About Federal Aviation Regulations - Part 61

The Federal government sets the minimum standards for a glider pilot's license in Part 61 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs). If you learn to fly at Harris Hill, you will probably surpass all of these "legal minimum requirements" by a lot before you reach the next step.

The FARs say that to start flying gliders by yourself (solo) as a student, you need to be at least 14 years of age and able to read, speak, write and understand English. There is no stated minimum age to begin dual instruction (flying with an instructor). Your instructor will then give you a simple written test and then review it with you. You can not fail this test. This test is designed to make you think and raise issues in your mind. Before sending you off on your own, your instructor will review your answers with you. (I did not like this test. There were no right answers. My instructor designed the questions to be easy-to-understand but to raise points for discussion about decisions and judgment.) After some paperwork (filling out a form to get your student pilot's license and a solo endorsement in your logbook by your instructor), you may fly by yourself.

Before you get your pilot's license, you will need to pass a written exam designed by the FAA. (The written exam can be a source of worry. It need not be. If I could pass it so can you. It will just take some studying.)

There are also some flying experience you must have in your logbook before taking the oral and practical examination. For a private glider rating (fancy pilot speak that translates into getting your pilot's license) you must have at least 10 hours of training in a glider including 20 training flights. The 20 training flights must include at least 2 hours of flying and at least 10 launches and landings by yourself. Also, before taking the practical flying test, you must have 3 training flights in preparation to the flight test within the past 60 days.

However, if you have logged at least 40 hours of flight time in heavier-than-air aircraft, you need at least 3 hours of flight training in a glider, at least 10 training flights and at least 10 solo flights and three flights within the past 60 days preparing for the flight test.

Then you will need to be 16 years old and get an endorsement from your instructor in your logbook that you are ready to take the practical test. The practical test has both an oral and a flight portion to it. If you pass the oral and practical exams, the examiner will give you your license.

Before you fly by yourself at Harris Hill, you will land somewhere else with an instructor. This is just to show you what landing at an unfamiliar field is like. Therefore, when you do it by yourself, it will be nothing new.

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