Glider Pilot Licensing
The London Soaring Society is a glider flight school and can take care of most licensing items. In particular, several members have their glider-pilot flight-instructor rating and volunteer their time and expertise to train and license new members.
We also have members who can do the radio certificate - aeronautical (ROC-A) examination and a Transport Canada authorized person (AP) who can issue temporary privileges for immediate use of most new glider-related licenses and permits.
The following is an overview for common situations. Feel free to contact us at info@londonsoaringclub.ca with any questions. The full legal requirements are given in sections 401.19, 421.19, 401.24, and 421.24 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations.
Converting a private-pilot license (PPL)
If you have a PPL, no ground-school course or test is required. The minimum flight training time is 3+ hrs including
1+ hrs of dual flight training, and
2+ hrs and 20+ solo flights.
A current PPL allows you to solo. A non-current PPL requires passing the PSTAR with 90% so our AP can issue a student pilot permit (SPP). Our instructors will solo and flight test you as soon as you are ready. At the end, our AP will help with the paperwork and issue temporary privileges so you can immediately fly as a licensed glider pilot.
Note that all category 4 and higher medicals are good for five years for use with a SPP or glider pilot license (GPL) regardless of your age.
Converting a foreign glider-pilot licenses (GPL)
A foreign GPL can be directly converted to a Canadian GPL if
the foreign training had at least the minimum number hours required for a Canadian GPL,
you pass the PSTAR (multiple choice exam on pre-supplied Canadian regulations questions) with 90%,
you have had 5+ glider flights in the last 6 months or 2+ with a Canadian glider instructor that certifies you to carry passengers.
Our instructors can do the PSTAR and the instructor flights. Our AP cannot grant temporary privileges for this, so you have to wait for your Canadian GPL to be mailed to you before flying as a licensed glider pilot.
From scratch
Getting a GPL from scratch is a significant, but doable, undertaking. The key to success is that you have to
study to pass the exams (PSTAR, ROC-A, and GLIDE), and
fly frequently to build skill (ideally multiple times a week).
Age
You must be at least 14 years old to solo and 16 years to license.
Medical
Instructional flights do not require a medical. Soloing requires a category 4 of higher. This is obtained with a simple declaration in most cases. Transport Canada processing time is 60 days, so do this at the start.
Training and study
Minimum (most will require more) flight training time is 6+ hrs including
1+ hrs of dual flight training, and
2+ hrs and 20+ solo flights.
Soloing requires 90% on the PSTAR (multiple choice exam on pre-supplied regulations questions) so our AP can issue a student pilot permit (SPP). We require this and an ROC-A exam to be done ASAP.
Ground school should start early as well. It is done online or through an in-person weekend course offered in early spring by glider clubs. Final licensing requires 60% on the Transport Canada GLIDE exam (ground school material) and passing the flight test with our instructors.
Our AP will help with the paperwork and issue temporary privileges at the end so you can immediately fly as a licensed glider pilot.