Gliders
A "GliderAccording to the official ICAO definition, the term "heavier-than-air aircraft" refers to an aircraft that is supported in flight "by the dynamic reaction of the air against its solid lifting surfaces" and thus Not dependent on a motor is.
When flying without a motor, you climb with appropriate updrafts and glide with little loss of altitude due to the design of the aircraft. In Germany, these aircraft are allowed to fly a maximum of 850kg weigh.
A special feature of gliders compared to motorised aircraft is the take-off. This can take place in different ways.
- In the Aerotow the glider is towed into the air by a motorised tow plane. The gliders are connected to each other by a tow rope
- At the Winch launch there is a stationary winch that pulls the glider into the air using a steel or plastic cable
Especially with gliders, there is also the special feature of the Touring Motor Glider (TMG) Aeroplanes. These aircraft - also known as touring motor gliders - are equipped with one or more engines, but behave like a glider when the engine is switched off. For this reason, they are included in the category of gliding licences - with the exception of suitably equipped microlight aircraft. In contrast to classic gliders, these TMGs can perform a self-launch with the help of their engine.
The SPL is the licence required to fly such gliders. Since the standardisation of national regulations as part of the EASA regulations, there is now only the SPL glider licence. Until 2019/2020, the gliding licence was regulated via the "Part-FCL". There was both the SPL and the LAPL (S) licence. The latter is an EASA but not ICAO-compliant licence with some restrictions compared to the SPL. In the meantime, however, the rules for gliding licences have been transferred to a separate legal framework, the "Part-SFCL". It now stipulates that only the SPL licence is available. However, the validity of LAPL (S) licences already issued remains unchanged. These licences will then be gradually transferred to the SPL when new licences are issued.
The SPL (in Austria also often called GPL - Glider Pilot Licence-, responsible for issuing and testing is the Austro ControlIn Switzerland, this corresponds to the "glider pilot's licence". Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA)) is ICAO-compliant and therefore valid worldwide in the ICAO area.
Requirements
The minimum age for starting the training programme is 14 years and for the actual acquisition of the licence 16 years. In contrast to LAPL, PPL, CPL, MPL and ATPL, no proof of language skills is required during training (see also our article "Steps to a licence").
Training programme
The training consists of theory and practice and must be carried out at an appropriately authorised flying school. In contrast to the LAPL, PPL, CPL, MPL and ATPL, no proof of language skills is required during training (as long as you only want to fly in uncontrolled airspaces G and E), as this is integrated into the theoretical training and examination in a simplified manner.
Only if you want to operate in controlled airspaces B, C and D do you have to complete a corresponding aeronautical radio certificate as part of your training.
Theory
The theoretical training includes 100 hours and can take a variety of forms, such as online courses, classroom training and exercises. The flight schools have freedom in terms of didactics. However, there are clear guidelines as to what content must be taught. The following topics are trained for the SPL theory:
- Air Law and ATC Procedures
- Human Performance
- Meteorology
- Communications
- Principles of Flight - Sailplane
- Operational Procedures - Sailplane
- Flight Performance and Planning - Sailplane
- Aircraft Genera Knowledge, Airframe and Systems and Emergency Equipment - Sailplane
- Navigation - Sailplane
The theoretical training is completed with an examination.
Practice
The Practical training must consist of at least 15 flying hours exist, of which
- 10 hours of flying lessons with an instructor
- 2 hours solo flight under supervision
- 45 launches or take-offs and landings
- 7 hours of flight instruction on gliders (without TMGs), if rights for gliders without TMG should be aimed for,
- including at least three hours of flight instruction with an instructor, and
- either a solo cross-country flight of at least 50 km,
- or a cross-country flight with a flight instructor of at least 100 km, which can also be completed in a TMG
- six hours of flight instruction on TMG, if also rights for TMG are aimed at
- including at least four hours of flight instruction with an instructor, and
- a solo cross-country flight of at least 150 km in a TMG, during which a complete landing must be made at another aerodrome.
The training is concluded with an examination flight in which the various procedures practised during the training are tested.
Extension to motorised touring gliders (TMG)
If you have an SPL for gliders and subsequently want to extend your SPL rights to motorised gliders (TMGs), you do not need any additional theory, but you must additional practical training which specifically addresses the special features of TMGs.
