Glider time
 

Hi,
does glider time count as TT in the opinion of airlines? I mean it is fixed-wing aircraft time, isn't it? I'm not sure...

Thanks in advance

Jakob

Probably to an extent but I don't think it will help you. If the mins were 1500 tt and 1000 hours of that was glider, I think it would work against you. A few hundred hours of a few thousand total probably won't matter. Entry level regional job...depends how bad they need newbies.

So it defenitly wouldn't hurt to do a glider rating? I mean I would love to do so but I really have to check out if it will help me later because of the costs. I know it isn't all that expensive but still, every buck counts for me...

"Glider" is a different category than "Airplane"

Airlines require "Airplane" SE and ME time, so it is safe to assume that glider time will not help you to meet minimums at any airline.

OK. Thanks alot. I will probably do it any way just because of the love...

Take care everybody

cheers:)


Jakob

I got my glider license before I got my private airplane. GREAT DECISION. I made up almost 1/2 the cost of the glider license because I got my airplane single engine land (ASEL) at 48 hours instead of the average of 60-70. My ASEL checkride was incredibly easy (because I had covered most of it during my glider checkride). My oral was under 30 minutes!! Oh, and whenever the instructor/examiner pulled the engine on me, it was not a big deal.

I think glider flying makes you a better pilot. I have outclimed a 172 in a 152 just because I slowed down in lift and sped up through sink. You develop real good judgement (because if you don't judge your trip back to the airport, you will have to land off field in a glider). And it makes your ASEL rating so easy.

You could probably get your private glider for about $3000 (aerotow), or even less if you train for winch-launching (kind of like an aircraft carrier takeoff!). 1/2 that cost will be made up when you get your airplane license. The other half is just worth it. Plus you get a lot of respect amongst pilots. I know many powered pilots who think I am crazy because I fly planes without engines.
It is totally worth it. I would recommend it.

I took a few lessons years ago and loved it. I'd like to get into now. Fly for fun and not for work.

Thanks for your replies. I will be going to a small airfield here close to Hamburg tomorrow. I will be talking to some instructors. I might be starting glider training even this year. I know some people who fly gliders and they love it. I'm pretty sure that I'll do my licence. I will probably do winch start because it is the more common thing to do here.

Take care


Jakob

Winch launching is awesome. I had a former navy pilot tell me that a winch launch was the closest thing to an aircraft carrier takeoff he had ever experienced. But be sure and learn aerotow. I know it is more expensive, but it is a lot more common, especially if you want to get into advanced soaring!

OK. I'll check that out tomorrow and talk to a couple of people during the next weeks. I get your point and you are probably right. I'll have to see. I have flown as a passenger on gliders a few times now and all of them were winch take-offs. They are AWESOME! I love the feeling and if you look at the instruments and you see the speed increasing extremly it's really cool. The first time I did it I was all pumped up with adrenaline when I was back on the ground! You get used to it a bit but it'd really cool! I love it.

That was great! Man, those winch-takeoffs are so awesome. I flew twice yesterday! The second flight I flew with a guy who had a glider-aerobatics-rating (I don't how it's really called) and, boy, you can do some stunts in that bird. He pulled 5.5Gs (There was an instrument that says)!!! The plane can take up to 7Gs! Boy and those 5.5 were pretty tough (didn't black out though :D )! I'm now going to start training soon. And the best thing about it is that I don't even have to pay for training. I can enter the club for 150Euros ( about180$) per year and I won't have to pay for instruction or ground school. I will only have to pay for my checkride etc. That is great!

I just wanted to write it here because I'm really happy. Thanks too all of you for your great postings! I learn so much on here!

Blue skies to you all


Jakob

Don't listen to people who tell you glider time doesn't count. I did all my ratings...pvt, comm, and cfi, glider first, then the power add on. I started flying gliders when I was 13, and I will always remember my roots. Soaring has opened my career up to new options and great contacts I never would have had otherwise. And by the way, Total time, by definition, would mean all pilot time. Therefore, glider=total. It's no multi time, but anyone out there knows glider pilots, much like tailwheel pilots (another endorsement I highly recommend), know how to fly. If you're ever in VA or TN and want to check out some soaring, look me up. Good luck to you.

Glider flying is awesome, and you will probably get some bonus points at an airline interview but once again....

GLIDERS ARE NOT AIRPLANES! They are in a different certification category called "Glider"! Airline hiring mins all assume "Airplane" category flight time...even if they don't say that specifically it is assumed. You couldn't count blimp time either... Pursue glider flying for fun if you like, but do not do it as a primary means of furthering your airline career in lieu of airplane flying (unless you are towing gliders).

Note: Skywest says they accept glider time, but the details are not published.

As I said before, I will be doing my glider ratings next April probably. If it helps me out later, great, if not, I think I will still learn to fly pretty good. I'm already starting training now. That's why I've changed my "position" field! I'm now flying in the front seat of a glider!!!:) Man, my dreams are starting to come true...:p

so my check airman friend at pinnacle and my friends at other places have it wrong when they say Total time is total time? wow thats interesting. Cause I always though 2+2=4. If they ask for airplane time. I'll give them airplane time. If they ask for total flight time, I'll give them total flight time. And yes I do tow gliders when I'm not sitting in the back seat of one. Might do everyone some good to get a glider rating and some tailwheel experience.

Tell me this then. If airplane time is all they care about, how is it that a 3000 hour sling wing military pilot can go pick up his airplane multi rating civilian and get hired on flying a jet with minimal fixed wing time?