Glider certificate
Our flight training alternates theory with practice and starts already in May during weekends every flight season. You can also start your education with an intensive course during the summer or start by studying theory during the winter, the order of theory and practice you choose yourself. Once you have received your glider certificate, in addition to flying alone in an aircraft without a teacher, you can also bring passengers.
​
The theory deals with everything from aviation regulations, aircraft science, aerodynamics and meteorology. The flight training takes place in the club's training aircraft in double command with you and your teacher in the aircraft. When your teacher considers you mature, you can start flying single-seater planes yourself. The number of flights during basic training is usually about 60, of which 20 are solo flights before the practical training for the certificate is completed. Once you have the certificate, you can fly as much as you want with all the club's gliders.
​
After the certificate training, many choose to add various additional courses, such as Cross-country flying: to glide long distances over Sweden, Competition flying, Advanced flying: to do loops and roles, motor gliding: to fly gliders with a motor, and instrument flying: to get to fly in the clouds.
Theory
The theoretical part is that you must write an approved test in seven subjects, General Aviation Science Metrology, Aviation Medicine and Safety, Navigation, Aerodynamics, Airspace and regulations as well as instrument theory. Every winter we hold a theory course in Stockholm where we teach and take exams on these subjects so that after the course you can focus on flying.
​
If you would rather read the theory on your own, it's fine. The training books we use are called "Segelflyg" by Axelsson & Danewid. These can be bought from the Swedish Gliding Association's shop called Mayas Shop. When you have read on your own and decide to take the exam, you contact the club's Education Coordinators and announce that you are ready to write an exam.
Preparation
Medical examination (Medical class 2 or LAPL Medical)
This is done by an approved aviation doctor. Ask your doctor if he is an approved aviation doctor or if he can refer you to someone. Otherwise, there is a list of approved aviation doctors on the Swedish Transport Agency's website.
​
The flight
The training for the certificate takes about 15 hours, of which 10 with a teacher and 5 hours of solo flight. You have then received at least 45 starts.
Your first flight hours are devoted to basic flight training and to take-off and landing. When your flight instructor thinks you are ready to fly alone, often about halfway into the training. If you are more curious about the training plan, get in touch with the club's coordinator in glider training and we will help.
You can start flying the same year you turn 14. If you have a valid motor flight certificate or UL certificate, the training can be reduced to 30 starts and 6 hours. If you intend to take gliding training to only apply to motor sailors (TMG), the training is 25 hours.
When you have performed all flight exercises and when all theory is complete, the flight club's school principal sends your certificate application to the Swedish Transport Agency and certifies that you have completed the training required for a certificate. After a successful flight test, the certificate in hand and with all flight time requirements met, you can fly all the club's aircraft in the vicinity of the airport, alone or with friends as passengers.
​
Weekend schooling
In Östra Sörmlands Flygklubb, we strive to have a flight instructor in the field every weekend ready to fly with students. Your completed exercises are signed by the teacher in your student diary so you can easily school with all the club's teachers when it suits you.
​
The flight camp
For two weeks every summer, we have a gliding camp where we train gliding with students for 14 days in a row. During these two weeks of intensive flying, half of the training is usually completed, which means that if you have not flown before the flight camp, we strive for you to have made your first solo start in an aircraft where the teacher remains on the ground.
​
After the Training
Eventually, you can add additional permissions to your certificate,
​
Cross-country flying:
During this course you will improve the landing technique, thermal flying, navigation skills,
meteorology knowledge and may fly with the club's competition pilots outside the airport's immediate area, around Sweden,
15-50 miles in one day.
Competitive flying:
During this training, you further train in distance gliding and important elements are route planing
with regard to expected weather, route selection, optimal flight, final gliding etc.
Advanced flying:
For those of you who like to turn the plane upside down, do looping, etc. The club offers
basic education, ie with positive G-forces. If necessary, an advanced course is also arranged.
Instrument flying:
For those of you who like to follow the thermals into the cloud base and curve up into the cloud
we have IMC training where you learn to fly on instruments.
Motor sailing privileges:
You supplement the theoretical training with selected parts of the engine flight theory and
flies into you on the club's motor sailors. An easy way to motor fly at a comfortable pace and when the weather is
good simply turn off the engine or go on longer excursions where you can only go by motor.
Instructor:
For those of you who are passionate about others also being able to learn gliding, it is possible to become an instructor and fly the aircraft from the back seat with a student in the front seat to whom you can impart your knowledge and teach a full-fledged pilot.