GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT

OFFICE OF THE

DIRECTOR GENERAL OF CIVIL AVIATION

OPP. SAFDARJUNG AIRPORT,
NEW DELHI – 110 003
TELEPHONE: 091-011-24657277
E mail : dft.dgca@nic.in
AV.22011/01/2016-FG
14.06.2016

GLIDING CIRCULAR 1 of 2016

Subject:- Requirements for Glider Operations and procedure for approval of Flight
Instructors for imparting instructional Flying on Glider/Motor Glider and
Examiner for conduct of skill tests for issue/renewal/extension of aircraft rating
i.r.o. Glider/Motor Glider.

1. INTRODUCTION

Consequent upon the omission of Section–S from Schedule-II of The Aircraft Rules,
1937 vide GSR No. 870(E) dated 28.12.2008 there are no regulations for issue of Flight
Instructor’s Rating(Gliders) due to which there is no clarity that who will impart
Instructions to trainee Glider/ Motor glider pilots. Similar, is the scenario for Glider
Examiners. In order to address these constraints related to glider instructor/ glider
examiner/ glider operations this document is prepared for compliance by all concerned.

2. APPLICABLITY

These guidelines are applicable to all Glider Training establishments.

3. OBJECTIVE: to lay down:-

3.1 Requirements for approval of Glider Instructors.
3.2 Privileges of Glider Instructor.
3.3 Requirements for approval of Glider Examiners.
3.4 Privileges of Glider Examiner.
3.5 Operations of glider

4. Approval of Glider Instructor and privileges thereof

4.1 An applicant for approval of Glider Instructor shall satisfy the following requirements:-

a) Holder of valid Glider pilot's License

b) Flying Experience- having satisfactorily completed as a pilot of a glider.

 i) not less than thirty hours of flight time as Pilot-in-Command including not less
than seventy five takeoffs and landing
or
a person who has satisfactorily completed not less than hundred hours of flight
time as pilot-in-Command on an aeroplane shall be required to complete on a
glider not less than fifteen hours of flight time as Pilot-in-Command including
not less than fifty take-offs and landings
or
in case of a person who has satisfactory completed not less than fifty hours of
Instructional Flying on Aeroplane shall be required to complete on a glider not
less than ten hours of flight time as Pilot-in-Command including not less than
fifty take-offs and landings.
or
in case of a person who has valid Pilot ‘s License (Microlight) shall be required
to complete on a glider not less than twenty hours of flight time as Pilot-in-
Command including not less than fifty take-offs and landings.

ii) atleast two solo flights of not less than one hours duration each. (note: it can
be out of i) above).
iii) one solo cross-country flight of not less than thirty nautical miles distance.
(note: it can be out of i) above)

c) Atleast four hours of patter flying with atleast twenty launches as per prescribed
syllabus (refer Appendix-I) with DGCA approved glider examiner. Followed by
skill test for assessing Instructor competency on gliders.

d) Skill- Candidate shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of Glider Examiner his

competency as Glider Pilot Instructor to perform the procedures and maneuvers
prescribed in the syllabus within a period of six months immediately preceding the
date of application for approval as Glider Instructor.

e) Knowledge- He shall pass an oral examination in “Regulations, Navigation,

Meteorology, Aircraft and Instruments, Mechanics of Flight and Methods and
Techniques of Flying Instructions” related to Glider Operations.

Provided further Holder of MPL/CPL/ATPL are required to pass oral examination

only in “Aircraft and Instruments, Mechanics of Flight and Methods and
Techniques of Flying Instructions” related to glider operations.
This examination may be conducted by Glider Examiner or Examiner approved by
DGCA. This examination shall be conducted before skill test. Validity of this
knowledge examination is six months and shall be valid on date of application.

4.2 On satisfactory receipt of application in accordance, with the requirements as laid down
in para 4.1 above, DGCA may approve the candidate as Glider Pilot Instructor.

4.3 Validity of Glider Pilot Instructor approval: 10 years from the date of issue.
4.4 Privileges of the Glider Pilot Instructor approval:-Subject to the validity of
endorsements and ratings in the Pilot's License (Gliders) the privileges of the holder of
an approved Glider Pilot Instructor shall be :-
i) to impart flying instructions on all gliders entered in the aircraft rating of the
Pilot's License (Gliders)
ii) to supervise and authorize solo flights by Student Glider Pilots.
iii) impart instructions for extension of aircraft rating.
iv) impart patter flying provided has atleast 40 hrs of instructional experience.

