Gliding

Includes

Sailplaning

Description

The piloting of lightweight unpowered aircraft called gliders or sailplanes which are launched by being towed into the air by a powered aircraft or a winch.

Forms

An Information and Consent for Event/Activity form is required to participate in this activity.

Who can participate?

Open to those aged ten and above.

Some commercial providers have their own age or size restrictions.

Ratio of adults to girls

Normal ratios for activities away from the meeting place are required. Guiding Manual ratios

Regulations

The Leader must ensure that all participants under 18 have written permission to take part from an adult with parental responsibility.
The local Commissioner must be informed that the activity is taking place.
Carry out a risk assessment for the activity.
Gliding must be undertaken using the standards and controls laid down by the British Gliding Association (BGA) and must take place at a BGA-approved site.

Insurance

Girlguiding UK insurance does not cover members to undertake aviation activities.

Leaders must check that the activity provider has adequate insurance cover. Please contact Girlguiding UK insurers AON for more details.

Instructor qualifications

Few UK glider pilots are qualified to fly passengers for hire and reward, but they can be permitted to fly fee-paying temporary members of clubs on trial lessons. The British Gliding Association (BGA) specifies the qualifications of pilots allowed to instruct on trial lessons and the insurance that must apply.

A gliding instructor must have completed a Criminal Record Disclosure and be able to provide the certificate number and date of issue.

BGA – http://www.gliding.co.uk/