The following requirements apply to this practical training:
- You must complete 6 flying hours on a TMG,
- Of which 4 hours together with a flight instructor and 1 hour solo cross-country flight of at least 150km with landing at another aerodrome
This additional training must be successfully completed with a further customised test flight, during which the examiner will test theoretical knowledge as well as practical knowledge.
Recognition of experience
If you already have another relevant licence, e.g. in this case a PPL (A) for aircraft, the theoretical training is generally credited to the SPL training, so that no further training is required.
The following applies to practical training: If you have a licence in a other category (i.e. for motorised aircraft, helicopters, balloons, airships), the following applies:
- 10% of the hours flown in the other category as PIC, up to a maximum of 7 hours, are credited towards SPL training
- This does not apply to the balloon category
- The crediting may not relate to solo and cross-country flights and the reduction in the number of necessary take-offs and landings may not exceed 10
If you have an LAPL (S) licence, this is also recognised for SPL training.
Rights as a pilot
With an SPL licence you can be active as PIC on gliders. The licence only entitles you to take off in the type of take-off you have been trained for. Each desired start type must therefore be trained separately. This can be done through a separate training course.
Alternatively, additional training can be completed following the issue of an SPL, which must include the following:
- For winch or motorised towing at least 10 launches flight instruction with a flight instructor and five solo launches under supervision,
- for aerotowing or self-launching at least five launches with a flight instructor and five solo launches under supervision. In the case of self-launches, flight instruction can be carried out with an instructor on a TMG,
- for the rubber rope launch at least three launches flight instruction with a flight instructor or alone under supervision and
- for other launching methods (launching) training as specified by the competent authority
Completion of this additional training must be entered in the pilot's logbook and signed by the ATO or DTO training supervisor.
After completing training, the pilot must have at least Complete 10 flight hours as PIC alone (or 30 take-offs) in order to be able to carry passengers.
With an SPL, not only private flights but also commercial flights may be carried out with a glider. The following requirements apply:
- The pilot must be at least 18 years old, have completed 75 flying hours as PIC or 200 take-offs in a glider or TMG after the licence has been issued
- The qualification for commercial use of an SPL must be certified by a separate test flight
Commercial flights, as well as any flights with passengers on board, may only be operated if the pilot has performed at least 3 take-offs and landings in an aircraft of the same type in the last 90 days. For the carriage of passengers at night on a TMG, at least one of these take-offs or landings must have been carried out at night.
From the age of 70, commercial flights on aeroplanes are no longer permitted.
Extension and expansions
For the renewal of gliding licences (without TMG), the following recurring, permanent requirements apply:
- In the last 2 years, 5 flying hours must have been completed, as well as 15 take-offs and landings
- 2 training flights with flight instructors must have been completed in the same period
Alternatively, an examination flight can be carried out to extend the rights of the licence.
For SPL holders with TMG rights applies:
- In the last 2 years, at least 12 flight hours as PIC or with a flight instructor or alone under the supervision of a flight instructor must have been completed and (on TMGs) at least
- 6 hours flight time
- 12 Take-offs and landings
- A one-hour training flight with a flight instructor
Alternatively, a new test flight can also be completed to extend the licence.
There are also special requirements for gliders in order to Rights for the respective start method to be maintained. The following applies:
- At least 5 of the take-offs and landings must be for each type of take-off entered (e.g. self-launch or winch launch)
- only two launches must have been completed for rubber rope launches
- For self-launches, the launches can be carried out as self-launches or with the help of take-offs on TMG or in a combination of both.
An SPL can be extended by numerous authorisations extended become:
- Aerobatic rights
- Authorisation to tow gliders and banners
- TMG night flight authorisation
- Rights for cloud flying with gliders
SPL licence holders can also train to become a flight instructor.
Summary
The gliding licence SPL is an ICAO-compliant licence and entitles the holder to fly gliders. A take-off in a glider always takes place in a certain type of take-off, which must be trained and for which you are only authorised.
A special topic is TMGs, which are conceptually aeroplanes with an engine, but which behave like a glider when the engine is switched off. TMGs require separate practical training.
With an SPL you can also carry out commercial flights - after passing the appropriate test.
Source references:
LuftPersV/