Hey guys, I am a commercially rated pilot in single and multiengine aircraft - interested in gliding and have some questions...

Written exam yes or no?
How cost effective is it?
How is time logged?
Does time in a glider count towards total flight time?
Is it another category rating that they just tack on to your existing pilot license?

thanks,
John

 

If you are pursuing a pilot career, remember that glider is it's own category, ie IT IS NOT AN AIRPLANE!

It is total time, and interviewers will respect you and maybe want to BS about glider flying but it generally doesn't count towards airline hiring minimums (maybe a few places allow some credit?). If you can do it in addition to fixed-wing airplane flying, great, but don't do it INSTEAD of fixed-wing airplane.

I had a friend who made money as glider CFI and built airplane time as a tow-pilot.

 

ohhh yeah, no sorry for making it seem that way... no I was basically concerned with whether or not I could put in log big with my airplane stuff and still be able to tally it in my log book towards total time... basically it just looks really fun! It is absolutley in addition to my airplane stuff - I certainly wouldn't want to count it towards other ratings in other aircraft... but I would still like to be able to tally it in my log book towards my total flight time, so I don't have big holes in my book... I was basically wondering if it counted as flight time like an airplane, rotorcraft, ect... not so much as towards an ATP or anything... I have a very small amount of helicopter time, and I count that in my total flight time but not towards an ATP... So basically I can count the glider time as flight time, like my airplane or rotorcraft time? I just need to make a glider block I assume in my book?

It looks like a lot of fun very tranquil... I think it would be great to soar around for a while.... just a hobby type thing...

 

Rick I knew the day would come when I would disagree with you but it does in fact count for the majority of airline hiring time (I actually contacted some HR depts because I do have time in a glider. Your airline (SKYW, much respect by the way) said okay. I do agree with the INSTEAD disclaimer, as you definetely need the experience of the propulsion factor. Glider time is extremely valuable for single engine flying, but I am not sure how far it goes in terms of a jetliner. But then again it doesnt really matter in the broader scheme of things.