Training Syllabus
Syllabus Usage (General)
Transition Pilots
Pilots already possessing an FAA Rating, but for a different category, (such as Airplane, Single Engine Land, Rotorcraft, Lighter-Than-Air, etc.), are NOT considered by the FAA as a "student pilot." This pilot is a rated pilot seeking to add a new category rating. However, as far as this club's program is concerned, the flight instructors will regard this candidate identically to an unrated student pilot. The transition pilot will be put through the same program that an ab-initio pilot would receive. The transition pilot will probably go through the training program much more quickly, but the club instructors must verify that the candidate meets or exceeds all of the requirements that a first-solo § 61.87 student would before his first solo (including the pre-solo written test). Upon completion of the training program, the transition pilot will receive a § 61.31(d)(2) endorsement (see also AC 61-65J ¶ A.72), and not a § 61.87 endorsement, like a student pilot would.
New Pilots (Starting from Scratch)
The Training Syllabus covers all of the required areas that are specified in 14 CFR § 61.87. Each lesson plan is a sample of what is to come. In each lesson plan is a section of required reading. It is understood that the student will have read each of the items in the required reading section before coming to fly with the instructor. Failure to do reading assignments ahead of time is a consistent and reliable indicator of delayed progress. Delayed progress adds unnecessary personal expense to complete the training program.
Syllabus Usage (Club Instructors)
Using the On-line Student Progress Report
Using the software on this website, the club stores all of the records about a student's flight training record electronically. After the flight instruction session, the instructor will automatically be notified by e-mail of any recent flights with his students. The instructor will score the flights as appropriate, scoring each section with a score 1 through 3. A score of "1" indicates that the content was introduced. A score of "2" indicates that the student performed the maneuver or procedure. A score of "3" indicates that the candidate has performed the maneuver or procedure to the solo standards stated in the appropriate lesson plan. Scores of "4" are reserved for post-solo students directly training for their Private Pilot Practical Test.
Flights where there is significant need to address problem areas on the next flight are marked with a red exclamation point. This is not meant as a failure, but rather as an urgent indicator to the next instructor that this is an area that needs focus and attention. Once the instructor completes his report, he will be given an opportunity to write an optional essay describing details of the lesson session.
The completed lesson report is mailed to this club's instructors, as well as the student for future review and planning. The student may view his progress page at any time, and get a clear indication of what lesson segments are still required before solo flight is considered.
This club uses the Russell Holtz Flight Training Manual for Gliders.
All of the lesson plans are based on pages in this book.
https://www.gliderbooks.com/#!/Flight-Training-Manual-for-Gliders/p/129741364
| Code | Title | Required for Solo | Required for Private | Instructor Sign-off and Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - Orientation, Pre-Flight, Post-Flight | ||||
| 1.1 | Primary Flight Controls | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(1) | ||
| 1.2 | Secondary Flight Controls | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(1) | ||
| 1.3 | Using the Flight Instruments | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(1) | ||
| 1.4 | Ground Handling | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(2) | ||
| 1.5 | Preflight Inspection | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(1) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(ii) | |
| 1.6 | Positive Control Check | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(1) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(ii) | |
| 1.7 | Tow Rope Inspection | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(11) | ||
| 1.8 | Securing the Glider | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(xi) | ||
| 1.9 | Area Familiarization | |||
| 2 - Takeoffs | ||||
| 2.1 | Takeoff Checklist | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(1) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(ii) | |
| 2.2 | Takeoff Procedures and Signals | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(11) | ||
| 2.3 | Takeoff | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(3) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(iv) | |
| 2.4 | Crosswind Takeoff | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(3) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(iv) | |
| 2.5 | Takeoff Without a Wing Runner | |||
| 2.6 | Downwind Takeoff | |||
| 2.7 | High Density Altitude Takeoff | |||
| 3 - Aerotow | ||||
| 3.1 | Introduction to Flying the Aerotow | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(12) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(iv) | |
| 3.2 | Flying Aerotow with Stick and Rudder | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(12) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(iv) | |
| 3.3 | Release from Tow | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(12) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(iv) | |
| 3.4 | Soft Release | |||
| 3.5 | Shifting Through the Wake | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(12) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(iv) | |
| 3.6 | Steering Turns | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(11) | ||
| 3.7 | Aerotow Signals | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(11) | ||
| 3.8 | Boxing the Wake | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(iv) | ||
| 3.9 | Slack Rope on Tow | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(19) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(x) | |
| 3.10 | Slack Rope in a Turn | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(19) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(x) | |
| 4 - In-Flight Maneuvers | ||||
| 4.1 | Transferring Control of the Glider | 14 CFR 61.105(b)(7) | ||
| 4.2 | Scanning for Traffic | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(6) | 14 CFR 61.105(b)(7) | |
| 4.3 | Pitch / Speed Control | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(8) | ||
| 4.4 | Using the Trim Control | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(8) | ||
| 4.5 | Shallow / Medium Bank Turns | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(4) | ||
| 4.6 | Precision Turns | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(4) | ||
