Least expensive way zero to CFI...gliders?

wheelsup

wheelsup

Well-Known Member
Just wondering what thoughts are on using gliders to start off in order to get to the CFI stage. Once there, jobs seem to be fairly plentiful for the foreseeable future, but it's the cost that is the biggest hurdle.

Flight time is flight time. Per the commercial regs only 100 hours are required to be in powered aircraft!

Thoughts?
 
For the Commercial you only need 100 powered aircraft and 50 hours cross country in an Airplane I think. Maybe go for sport pilot in a cheap autogas tailwheel and then split safety pilot time until you meet most of the requirments? Then again having a Private Pilot Certificate is a prerequisite for Commercial SEL. Maybe get your private in a powered parachute or weight shift control category since they are powered aircraft. You can also use simulator 50 hours for commercial. Many options if you take the time to brainstorm and plan it out. Most people just go fixed wing Private and up.
 
Although it sounds as though gliders might be cheaper, it's not starting out for the private.

You'll spend about the same for a glider private that you will for a private airplane - most likely.

It will be cheaper to do the glider commercial than the airplane commercial. In theory you can have a commercial glider certificate by 25hrs total with 100 landings. (15hrs and 80 landings more than the private requirement) And then from there you can time build with the glider commercial giving sightseeing tours from 25hrs until you get 150 hrs, then do your 100 hrs in airplanes for a commercial SEL add-on.

the private glider (from the school where I learned to fly) is approx $6500. About 12-15hrs and 40-55 flights.
Commercial 10-13 hours and 45-60 landings more @ $30-45/flight hour and $30/hookup-tow to pattern altitude/$50 for a tow to 1500ft/$75 for a tow to 3000ft. You will most likely exceed the flight time requirement by the virtue of trying to get the landings (unless all you do are pattern tows) and getting out there practicing your soaring techniques.

Then like I said afterwards after you get the commercial. You're not paying anything for flight time to 150hrs as your pax are paying for your flight time. But you're probably not getting paid either, your compensation will be based on how well you bond with your pax and getting tipped for a good sightseeing flight.
 
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wheelsup said:
Just wondering what thoughts are on using gliders to start off in order to get to the CFI stage. Once there, jobs seem to be fairly plentiful for the foreseeable future, but it's the cost that is the biggest hurdle.

Flight time is flight time. Per the commercial regs only 100 hours are required to be in powered aircraft!

Thoughts?
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I might be able to get the Comm add on and initial CFI in glider before the season ends, but flying with a club my schedule has not aligned well with field managers, instructors, and tow pilots. It is going to be tough to get the add on done. Though, the initial CFI in a glider would be considerably less air work for the flight test portion, making the ASEL less of a burden. Not exactly sure about zero to hero in gliders, though, why not? Besides - the real reason one should fly gliders is because its actually flying (stick and rudder, energy management, adaptive, etc.).

If I can do my initial as a CFI-G you bet I am! Cheaper and more fun.
 
It worked out well for me. I only had about 130 hours in airplanes when I got my CSEL addon with the glider being my initial. My situation was probably unique though, I paid for very little of my glider flying because I worked at the operation I flew at and free tows was one of the benefits. My dad has two gliders as well which helped a lot. Until you learn how to keep a glider in the air reliably for a few hours it won't be cheaper though I can tell you that.
 
Is there any difference between a winch launch and a tow aloft for training? I would see them get launched by winch here and stay aloft for hours. I would think that would be really cheap.
 
sport CFI seems the cheapest if you want a form of CFI cert...

Certainly build hours in sport aircraft, they are (a little) cheaper

Alex.
 
hook_dupin said:
a) Find Friend

b) Buy IFR-capable C-152, PA-28, C-172, or the like

c) Fly living crap out of airplane

d) Sell airplane

e) Pray to cylinder gods that they will not want an annual sacrifice.
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IFR PA-22. I can think of nothing cheaper with a Lycoming.
 
I did my commercial and initial CFI ride in gliders. Definitely cheaper than airplanes, but not faster. It was fantastic experience though.

With 200TT, you can start towing gliders as well (I did).

FYI, the glider CFI ride is the only one I have ever busted - take it seriously.

Adding on CFI-A and CFI-I was actually pretty easy after instructing for a while. Teaching isn't something you will be go at until you do it for a while.
 
woodreau said:
Although it sounds as though gliders might be cheaper, it's not starting out for the private.

You'll spend about the same for a glider private that you will for a private airplane - most likely.

It will be cheaper to do the glider commercial than the airplane commercial. In theory you can have a commercial glider certificate by 25hrs total with 100 landings. (15hrs and 80 landings more than the private requirement) And then from there you can time build with the glider commercial giving sightseeing tours from 25hrs until you get 150 hrs, then do your 100 hrs in airplanes for a commercial SEL add-on.

the private glider (from the school where I learned to fly) is approx $6500. About 12-15hrs and 40-55 flights.
Commercial 10-13 hours and 45-60 landings more @ $30-45/flight hour and $30/hookup-tow to pattern altitude/$50 for a tow to 1500ft/$75 for a tow to 3000ft. You will most likely exceed the flight time requirement by the virtue of trying to get the landings (unless all you do are pattern tows) and getting out there practicing your soaring techniques.

Then like I said afterwards after you get the commercial. You're not paying anything for flight time to 150hrs as your pax are paying for your flight time. But you're probably not getting paid either, your compensation will be based on how well you bond with your pax and getting tipped for a good sightseeing flight.
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You need to find a club to join. Ours in $600 buy in. Then $600 a year in dues plus your required to volunteer somehow. I volunteer by flying tow plane once in a while. Then $30 for a tow to 3000 and that's it. No rental cost since we are "owners".
 
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