requirement, provided that the foreign licence was not issued on the basis of a licence from another State, and that the applicant:
(amended 2000/09/01)

(A) has obtained at least the number of hours of flight training required by subsection (4);
(amended 2000/09/01)

(B) obtains a minimum of 90% in the written examination Student Pilot Permit or Private Pilot Licence for Foreign and Military Applicants, Aviation Regulations (PSTAR); and
(amended 1999/03/01)

(C) has completed, in gliders, a minimum of 5 take-offs and 5 landings within the 6 months preceding the date of application for the Canadian licence.
(amended 1999/03/01)

(b) In lieu of the requirement for take-offs and landings specified in clause 7(a)(ii)(C), an applicant may complete a minimum of 2 take-offs and 2 landings within the 6 months preceding the date of application for the Canadian licence and obtain, from the holder of a Canadian Flight Instructor Rating - Glider, a certificate of competency to carry passengers.
(amended 1999/03/01)

(c) The licence shall be annotated by the Minister to indicate that it was issued on the basis of the foreign licence.
(amended 1999/03/01; no previous version)

(d) The Minister shall remove the annotation from the licence, provided that the applicant has succesfully completed:
(amended 1999/03/01; no previous version)

(i) the written examination requirement (GLIDE); and
(amended 1999/03/01; no previous version)

(ii) the skill requirement.
(amended 1999/03/01; no previous version)

(8) Credits for Foreign Applicants
(amended 1999/03/01; no previous version)

(a) An applicant who holds a pilot licence - glider issued by a contracting state or an organization acceptable to that state and who does not wish to obtain a licence issued on the basis of the foreign licence, may be considered by the Minister to have met the ground school instruction requirement and the experience requirement provided that the applicant has obtained at least the number of hours of dual and solo flight training and experience required by subsection (4).
(amended 2003/03/01)

(b) An applicant who does not hold a pilot licence - glider issued by a contracting state may be credited foreign glider dual and solo flight training time and glider ground school time towards the knowledge and experience requirements for the issue of a Glider Pilot Licence, if the applicant provides certification from the holder of a Flight Instructor Rating - Glider that all ground and flight training exercises have been satisfactorily reviewed.
(amended 2003/03/01)

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