Flight Rules

May 10, 2009

Contents

• Definitions
• General
• Scheduling and Reservations
• Pilot Qualifications
• Cross Country Flight Qualifications
• Aircraft Qualifications
• Additional Aircraft Restrictions

1. Definitions

2. General

• Members are expected to be familiar with and comply with all Federal Aviation Regulations applicable to gliders and soaring flight.
• No Association rules permit Members to operate contrary to the FARs. If an Association rule and the FARs appear to conflict, then the FARs must take precedence.
• No Association rules permit Members to operate Association aircraft contrary to that aircraft’s flight manual. If an Association rule and the flight manual appear to conflict, then the flight manual must take precedence.
• Haphazard or careless ground handling of Association equipment is prohibited.
• Aerobatics in Association aircraft may be performed only in aircraft certified and equipped for such flight and when all FARs pertaining to acrobatic flight are met. Pilots performing acrobatic maneuvers shall have a minimum of three hours dual acrobatic instruction in gliders or airplanes from a certified flight instructor qualified to instruct such maneuvers. The Association may place additional restrictions on performing aerobatics on a per aircraft basis.
• Attempting to thermal in the airport traffic pattern is prohibited.
• Members are responsible for the safe operation of Association aircraft from the moment they remove the aircraft’s tie-downs until it is properly secured once again, or they turn over responsibility to another Member.
• Members are responsible for learning and obeying local flight rules and customs pertaining to the airport from which they operate Association equipment.
• Before attempting ridge flying, Members must receive logged and signed instruction from a certified flight Instructor in the techniques, hazards and specific rules applying to flying ridges.
• Before attempting wave flying, Members must receive logged and signed instruction from a certified flight Instructor in the techniques, hazards and specific rules applying to flying wave.
• A Member must record their flight time in Association aircraft in the logbook stored in each aircraft for that purpose. Additionally, Members will log any observed equipment discrepancies that may require the attention of the Association Maintenance Officer and inform that officer by phone or email.
• In multi-place aircraft, Members aboard such aircraft will determine who is acting as pilot-in-command before the flight, and the protocol for turning over command during flight.
• The Association Board of Directors may ground aircraft or pilots, as per the Association bylaws and flight rules.
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3. Scheduling and Reservations

• On weekends, a Member may reserve an aircraft for up to 2 hours before turning it over to another waiting Member. A Member may continue to use the aircraft after the 2 hour period if there are no waiting Members. The Member may verify via radio that there are no waiting Members. If the verification cannot be made by radio, then the Member must land and verify in-person that there are no waiting Members. On weekdays, a Member may reserve an aircraft for up to 4 hours, unless other arrangements have been made.
• If a Member reserves an aircraft, then fails to take the aircraft at the reserved time, the reservation is void and another Member may take the aircraft.
• Members are issued an ID and password for the online reservation system once they are established as a member (aircraftclubs.com). Members are expected to update the online reservation system as soon as practical if they intend to cancel or change their reservation.
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4. Pilot Qualifications

• Only Members and Instructors shall operate Association aircraft as pilot-in-command.
• Only Instructors are permitted to instruct Members in Association aircraft.
• A Member may operate Association aircraft only if they are in compliance with all relevant FARs and have received required Check Outs as outlined in these flight rules.
• A Member who has not acted as pilot-in-command of a glider for 45 days or longer shall undertake a Check Out with an Instructor. This requirement does not apply to Instructors (though they must meet all FAA currency requirements in order to carry passengers and/or provide instruction).
• Members who have not acted as pilot-in-command of a glider for two years or longer or have less then 20 hours of PIC time in a glider will demonstrate to a club instructor the requirements as listed in FAR 61.105 Aeronautical knowledge and 61.107 Flight Proficiency
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5. Cross Country Flight Qualifications

• A Member undertaking a Cross Country Flight in Association aircraft must hold a minimum of a Private Pilot-Glider certificate.
• A Member undertaking Cross Country Flight in Association aircraft shall have logged a minimum of 10 hours glider cross country time, or have a signed off cross country Check Out with an Instructor.
• No Member shall attempt Cross Country Flight in Association aircraft unless an appropriate glider trailer and tow vehicle with crew is available.
• A Member attempting Cross Country Flight in Association aircraft is responsible for ensuring that the aircraft is returned to the airport and made ready for the next day’s operations in a timely manner, unless other arrangements have been made with the Association.
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6. Aircraft Qualification

• To operate the Association Grob G103 Twin II, a Member must meet the following qualifications:

  To operate from the front seat

  • Must hold a minimum of a private pilot-glider certificate, or must be operating under the instruction of a CFI or certified to fly solo as outlined below.
  • Must have two flights of at least 2.0 hours duration solo or as pilot-in-command in gliders.
  • Must demonstrate ability to make accuracy landings by stopping short of and within 200 feet of a designated point.
  • Must pass SSA written closed-book cross-country exam (bronze badge).
  • Must have 20 hours acting as pilot-in-command in gliders in order to carry passengers.
  • Must have a G103 Check Out with an Instructor.
  • A Member with a student pilot certificate not meeting these criteria may fly dual with an Instructor.

  To operate from the rear seat

  • Must meet the qualifications to operate from the front seat.
  • Must have 80 hours acting as pilot-in-command in gliders, or hold a commercial pilot-glider certificate.
  • Must have G103 rear seat Check Out with an Instructor.

  To operate solo as a student

  • Must pass the FAA written test.
  • Must by signed off according to the requirements listed in FAR 61.87 Solo Requirements for Student Pilots
  • Each solo flight must be approved by the instructor and the instructor must be present as the airport for each departures.
  • A change in the agreed conditions of flight between the student and the instructor require the immediate return to the airport
  • Solo flight must take place within gliding distance of the departure airport.
• (The Association does not currently operate a Schweizer 2-33. These rules are inactive, but have been kept for historical and example purposes.) To operate the Association Schweizer 2-33, a Member must meet the following qualifications:

  To operate from the front seat

  • Hold a minimum of a student pilot-glider certificate or be receiving dual instruction from an Instructor.
  • A Member with a student pilot certificate must have logged a minimum of three take-offs and landings in gliders during the past 45 days to operate the aircraft solo.

  To operate from the rear seat

  • Meet the qualifications for operating from the front seat.
  • Must have a minimum of 20 hours acting as pilot-in-command in gliders plus a Check Out from an Instructor to act as pilot-in-command from the rear seat.
• (The Association does not currently operate a Schweizer 1-34. These rules are inactive, but have been kept for historical and example purposes.) To operate the Association Schweizer 1-34, a Member must meet the following qualifications:
  • Must hold a minimum of a Private Pilot-Glider certificate.
  • Must have logged 15 hours and 30 flights and landings as pilot-in-command in gliders.
  • Must have two flights of at least 2.0 hours duration solo or as pilot-in-command.
  • Must have dual time with Instructor in USA Grob, including landings, for preparation for transition to different handling aircraft.
  • Must demonstrate ability to make accuracy landings by stopping at Heber taxiway.
  • Must have a 1-34 Check Out from an Instructor.
  • Must pass SSA written closed-book cross-country exam (bronze badge).
  
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7. Additional Aircraft Restrictions

• No flights above 18,000 ft MSL.
• No aerobatics which result in inverted flight and/or sustained high speed, high-G recoveries.
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