Building time with a glider

SeeRad

SeeRad

New Member
Dumb idea or great idea?

Does this translate into real-world hiring experience at all? For example, are you going to be more competitive going into an interview with 1k glider time in your log in addition to your 1,500 hours of single/multi engine time?
 
Total time is total time.

However, some airlines specifically say that helo, glider, or balloon time is not counted.

Edit: If I were hiring someone, I would be much more impressed by a glider rating than say a RJ transition course.
 
Glider time is great experience. Some may count it, some may not. Even those that don't "count" it may give you something for it during an interview as it shows something out of the ordinary that enhances your flying skills.
 
Its fun flying if nothing else. As DV8Pilot said you will learn alot more about WX as a glider pilot. It also challenges your decision making if you get into doing cross country flights in gliders. If you need to know any else just PM me.
 
I am late to the thread it looks like and can echo everything said above.

Glider flying will really enhance those important core skills that all of the best pilots are strong in. It will really polish your ADM, Situational Awareness, Weather, Energy Management, "Stick," and Power-Off landing skills - along with others I am sure. Also, like inverted25 said - cross country/(racing) is really the way to do it. I like to compare it to a 3D Chess game with the 3 boards on top of each other. Plus, forget any career benefits.... IT'S FUN!!!!
 
Well said Curt. Also, if you are just starting out, it takes a while to get good enough to be able to stay up for an extended amount of time. Thus, the cost of all the tows can become equivalent to an hour of aircraft rental. It makes you a much better pilot though and is totally fun so you should just go for it!
 
Some of the best "saves" in aviation were made by pilots with a glider rating. The Gimli Glider and Good ole Cap. Sully are two that come to the top of my mind. I heard a story about the crew on the glider saying if the capt. wouldnt of had a glider rating they wouldnt of probably made the field. Knowing how to figure glide ratio and all comes in handy. Plus the press loves to take the fact that some pilots have a glider rating and run with it after an emergency.
 
I have a buddy that has a ton of balloon time. Took him a while sitting reserve for his CRJ time to = LTA. He has a balloon and that is one of his hobbies. He is pretty lucky! As far as the FAA goes unless the reg specifies flight time in category class or type then TT is TT. You should have as much fun as you can in this line of work. If you don't have the rating, then make sure you take the checkride serious (no doubt you would)...
 
When one thinks of all the pilots who have managed to kill or seriously injure themselves when their engines conked out shortly after takeoff (or anywhere else, for that matter), it's astonishing that at least a few hours of glider training are not mandatory for all private pilot ratings.
Glider pilots also develop excellent stick-and-rudder skills, and 250 glider hours can be applied towards the commercial power rating, thereby saving yourself 10K or so in rental fees. (And when your contemporaries are sweating out their power-off accuracy landings, you'll be laughing.)

There are also a fair number of jobs as ride pilots at most glider fields — a good way to build time, make a few bucks and get used to carrying pax, etc.

Most importantly, soaring is one of the purest forms of flying a pilot can enjoy.
 
I don't know how good the thermals are in RI. My big problem in Nebraska was that on most days I went up and came right back down, making in just as expensive as renting an aircraft for that amount of time.

I didn't get into gliders for time though.

I say go for it. The time will count, and you will learn a vast amount in a short amount of time. Your pilot skills will probably improve too. It is a win all the way around.
 
SeeRad said:
Dumb idea or great idea?

Does this translate into real-world hiring experience at all? For example, are you going to be more competitive going into an interview with 1k glider time in your log in addition to your 1,500 hours of single/multi engine time?
Click to expand...

Can't imagine that it would hurt, but I doubt it would make that much difference either. I would still do it - gliders are a lot of fun to fly. You won't build 1,000 hours in a year in gliders, it will take time. But it also means you are around the airport, and you'll get plenty of opportunities that others won't - towing gliders, doing intro flights, etc.

It probably took 30 hours in gliders for me to be good at thermalling. The first 10 hours are pricey, it gets dirt cheap after that if you pay attention. It is about equal parts art an science, I agree that it is like a 3-D chess game.
 
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