M-ASA has recently standardized its training syllabus and adopted the Tom Knauff textbooks as the material used by our club for training new glider pilots. These are Gliders Basics from First Flight to Solo and After Solo (for the ab initio student pilots), and Transition to Gliders (for power pilots transitioning to a glider rating). The training syllabus is the same as that spelled out in these textbooks. M-ASA instructors provide training to club members at no cost, on a volunteer basis. M-ASA has scheduled operations each weekend and Federal holidays from the second weekend in March through the third weekend in November. This means that members are scheduled as Tow Pilots and Operations Directors for each operating location. Instructors are not scheduled, therefore, the student must coordinate their training schedule with his assigned instructor. Students have priority on the tow list before noon on each operating day.

M-ASA keeps copies of the standard text books at each of our flying locations. These copies are for reference and use while at the airport and are not to be removed. Students are encouraged to start their own library of soaring related texts which should include the standard texts that are applicable to them and should also include other books such as the SSA Soaring Flight Manual, and other titles.

M-ASA's Chief Flight Instructor administers the training program. He is assisted by two supervising instructors, one at each operating location. Each new member is assigned a primary training location, based on the students preference, the student load at the operating airfields, and aircraft availablility. Once this is done, the student contacts the supervising instructor for the field where he or she will fly and an instructor is assigned as the student's primary instructor. The student and his primary instructor will work together to ensure that all of the training requirements are met. The primary instructor is the only person who may solo the student, although when the primary instructor is not available the student may receive training from any of the available club instructors. Prior to solo, and at several other times during training, student pilots are required to fly with the field's supervising instructor as a cross check of his progress.

A folder is kept for each student with copies of written examinations and other information on student progress. The primary record of student progress is the student's logbook. M-ASA recommends the logbooks sold by the SSA as the type used for glider flight recording. However, if the student already has a logbook, these can also be used.

Primary instruction is provided in SGS 2-33 sailplanes upto the point of solo. After solo student pilots can either continue to fly the 2-33's (one is located at each field) or after some solo time is gained, get checked out in either the club Ka-7 or the club ASK-13, the club medium performance two place ships.

Student progress in primary flight training will vary depending largely on how frequently he or she is able to fly. Typically students who fly more frequently advance more quickly. However, consistency of training is equally important. Students should arrange a training schedule which they can stick with over the entire season to ensure that progress is made steadily through the completion of primary traing.

Special note on non-U.S. citizen flight training

The Transportation Security Administration has granted a waiver of the post 9-11 regulations regarding flight training for non-U.S. citizens. Click here to see a PDF copy of the waiver. Non-U.S. citizens may now legally learn to fly gliders in the United States without requiring permission from the Transportation Security Administration.