| 4.7 | Airbrakes in Flight | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(7) | ||
| 4.8 | Steep Turns | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(4) | ||
| 4.9 | Circling Flight | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(4) | ||
| 4.10 | Crabbing During Cruising Flight | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(15) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(viii) | |
| 4.11 | Stall Recognition and Recovery (Level) | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(14) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(ix) | |
| 4.12 | Stall Recognition and Recovery (Turn) | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(14) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(ix) | |
| 4.13 | Slow Flight | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(8) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(ix) | |
| 4.14 | Stall Recognition and Recovery (Brakes) | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(14) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(ix) | |
| 4.15 | Side Slip - Correcting for Alignment Errors | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(17) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(iv) | |
| 4.16 | Side Slip - Compensating for a Crosswind | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(17) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(iv) | |
| 4.17 | Forward Slip | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(17) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(iv) | |
| 4.18 | Low-G Maneuvers | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(vii) | ||
| 4.19 | Selecting a Cruise Speed | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(8) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(v) | |
| 4.20 | Deep Stall Recognition and Recovery | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(14) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(ix) | |
| 4.21 | Chandelle | |||
| 4.22 | Incipient Spin Recognition and Recovery | 14 CFR 61.105(b)(11) | ||
| 4.23 | Spin Recognition and Recovery | 14 CFR 61.105(b)(11) | ||
| 4.24 | Rapid Speed Changes | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(8) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(v) | |
| 4.25 | High-Speed Flight | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(8) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(v) | |
| 5 - Landing Patterns | ||||
| 5.1 | Landing Checklist | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(1) | 14 CFR 61.105(b)(7) | |
| 5.2 | Introduction to the Landing Pattern | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(13) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(iv) | |
| 5.3 | Glide Slope Control Using Airbrakes | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(16) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(iv) | |
| 5.4 | Radio Use | 14 CFR 61.105(b)(5) | ||
| 5.5 | Crosswind Patterns | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(16) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(iv) | |
| 5.6 | Unusual Patterns | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(19) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(x) | |
| 5.7 | Forward Slip with Airbrakes | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(17) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(iv) | |
| 5.8 | Turning Slips | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(17) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(iv) | |
| 5.9 | Side Slip in the Pattern | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(17) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(iv) | |
| 5.10 | No Altimeter Pattern | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(9) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(x) | |
| 5.11 | No Altimeter / Airspeed Pattern | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(9) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(x) | |
| 5.12 | No Airbrake Pattern | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(9) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(x) | |
| 5.13 | Full Airbrake Pattern | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(9) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(x) | |
| 6 - Landings | ||||
| 6.1 | Introduction to the Landing | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(16) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(iv) | |
| 6.2 | Precision Landings | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(16) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(iv) | |
| 6.3 | Crosswind Landings | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(16) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(iv) | |
| 6.4 | Landing Over an Obstacle | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(16) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(iv) | |
| 6.5 | Simulated Off-Field Landing | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(9) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(x) | |
| 6.6 | Downwind Landing | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(9) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(x) | |
| 6.7 | High Wind Landings | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(16) | 14 CFR 61.105(b)(6) | |
| 6.8 | High Density Altitude Landings | |||
| 7 - Flying in Lift | ||||
| 7.1 | Thermaling | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(18) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(vi) | |
| 7.2 | Mountain Wave | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(vi) | ||
| 7.3 | Ridge | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(vi) | ||
| 7.4 | Convergence / Shear | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(vi) | ||
| 8 - Emergency Procedures | ||||
| 8.1 | Introduction to Premature Aerotow Release | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(19) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(x) | |
| 8.2 | Simulated Rope Breaks | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(19) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(x) | |
| 8.3 | Rock Off | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(9) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(x) | |
| 8.4 | Tow Plane Power Loss During Takeoff | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(9) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(x) | |
| 8.5 | Tow Plane Power Loss at Altitude | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(9) | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(x) | |
| 8.6 | Simultaneous Release Failure | 14 CFR 61.107(b)(6)(x) | ||
| 8.7 | Spiral Dive Recovery | 14 CFR 61.87(i)(15) | ||
| 8.8 | Unusual Attitude Recovery | |||
| 8.9 | Intercept Procedures | |||
| 9 - Aeronautical Decision Making | ||||
| 9.1 | Situational Awareness | |||
| 9.2 | Judgment | |||
| 9.3 | Self-Discipline | |||