So, You're Thinking About Soaring
You're enchanted with the thought of soaring like a bird and wondering if joining the Greater Boston Soaring Club (GBSC) is the thing to do. Hopefully this will answer some of your questions.
But I Don't Know Anything About Flying a Glider
No problem! GBSC FAA certified instructors will take you from never having flown before to your first solo, and then on to your license.
Most students have a goal of soaring an hour or more over the local area. After you're licensed, you might want to stretch your wings and soar beyond gliding range of the airport. Flying out of sight of your home airport without an engine makes everyone nervous at first! We have cross-country mentors that can help you break the apron strings that can tie you to the airport. If you want to upgrade your skills, GBSC instructors can help you achieve your commercial and instructor glider ratings. Don't want to go cross-country or go to advanced levels? That's great too. The goal is to have fun in soaring, wherever you want to take it.
GBSC has trainers up to cross country gliders so you will have a glider available for whatever your goals are.
Encampments
In the spring we have an encampment at Mifflin, PA, where you can experience ridge and cross country soaring over the Allegheny Mountains. This encampment is for licensed pilots as we don't normally have instructors available and don't ferry a 2 seat glider down for it. But as a member, feel free to organize the ground tow of a club 2 seater and see about having an instructor available. We love volunteers such as this!
We also have encampments at the Franconia NH airport over the Labor Day weekend to give you a taste of ridge soaring in the White Mountains, and at Gorham NH in October for Mt Washington wave soaring. Note that instructors or experienced pilots are generally available so students can participate at these encampments.
Midweek Operations
Good soaring weather during the weekday? GBSC members can organize a weekday operation so you can play hooky from work or school. Solo students are welcome but a club instructor must be present to authorize the flight. We also have "The Evening Group" (TEG) where instruction is offered one evening per week - the evening selected will depend on the weather.
So, GBSC has everything you need to learn, progress, and have fun in your soaring endeavors.
Safety Requirements
- To fit in the glider, you should be under 240 pounds and under approximately 6' 2".
- You should be physically fit so that you can enter and exit the glider un-aided and be able to walk a moderate distance without difficulty.
- You must not be taking any prescribed or over the counter medication that will impair your judgement. Consult this FAA page for more information.
- As a volunteer organization, you are expected to help out at the field which may include long exposure to the elements (mostly sun).
- Please discuss any issues you may have with the above with the GBSC membership coordinator prior to applying for club membership.
What's the Downside to Joining?
Well, you will have to pay dues and tow fees for your flights, and you are expected to pay them on a timely basis (but it is much more enjoyable than paying taxes). As a regular member (not tow pilot or instructor) you will also be assigned field duty (see below).
Club Expectations of Each New Member
New members are expected to arrive around 9:00AM to learn how to preflight inspect the gliders, perform positive control checks, get the gliders moved to the staging area, and just learn the general startup process.
Club Expectations of Each Member
GBSC is a club and not a commercial operation and only functions by the volunteer efforts of its members. As a member you will be assigned field duties 2 or 3 times a year. As your experience increases you will be assigned OC (Operations Coordinator) duty, where you work making sure the flight operations run smoothly and safely.
At the end of the day, you are expected to help the OC close up shop, stowing the gear, tying down the gliders, putting away the golf carts, etc.
You are also expected to occasionally volunteer, as needed, for miscellaneous tasks such as cutting the grass around the tie down area, or more complex tasks such as helping to ferry ships out of Sterling and back again during the Sterling Fair when the operations are transferred to another airport.
Remember those encampments mentioned above? If you participate you will be expected to help. It might be as simple as throwing some stuff in your car to take it to the encampment, to helping to ferry gliders (either via by air or trailer) to Franconia or Gorham.
Sometimes things don't run as smooth as you might like. Life happens. There can be a wait for a tow-pilot, a tow-plane, or instructor to get things moving. We don't do reservations and flights are on a first to sign-up first to fly basis. On good days, demand is high and it could be a long wait before you get in a flight. Even on slow days, something could happen to prevent you from getting into the air. Maybe this is the time to pull out the lawnmower from the main hanger and cut that grass.
If this sounds like a lot of work, it really isn't. It's often enjoyable and accompanied by fellow like minded members.
There Sure Seems To Be A Lot To Know
It really isn't. Ideally you will help out at most several days per year. You learn as you go and more often than not you are working with at least one other person to make the work go easier. In the greater scheme of things, if you want to soar, GBSC can make it happen. Feel free to check out the following links for more information on the club and how it operates.
Still Thinking About It?
Pull right in to the airport to check out the operations. GBSC members are a friendly bunch and would be more than willing to talk to you about the club and show you the gliders.
Contact Information
Email: Membership Coordinator