Commercial Glider

[Rally]

Tell me if I'm missing something. I am a ATP (ME) Single Engine privlidges. CFI airplane single and multiengine land and instrument. To get my glider cert. I need say for example 3.5 hours of dual in a glider and say 5 flights or 10 flights and 2.5 hours. THEN 20 solo flights? Seems to worded strangely.

Thanks

(2) 200 hours of flight time as a pilot in heavier-than-air aircraft and at least 20 flights in a glider as pilot in command, including at least—
(i) 3 hours of flight training in a glider or 10 training flights in a glider with an authorized instructor on the areas of operation listed in §61.127(b)(6) of this part including at least 3 training flights in a glider with an authorized instructor in preparation for the practical test within the 60-day period preceding the date of the test; and
(ii) 5 solo flights in a glider on the areas of operation listed in §61.127(b)(6) of this part.

 

[av8rbama]

Worded strangely, yes. Difficult to accomplish, definitely not.

Here's how it went for me. Soloed after 10 dual flights. Got 20 solos, then 3 test prep dual and an endorsement for the checkride. Bam, commercial glider pilot.

10 flights dual will probably be quicker than the 3 hours, a rope break at 200' agl counts as a flight and you'll do a few of these pre-solo. most flights pre-solo unless you're really working on thermaling technique are .1~.5 .

I was told "sole manipulator" doesn't entitle to log PIC on a new category.

A rope break at 200' agl is considered a flight. I think i had 12 of those solo.

 

[MDAutry]

I wanted to learn to fly gliders and I was hoping to work as a tow pilot in return for discounted or free flight time. Anyone know how hard it is to switch from a 50x100 banner to a glider?

 

[jeroom]

I never towed a banner but I did gliders. I would say, it depends on what airplane you will fly and what gliders you will tow...
Towing gliders is not difficult, you just have to watch very carefully around you and the glider, especially on weekend when non aviation people are wondering around airplanes, watch for those... also very important, know who's flying the glider: a CFI, a pilot, a student... be ready to release on TKOF before the glider gets too high behind you. That's the first killer of tow pilot. Check your rope often, stay always alert, stupid things happen really fast when towing.

It's a fun thing to do, I enjoyed it for a year, then....
I did my commercial glider for free almost because of that job and was still getting paid.

 

[av8rbama]

The glider rating is fairly inexpensive anyway. At the Soaring Society where I fly, tows to 2500 AGL are ~$20, cheaper for lower, no charge for the glider and the CFIG usually charges something nominal like $5 for the whole day. A student membership (for college/high school kids) was $25/mo but I didn't join until I was ready to fly their 1-26 & 1-36. I did mine through the CAP who flies at the same field for about the same price, just the CAP can't charge for the CFIG, plus their Blanik was a lot nicer than the Schweizer 2-33 the Soaring Society operates. My checkride was $150 or so.

Where I live/fly in the Southeast, the 2 closest glider clubs do not hire tow pilots, they have members that share tow duties. They also only fly on weekends, so it took about a year for me to get my rating. I just got checked out in our Pawnee, that's the most fun powered a/c and the easiest taildragger I've ever flown. Awesome visibility and great fun with the windows off. I'm sure tow pilots are paid positions in a soaring mecca, which the Southeast definitely isn't.

 

[NuGuy]

Where I live/fly in the Southeast, the 2 closest glider clubs do not hire tow pilots, they have members that share tow duties. They also only fly on weekends, so it took about a year for me to get my rating. I just got checked out in our Pawnee, that's the most fun powered a/c and the easiest taildragger I've ever flown. Awesome visibility and great fun with the windows off. I'm sure tow pilots are paid positions in a soaring mecca, which the Southeast definitely isn't.

Heyas,

Yup the Pawnee is a great plane, even in the blistering hot weather. It has this pseudo-ram air system that pumps ALOT of air into the cockpit, so even on hot days there is plenty of ventilation.

You might find a commerical glider outfit that hires towpilots. Most non-club operations outside the west are fairly small, and tow pilots have their CFI-G also.

Club operations usually check tow-pilots out according to whatever club hierarchy that is present...meaning you have to move up through whatever club social structure there might be before you get your chance, and even then you are expected to have 25 tailwheel (if thats what they're using) and your TW sign-off already. Club towpilots are almost always unpaid.

Glider operations out west are bigger, so you might find some love out there. But soaring is a pretty tight group, so someone comming in with just a Comm-Glider/ASE might not get very far. If you want to tow, your best bet is your CFI-G or belong to a club for a while.

Nu

 

[tuna pimp]

A rope break at 200' agl is considered a flight. I think i had 12 of those solo.

You did 12 rope breaks?? Yikes.

 

[pilotguy143]

Ditto to what was said above.... It really isn't that hard. Plus, who could turn down spending a day of instructing in a thermal with hawks?

 

[Lead Sled]

I never towed a banner but I did gliders. I would say, it depends on what airplane you will fly and what gliders you will tow...
Towing gliders is not difficult, you just have to watch very carefully around you and the glider, especially on weekend when non aviation people are wondering around airplanes, watch for those... also very important, know who's flying the glider: a CFI, a pilot, a student... be ready to release on TKOF before the glider gets too high behind you. That's the first killer of tow pilot. Check your rope often, stay always alert, stupid things happen really fast when towing.

It's a fun thing to do, I enjoyed it for a year, then....
I did my commercial glider for free almost because of that job and was still getting paid.

I've known guys to get their PVT add-on in 1 solid day of training. I've seen guys get their COMM add-on in two or three days. It's not tough and it sure is a lot of fun.

As far as towing goes... What jerron said. I always had a little heart to heart with the guys in the gliders when I was instructing gliders/towing. Believe me, they knew that if they ever got too high on me they'd be cut loose in a heartbeat. I had an acquaintance of mine killed in a towplane accident - he hesitated a bit too long to cut them loose.

'Sled

 

[flyalot]

Where are you looking for work at?
West coast has several places that will take you on. You will need tailwheel time for sure. Min. Tailwheel time will be 25 hours. It is as dangerous as you want to make it. Just like the rest of flying. Makes you a good stick and you will get a glider liscense out of it. PM if you have any other guestions.