Learn Soaring

Intro Flight

Intro flights require no commitment. An experienced pilot will take you up in a two-seater glider, and (if you are with an instructor) may invite you to try taking the controls once at a safe altitude. We recommend taking an intro flight before starting training.

Click For More Info

Membership

Students must be members of ESC. There are annual membership fees, and per-flight fees to cover tow plane and maintenance costs. There are no fees for instruction - all instructors are dedicated volunteers!

Grants are available for youth pilots. While individual training costs vary greatly depending on how often you fly, an average training season costs around $1500 - $3000.

Click For More Info

Ground School

ESC runs a free 2-weekend ground school every winter covering the basics of flight, meteorology, maps, airframes, instruments, navigation, operations, procedures, human factors, radio operations, and relevant regulations.

You do not need to be a member to attend, though we expect attendees to intend to follow up with flight lessons.

Contact For More Info

Flight Lessons

All flight lessons involve two-seater gliders. You fly in the front seat with an experienced instructor in the rear seat. Soaring in these lessons is possible, but the goal is to learn safe and efficient flight.

Expect to discuss your progress after each flight. Instructors will advance you to the next lesson when appropriate. A single flight can cover multiple lessons, or you may need multiple flights before the next lesson. You will not be rushed.

Solo Flight

Eventually you will be able to fly a glider solo while still being a student. This means flying without an instructor in the back seat, but with an instructor on the ground assessing your performance.

Prior to "going solo" you will need to:

• complete your pre-solo flight lessons

• pass the club pre-solo written exam

• pass the Industry Canada radio exam

• meet aviation medical fitness requirements

• meet the standards expected by your instructors

Licensing

Finally you will graduate and obtain a pilot's license. This allows you to fly a glider without supervision. To take passengers you will need further training on flying from the rear seat.

Prior to obtaining your pilot's license you will need to:

• be at least 16 years old

• attend at least 15 hours of ground school

• achieve at least 20 solo flights

• achieve at least 2 hours of solo flight time

• pass the Transport Canada language test

• pass the Transport Canada "GLIDE Exam"

• meet the standards expected by the Chief Flight Instructor

After Licensing

After licensing there are many more opportunities to continue improving your skills. This includes badges, records, cross-country flights, taking passengers, competitions, or even becoming an instructor.

Click For More Info