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Student Pilot

Resource Page

Welcome, new aviator!

Welcome, new aviator! On behalf of the entire Adirondack Soaring Association, we are thrilled to welcome you to our community. You are about to embark on one of the most rewarding and beautiful adventures imaginable: learning to fly a glider.

The path to becoming a glider pilot is a journey of continuous learning, breathtaking moments, and camaraderie. You will learn to read the sky, feel the air, and harness the power of nature to stay aloft. There will be challenges, but the feeling of your first solo flight, your first thermal climb, and your first quiet glide over the stunning Adirondack landscape will make it all worthwhile.

Our club is built on a foundation of experienced pilots who are passionate about sharing their knowledge. Don't ever hesitate to ask questions. We are all here to help you succeed and become a safe, proficient, and confident glider pilot.

Let's soar together!

Planning to Fly?

Sign Up on Click n Glide

Student Pilot Resources

Here is a collection of essential resources to guide you through your training and beyond. Bookmark this page, as it will be a valuable reference throughout your journey.

Getting Started

Let's Make Your Journey a Success

Start Here

Here are the proposed steps and content for your Adirondack Soaring Association (ASA) new student pilot journey.

Training Manual

Step #1

  • Purchase Flight Training Manual for Gliders. ENTER CODE: ASA104 gets you 50% off. 

  • Download FAA Glider Flying Handbook (PDF) - (Click Here to download) 
Order Manual Now
Your Logbook

Step #2

Purchase your Glider Pilot Logbook. 

Available from: 

Get Your License

Step #3

Get a student pilot license thru IACRA. 

Make sure you provide an Adirondack Soaring Instructor with your FTN# and a copy of your driver license so you can complete the process.

Visit FAA IACRA Website
Ready to Fly?

Step #4

Sign on up on Click n Glide for instruction only after these previous tasks are completed.

Sign Up (at least one day before the scheduled day you are looking to fly). Don’t pull off from Click N Glide unless an emergency comes up.  

Be sure to arrive when the hanger is unpacked (before 10 am) or later (say noon) and stay to when the hanger is packed up (after 5 pm).

Be sure to clean all the bugs from the wings. There are tape markings on the hanger floor for glider positioning.

Click n Glide
Coming to the Airport

Step #5

Bring your textbooks and logbook to the airport every time you fly.

Sign Up for Duty Manager

Step #6

You will need to sign up after a month or so to become the Airport Duty Manger.

Please sign up once every two months or you will be assigned.

Connect with Other Members

Join Our Facebook Group

The art and joy of soaring sailplanes out of Saratoga County Airport in Saratoga Springs, New York - Join us on our Facebook Group and connect with other members and other pilots in the community of soaring. 

Join Group

Recommended Reading & Tools

Books

  • Stick and Rudder by Wolfgang Langewiesche
    (The classic on the art of flying)

  • The Joy of Soaring by Carle Conway
    (A fantastic soaring-specific guide)

  • Glider Training Materials
    Visit www.Gliderbooks.com

Apps & Tech

  • ForeFlight / Garmin Pilot: For flight planning and moving map displays (if you use an iPad in the cockpit).

  • SeeSoar / XCSoar: Free and powerful moving map and flight computer apps for Android.

Condor Flight Sim

Use it to practice your flying skills (for free)!

The Condor Flight Simulator is operational in the hanger – do not hesitate to use it.

There are instructions on how to use it, as well as many training lessons (in the box under the seat). Do it when there is no operation or when there are lots of people helping launch/ retrieve sailplanes at the flight line.

You can ask Joshua McSwieney, Gary Jones, Jim Stewart, Silas Mancuso, Santiago Lopez or Yves Nollet to show you how it works.

Safety: Our Highest Priority

Safety is not a suggestion; it's a culture. These resources are non-negotiable.

Emergency Procedures Review

Regularly review the procedures for rope breaks, off-field landings, and other emergencies. Your instructor will drill these, but constant self-study is vital.
Safety Briefing Magazine

The Soaring Safety Foundation (SSF)

An incredible resource dedicated to improving glider safety through education. Their publications are a must-read.
Visit Website

Human Factors & Fitness to Fly

IMSAFE Checklist (Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, Emotion). Be honest with yourself and your instructor before every flight.
Download Guide

Final Thoughts

Your journey into soaring will teach you more than just how to fly; it will teach you patience, respect for nature, and the value of a supportive community. Embrace every moment, learn from every landing, and never lose the wonder of flying silently with the eagles.

Welcome to the family. Blue skies and strong lift!
The Adirondack Soaring Association

Use of Video

A reminder that students are not permitted to use video when training.

Go Pro & other video setup(s) and worrying about achieving quality video is a huge distraction to the instructional process and is not permitted.