Basic Safety Training and Control Course

The course is aimed at pilots with around 50 flights who want to learn to control the glider and to start flying in thermic conditions.
The content runs in parallel with the pilots progression in flight, we assess the level and experience of an individual pilot and tailor the training flights to each individual.
It is not a stressful course with extreme manoeuvres. In this course we teach, practice and resolve typical in-flight incidents such as collapses, rapid descent techniques, the consequences of pilot error and teach new piloting skills that help control the glider.
We will also teach active flying and learn to anticipate the impact of our piloting decisions.

Objectives:

• Improve the level of piloting
• Recognise incidents in flight and control the glider in turbulent conditions.
• Learn the most common descent manoeuvres.
• Make the correct decisions during and after an incident in flight.

What we do:

The first day will begin with a briefing explaining what we will do and how we do it and go over the programme for the course.
Each manoeuvre is explained before running it and corrected both during and after each flight. We all discuss together, just after landing and later in the projection room what has happened during the day and analyse the results of each pilots flights.
In both the briefings and classroom, we discuss the theoretical manoevres as well as analyse video footage of the flights.
As an option, outwith the course, we offer to practice and experience the manoevres on a tandem with one of our instructors. This can reinforce the learning experience for many pilots.

Basic Safety Training tasks:

The basic program for the course is below, however. the course is tailored to each individual pilot.
If the instructors feel that a pilot is not experienced enough or not yet ready to make a manoevre the syllabus will be adapted to suit that pilot and extra time given to practice of manoevres which will help them to advance.
It is much more instructive to increase learning and improve control of more basic manoevres than to cause a pilot to enter a manoevre that it outwith their ability and results in them losing control.

• Control of the amplitude of manoevres using the brakes
• Big Ears
• Asymmetric collapse
• Symmetric collapse
• Frontal collapse
• Pitch Control
• Search for stall
• Wing Over (xcmag.com article)
• Rapid descent methods
• B line stall (optional)
• Reserve deployment (optional)
  
  

Important
This list of tasks is indicative but open to change. Each pilot has a different level of experience and progresses at a different rate.
Whether on the recommendation of the instructor or by personal choice, the pilot can decide not to practice some manoevres.
The basis of the course is CONTROL, it is not intended to create conditions of chaos, because as well as being dangerous this is counter-productive to progress.

Course Duration:

The course has a duration of 6 flights, usually taken over 4 days.
The duration can be changed from between 2-4 days depending on the number of pilots and weather conditions. If the weather causes delay we will extend the course for as long as necessary.

Requirements:

This course is open to pilots able to launch and land safely.
We don't insist on completed formal qualifications but do require that pilots are able to fly solo and unassisted.

The ideal time for many pilots to complete the course is after 50 flights and before they begin thermal flight in strong conditions.
This course is essential for any pilot that wants to progress and start flying in thermals.
If you are already flying in thermals and have never done a safety course, this course is highly recommended.

What is included in the course:

• 6 flights with instruction, feedback and analysis
• Waterproof radio bag
• Life jacket
• Commentary and analysis of flights including video footage
• Course video
• Theory and practical classes

You will need:

• Glider
• Harness
• Reserve parachute
• Helmet
• 2m Radio
• Medical repatriation insurance (bring a photocopy)

Cost: 525 € per pilot