Membership

Whether you are an experienced pilot or have yet to experience the thrill of your first glider flight the Scottish Gliding Centre looks forward to welcoming you as a member.

I want to join

If you have already decided that you want to join our club then all you need to do is to fill in a membership form and pay your annual fees before going onto the airfield to start flying.

I've never flown before

If you have not flown in a glider before you are still of course very welcome to join but you may want to consider taking a trial flight or a Mini Course first in order to see what it's like. If you enjoy your first experience and join the club on the same day, your trial flight fee will be credited to your account and the flight invoiced at members' rates.

How do I learn?

To help people to make rapid progress, the club runs several structured forms of training. During the summer months we run both week long holiday courses and one evening per week courses. We also have a premium booked flying service where you will share your glider and instructor with one other student in order to maximise the flying that you get from your time on the airfield. If you don't want to commit to any of these services, you can always turn up on spec and add your name to the flying list in which case you will be flown when your name reaches the top of the list. This is the traditional arrangement for gliding instruction and remains popular at weekends.

Will I be able to learn?

Membership is open to almost everyone. There is no minimum age limit to take lessons. Presently by law you must be at least 14 years old to fly solo and because of this the SGC recommends that you should probably not begin learning until you are at least 13 years old. You will need your parent's permission if under 18. There is no upper age limit, subject only to a satisfactory medical condition. Have a look at the 'Who Can Glide?' page for further information. The sport is just as suitable for either sex - no particular technical ability or strength is needed to fly a glider. Medical requirements are very modest - broadly speaking, if you are fit enough to drive a car you will be allowed to fly a glider solo.

How much will it cost?

The tariff pages will explain the various categories of membership. You may qualify for a discounted membership if you are able to avoid flying at the busy times (Friday to Sunday), or if you are a youngster in full time education. For suitable candidates, the SGC runs a cadet scheme which is intended to assist enthusiastic young people to learn to fly at reduced cost.