I’ve just joined, what happens now?
Within the next few days you will receive more information via email. You will receive your login details for the members area of the website which includes club information, aircraft status, meeting notes, operations manuals, a who’s who gallery, noticeboard etc.
You will receive login information for the booking system, more on that below, and you will receive login information for Aerolog which has your flight log details and your financial account information.
We also run induction days for new members. Here you will have a chance to meet many people from the club, listen to presentations about how the club runs and important safety information. You will have a chance to ask any questions you might have.
You will also get a tour of the airfield and the club facilities. The day will end with the opportunity to get a winch launched flight with an instructor.
In the meantime, you can email or phone the office (details on the website).
How do I get answers to all my questions? Who can I speak to?
It’s expected that as a new member you will have a lot of questions, and you should feel free to ask anyone for help at any time. If you are ever in any doubt about anything, just ask someone.
While you are at the club there will be a number of instructors, the launch marshal (who may change during the day) and probably some members of the committee (who you will likely meet during your induction) as well as a friendly bunch of members in the clubhouse and out at the launch point who will be able to answer your questions. During the week the office will be staffed as well. The Member Lookup feature of the website will help you to identify instructors and committee members so that you can approach them in the clubhouse and you will meet people at the morning briefing if you are booked in for a morning session.
How do I get taught to fly a glider? How do I book a lesson?
Instruction & training is available each weekday during the summer season and all year round at weekends. There is no separate charge for instruction, you pay for the launch and for the time in the glider. This payment comes out of your club account and it is important that you maintain sufficient balance to pay for your usage.
To arrange a training session you need to find an available time slot with an instructor and a two seater glider. The booking system will help you here. Instructions on how to use the booking system will be provided to new members.
What if the weather is forecast to be bad for my lesson?
As far as adverse weather is concerned, the expectation is that the people booked in for training will attend anyway.
There are a number of aspects to learning to fly: theory briefings, practice in the simulator, and flying in an aircraft. When the weather’s nice we go flying and do the ground briefings when it’s raining. That’s the time for the theory discussions which are vital and very helpful to becoming a competent pilot. The simulator is extremely useful for learning certain procedures e.g. land-ahead cable breaks. These have a defined sequence of actions and you can do ten in less time than it takes to do one on the field, and for less money. Once drilled in the sequence, you’ll probably get it right first time in the real aircraft as you’ll know exactly what you’re supposed to be doing and the ‘picture’ will be familiar.
It’s also useful for learning how to fly on attitude and trim properly, airbrake/attitude coordination, approaches and landings, reacting to ballooned landings, low level cable breaks, high cable breaks, circuits…
So irrespective of the weather, the answer is to show up for the training slot and learn to fly!
Do I just turn up, have my lesson and go home again?
No. You need to attend for the entire session as while you are not flying there are lots of other activities to participate in and learn about airfield operations.
For morning sessions you need to be on site from 08:45 until approximately 13:00, and for afternoon sessions from 12:30 during GMT and 13:30 BST until approximately 18:00.
Who are the instructors?
The instructors’ names are listed on the booking form and you can find out what they look like from the Member Lookup section on the members website. When you arrive at the club ahead of your lesson just ask someone in the clubhouse and they will point you in the right direction.
How long before I’m allowed to fly solo?
It depends. There is a robust syllabus of skills which need to be learned and you won’t be able to fly solo until you have consistently proven you are able. Most people should be able to achieve this level of skill in one season. The most important factor is how frequently you fly; if you only come once a month you’ll spend half of each lesson getting back to where you left off.
How much money will I spend on each lesson?
It depends. At the time of writing (and so based on 2024 costs), winch launches cost £12.15 each launch plus you are billed for the aircraft in 5 minute increments on flying time. Flying time varies enormously depending on the conditions. When you are practising flying circuits, flight times of 10 minutes are typical. A 10 minute circuit in a two seater glider would cost a total of around £20.15. During a normal half-day session you might do 4 circuits, so a total of approx. £81.
If you remain airborne for an hour, using only one launch, the cost would reduce to just over £60.
A full list of flying fees for 2024 can be found here: https://www.camgliding.uk/2024-prices/
When can I fly?
While learning (pre-solo) you need a two seater glider and an instructor to be available – during the summer months this is 7 days a week, during the winter months this is likely to be weekends only. There are also the Tuesday evening flying sessions during the summer which are more ad-hoc and you can simply turn up. There is also a session on Thursday evenings organised by the University gliding club, CUGC; you can also fly then by arrangement with CUGC.
There are also ad-hoc sessions in the winter months, usually on a Friday.
What kit will I need?
- Sunglasses, not polarised (this can make it difficult to see other aircraft and the instruments)
- Hat. Most people use a bucket type hat to provide protection to the back of neck as well as the face. The glider canopy offers little protection against UV light. Peaked caps will get in your way when looking up.
- Shoes which can keep the wet out, but not too heavy. The airfield can get wet, and flying in wet socks can get cold and uncomfortable. You don’t really want heavy boots either as these will make it difficult to feel the controls. You might prefer to change your shoes once at the launch point.
- A small bag to take out to the launch point. You can leave the bag on the launch point bus while you are busy with other things. You might like to take:
- Snacks
- Water Bottle and/or coffee/tea thermos
- Sun cream. The wind will stop you from realising you’re getting burnt
- Log book
- An extra (waterproof) layer
- Plenty of water. Don’t get dehydrated while you’re out on the field. The airfield is exposed and the sun and wind will quickly dehydrate you. It’s a long walk back to the clubhouse for a drink.
- Layered clothing is ideal. The airfield is windy and exposed, and the weather changes frequently. You might like to consider lined trousers for the winter to keep you warm in the glider. And pack one more layer than you think you need and put it in your bag. In the summer it can get very hot in the glider.
What are the expectations of new members?
The majority of people you see helping you to fly are volunteers giving their time freely. This includes instructors, winch drivers, launch marshals, track maintenance, mechanical engineers.. the list goes on.
You will be expected to help out with general flying activities during the entire session when you have a lesson booked. In the morning the equipment needs to be prepared and taken out to the launch point for the day (the bus, the gliders, the radios, parachutes etc) and it needs to be packed away again at the end of the day. Everyone is expected to pitch in during their time on the airfield.
There are many other jobs which need to be done but which require training to execute safely. You will be expected to learn these new skills in time so that you can be part of the rota which allows us to fly 7 days a week in the summer and at weekends in the winter. It takes many people to safely launch a glider and we are only able to function successfully as a club if everyone takes a turn. It’s not too onerous though, and it’s usually fun. You will learn more about these responsibilities as you progress through your gliding career.
What can I be reading to get me started?
You will be introduced to all the reference material you need as you learn. You do not need to have read these before you start learning, but if you are especially eager here are some links to get you started:
Do I need personal insurance?
As a member of the club, flying club-owned gliders, all of your liabilities should be covered by the club’s insurance. If in the future you buy your own glider then you would also need your own insurance.
Consider whether you need life insurance and whether it covers flying. Many standard policies exclude aviation activities by default.
What facilities are there in the club house?
- Free tea & coffee
- Snacks for sale (crisps, chocolate, ice-cream, soft drinks)
- Toilets
- Bar
- Overnight accommodation
You can find a full list of club facilities here.
