Gliding

Glider Licence (SPL)

Gliding is the discipline that, at Belluno, has the landscape on its side. You learn as part of a group, you fly all year round, and the best part starts after the licence: it is a steady, endless gathering of experience.

The theory

Around 25 sessions making up 60 hours of lessons. They are held on weekdays, usually in the evening from 7 to 9 pm, in the classroom at the airfield — and can be followed remotely as well. The day and the time are settled each time around the commitments of the group that forms.

On average two courses a year are run: the new course starts once the previous one has passed the theory examination.

There are nine subjects. The examination is taken at an ENAC office — usually Venice, otherwise Ancona, Milan or Rome — following the calendar ENAC publishes each year. It is a multiple-choice paper and each subject must be passed with at least 75% correct answers; if not, that single subject is retaken.

The flying

Flying starts after the first four theory lessons, the ones that cover the basics of the aircraft. Instructors are available both on weekday afternoons and at the weekend: a WhatsApp group is set up in which everyone organises week by week around the weather and their own commitments.

The course consists of 45 flights, for a minimum of 15 hours of flying of which 2 solo. On a flying day you will usually make two flights of about twenty minutes each.

The flight test is taken at Belluno, with an external examiner called in once at least three students are ready. Once the theory examination is passed you have two years in which to take the practical one: the group reaches the theory together, whereas the flying side can also be an individual path — although we usually try to keep the group together.

Medical certificate

To fly gliders you need a Class 2 medical, which can be issued by many authorised medical examiners. It is required before you start flying.

After the course

To keep the licence current the minimum activity is 15 flights every two years. The Club has a fleet of two two-seat gliders and four single-seaters, of differing performance and character: the instructors remain available after the licence as well, to walk pilots gradually through each type conversion, and a group of experienced pilots takes newly qualified pilots out to widen their knowledge of the area, on flights that go steadily further from the home airfield.

Who will teach you

The gliding school is headed by Massimiliano Balbinot. The instructors are Massimiliano Balbinot and Paolo Sandri.

Who takes the gliders up

Every glider flight begins with a tow, and the tug pilots are Club members who have taken the glider towing rating. If you already fly powered aircraft and want to make yourself useful, this is the finest way to do it: you fly a great deal, you fly well, and you stand on the side of those who send everybody else into the air.

For information and enrolment, your point of contact is always the club office: write to us using the contact form.