Glider Pilot Course
We run the course once a year. Theory starts in January and flying begins in April.
Who can apply
- 01You must be at least 15 years old.
- 02At least a Class 2 medical. You can arrange it during training with an authorised aeromedical examiner.
- 03A clean criminal record. Under-18s need the consent of a legal guardian. You will gain your radiotelephony operator’s certificate during training.
How the course works
Theory
40–80 hours in the club classroom, ending with a theoretical knowledge exam. You can also sit the Transport Authority (Dopravný úrad) test once practical training is under way.
Practical training
20 hours in Blaník L-23 and L-13 gliders. Every exercise starts with a briefing on the ground and ends with a debrief. Your first solo flight may come after 30 to 50 launches.
SPL licence
The SPL is valid in every EU member state and has no expiry date. To fly on it you need a valid medical certificate and recent flying experience. How long training takes depends on the student and on how often they come flying.
Further types
Conversion to the single-seat VSO-10 and Standard Cirrus gliders.
Thermal soaring
A glider has no engine, yet it can stay airborne for hours. It climbs in thermals – columns of warm air rising from sun-heated ground, often topped by a cumulus cloud. The pilot circles in one, gains height and then glides on to the next.
Thermals are limited in both time and space, and rise at roughly 1 to 10 m/s. Birds use them in just the same way when they circle with outstretched wings. Thermals make it possible to fly long distances on nothing but the energy of the atmosphere.
How thermals work – an article on lietaj.me ↗
PHOTOGRAPHED FROM THE CLUB’S BLANÍK OM-0218 OVER THE SPIŠ REGION
Training days at the airfield
Wave flying
From autumn to spring the Tatra wave is flown from our airfield, lifting gliders to around 8,000 metres.
Applying to join the club
Once you have sent your application form, our Head of Flight Operations will be in touch.
Bc. Ján Šabľa, Head of Flight Operations+421 911 103 000aklubsnv@gmail.com
One application form for the whole club
Fill in your name, contact details and year of birth, and choose the gliding section. We will check your details and get in touch, and once you are approved you will receive an invitation to the club app.