How can you learn to fly a glider in the mountains?

AAVA has developed a training programme to prepare pilots for mountain flying. The programme has proved so successful that, over time, it has been adopted by other clubs in France.

The airspace (as one moves away from the airfield) is divided into three concentric flight zones: T1, T2 and T3. The letter ‘T’ in the names of the zones refers to thermal flight conditions, rather than atmospheric waves.

Training in gliding in the mountains is structured in three stages:

• For each flight region – T1, T2 and T3 – theoretical and practical training is provided, including: a briefing on the specific aerological conditions in the intended flight zone, airfields and landing sites.

• Approaches to key landing sites and gliding aerodromes are practised in the simulator. We visit a number of important and challenging landing sites in advance on foot.

• A week of gliding on a Duo Discus with an instructor.

To complete the training programme, you will undertake a route that you have planned and flown independently.