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3 Answers

Obtaining Private Glider Pilot Certificate – Currently Sport Pilot

Asked by: 2590 views FAA Regulations, Flight Instructor

I'm currently a sport pilot and have gotten interested in glider flight. 

I can't find any clarity on if my sport pilot time, which is more than 40 hours, counts towards the rating?

FAR

 For a glider category rating.

(1) If the applicant for a private pilot certificate with a glider category rating has not logged at least 40 hours of flight time as a pilot in a heavier-than-air aircraft, the applicant must log at least 10 hours of flight time in a glider in the areas of operation listed in Sec. 61.107(b)(6) of this part, and that flight time must include at least--

(i) 20 flights in a glider in the areas of operations listed in Sec. 61.107(b)(6) of this part, including at least 3 training flights with an authorized instructor in a glider in preparation for the practical test that must have been performed within the preceding 2 calendar months from the month of the test; and

(ii) 2 hours of solo flight time in a glider in the areas of operation listed in Sec. 61.107(b)(6) of this part, with not less than 10 launches and landings being performed.

(2) If the applicant has logged at least 40 hours of flight time in a heavier-than-air aircraft, the applicant must log at least 3 hours of flight time in a glider in the areas of operation listed in Sec. 61.107(b)(6) of this part, and that flight time must include at least--

(i) 10 solo flights in a glider in the areas of operation listed in Sec. 61.107(b)(6) of this part; and

(ii) 3 training flights with an authorized instructor in a glider in preparation for the practical test that must have been performed within the preceding 2 calendar months from the month of the test.

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3 Answers



  1. KDS on Aug 12, 2018

    The time you flew in pursuit of a sport pilot certificate counts as heavier than air time. Assuming you have logged forty flight hours doing that, you can use the ten solo flights rule.

    While it’s almost certain not to make a difference, you should note that you have to make a full circuit for the flight to count. In other words if you had a flight where there was a rope break a ten foot and you landed straight ahead, that doesn’t count as one of the ten. The rule was written back in the day when starting at the top of a hill with a bungee launch and then gliding to the bottom of the hill was common.

    It never hurts to talk with the examiner in advance if you have any concerns or you just want to ensure he or she is reading the rules the same way you are. It’s always easier to avoid a problem than it is to solve it regarding such things. The odds are that the examiner will tell you that is fine, but on the chance he or she says something different, you have time to get it sorted out without everyone becoming upset.

    Not knowing how your soaring site operates, but having seen how others operate, let my throw in one piece of advice. Waiting your turn to fly can be a lengthy experience. I’ve seen people spend a whole day at the field and only get in one flight. If you can get the tow pilot or winch operator to agree to arrive early or on a weekday or such, that is a good time to get a series of flights in rapid succession.

    That subject is burned into my memory. I had the misfortune of needing to get my 20 flights at a place that only had one instructor. Every time he saw me it was like he had never seen me before. As a result, he wasted my time and my money going on dual flights with me and I would be lucky to get one or two solo flights in that day. Then one day he failed to show up for the lesson. I grabbed the tow pilot and we did enough low-tow flights in a row to hit the 20 mark.

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  2. LTCTerry on Aug 13, 2018

    Are you looking at doing this at a commercial place, a club, or CAP? KDS pointed out the difficulty of a club environment, though by the time you take your checkride you’ll likely be a competent soaring pilot vs. “just” a glider pilot.

    Private Pilot is a level higher than Sport Pilot. You will need to take the Private Pilot Glider knowledge test. You can train to solo, fly ten solo flights, prep for the checkride, and take the checkride all pretty quickly at a commercial facility.

    Most commercial places have SGS 2-33s and SGS 1-26s. Both of these are Light Sport gliders. You can train to proficiency with one instructor and have your proficiency evaluated by a second instructor and be able to fly LS gliders with your light sport certificate.

    If you live in the eastern half of the US then LS limitations on gliders are probably not an issue. Out west it’s a different story.

    You likely know how Light Sport add ons work and you specifically asked about Private Pilot glider. It’s pretty straight forward. Studying for the written test and prepping for a checkride will have you better prepared than “just” a Light Sport add on rating. You can also fly any glider then. My personal soaring blog is http://www.soarforfun.com; it has a lot of information on getting started.

    I instruct in a club near Atlanta and with the Civil Air Patrol. I also fly airplanes.

    The glider checkride would also reset your 24-month flight review.

    Good luck and I don’t think you’ll regret flying gliders. Imagine sitting under a bubble canopy at 18,000′ looking down on the mountains below you as you glide along in wave at 100 knots!

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  3. Curtis on Aug 13, 2018

    Thanks guys, I think you nailed it for me.

    I wanted to use my heavier than air time as a sport pilot towards PPL-Glider. Luckily the written for sport is still fresh from spring so I can hop back in and be ready quickly for written.

    I come from a heavy paragliding background so my experience is a little above the average guy. I also fly a Luscombe so competency on coordination in a glider is something that is kinda already instilled in my psyche. 🙂

    KDS – I actually tried a few years back and after two weekends of sitting around all day I stayed with paragliding / powered paragliding. But have a good friend that is willing to get me in early before the crowds, we got 4 flight and 2 hours in a day. Which is awesome.

    LTC – I\’ve done a lot of things in a plane / under a paraglider but I don\’t think I\’ve ever felt as excited and thrilled as I was Saturday climbing a thermal at 800 fpm to cloud base at 5000\’… which I know is small bones but if I get excited over that, I think I am in for some real thrills.

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