Provision for currency: In case an instructor has not imparted atleast five hours of glider
instructions for a period exceeding one years then before imparting the instructions he
himself shall undergo three take off and landings with other instructor/examiner. In case
he has undergone satisfactory skill test in preceding six then this requirement is not
applicable for him.

4.5 Renewal of Glider Pilot Instructor approval- The Glider Pilot Instructor approval may
be renewed on receipt of following:-

i) Valid Glider Pilot License

ii) evidence of the applicant having satisfactorily completed on a glider not less than
5 hours of flight time as an Instructor within a period of twelve months
immediately preceding the date of application for renewal of approval,
or
in lieu there of having satisfactorily completed the flying tests as laid down in
para 4.1

5. Approval of Glider Examiner and privileges thereof

5.1 An applicant for approval as Glider Examiner shall satisfy the following requirements:-

a) Holds valid Glider pilot's License

b) Holds valid approval of Glider Pilot Instructor

c) Flying Experience- He shall produce evidence of having satisfactorily completed

not less than 40 Hrs of Instructional flying on gliders
or
not less than 10Hrs of Instructional Flying on Glider in case of FIR(A)
or
not less than 10Hrs of Instructional Flying on Glider in case of holder of valid
approval from DGCA as Microlight instructor/examiner.

d) Accident free record in last five years and incident free record in last three years.

5.2 On satisfactory receipt of application in accordance, with the requirements as laid down
in para 5.1 above, DGCA may approve the candidate as Glider Pilot Examiner.

5.3 Validity of Glider Pilot Examiner: 10 years from the date of issue.
5.4 Privileges of the Glider Pilot Examiner:-Subject to the validity of endorsements and
ratings in the Pilot's License (Gliders) the privileges of the holder of an approved Glider
Pilot Examiner shall be :-
i) All privileges of Glider pilot instructor.
ii) Skill test for Issue/Renewal of Glider Pilot License.
iii) Skill test for extension of aircraft rating on Glider Pilot License.
iv) To conduct oral/written exam for issue of GPL under his Chairmanship with
Base Maintenance Engineer and Glider Instructor as Members

Provision for currency: Before exercising the privileges as examiner, holder of this
approval shall ensure atleast two hours of examiner experience or five hours of
instructional experience in preceding one year.
or
one familiarization flight of atleast 45min with other instructor/examiner.

5.5 Renewal of Glider Pilot Examiner approval- The Glider Pilot Examiner approval may
be renewed on receipt of following:-

i) Valid Glider Pilot License

ii) Evidence of the applicant having satisfactorily completed on a glider not less than
2 hours of flight time as an Examiner or 5 hours as Instructor within a period of
twelve months immediately preceding the date of application for renewal of
examiner’s approval,
or
in lieu there of having satisfactorily completed the flying tests as laid down in
para 4.1

6. There are no special requirements for operations of Glider Training establishments.

Any establishment having sufficient infrastructure to maintain gliders as per airworthiness
requirement and has sufficient number of Glider Pilot Instructor and Examiner can carry out
glider training activity provided they have valid clearances from airport authority from airspace
point of view and security clearances for concerned agencies.( MHA clearance in respect of
organization’s Directors/ Owners and Police verification of all other post holders.)

This issues with the approval of Director General.

V. P. Singh
Director Operations (Flying Training)
For Director General of Civil Aviation

To,

All Gliding establishments / Flying Training Organizations (FTOs)

 Appendix-I

Syllabus for Patter Flying

A Glider Pilot shall receive flying training instructions (patter) in at least following applicable
areas to achieve level of performance required for Glider Pilot Instructor approval.

Sl.No. Name of Air Exercise

1. Familiarization with aircraft and cockpit
2. Preparation for and action after flight
3. Taxiing
4. Air experience
5. Effects of controls
6. Straight and level flight
7. Climbing and descending
8. Turns
9. Slow flight and stalling
10. Steep turn
11. Take off and climb
12. Approach and landing
13. Low flying
14. Side slip
15. Pilot navigation
16. Emergencies
17. Circuit procedure and airmanship
18. Cross wind take off and landing
19. First Solo
20. Spin recovery at the incipient stage