Gliding Australia Documents

The aim of this GPC Unit is to develop the knowledge and skill to:

• use all primary controls to enter, maintain and exit a sustained turn in a coordinated manner;
• identify and correct coordination errors in the turn;
• vary the angle of bank in a turn;
• describe the relationship between the angle of bank and the radius of the turn; and
• demonstrate smooth and coordinated entry, maintenance and exit of sustained turns at various angles of bank.

The aim of this GPC unit is to develop the knowledge and skills required to fly a glider in straight flight, at a steady speed, in a set direction, with wings level, without slip or skid.

The aim of this unit is for the student to:

• learn how aileron drag is generated whilst applying aileron;
• describe and demonstrate how aileron drag affects the aircraft; 
• be able to use controls to counter the effects of aileron drag resulting in coordinated flight at an angle of bank;
• describe and demonstrate the secondary effect of rudder.

The aim of this unit is for the student to:

Develop effective reference to the horizon for controlling aircraft attitude;

Explain the primary effects of controls in both their aerodynamic effect and their effect on the airframe; 

Demonstrate use of controls to vary pitch, bank angle and yaw.

Orientation in the local area.

Sailplane stability.

Knowledge of basic glider aerodynamics and components

The aim of this unit is to:

develop the skills and knowledge required to obtain and interpret required pre-flight information; 

perform the outside and cockpit pre-take-off checks.

Apply standard checks reliably and thoroughly, by rote or by reference to a checklist, without undue delay.

Describe: the Weight and Balance requirement for the flight given the flight crew weights.

For a powered sailplane calculate:  Take-off and landing performance; Forward and cross wind limits. Take-off distance.

Demonstrate: Switching on and off the glider’s electrical system; Setting the altimeter; Switching on the radio and setting volume / squelch Operating / avoiding the Press-to Transmit (PTT) switch.

A basic understanding of the parachute is also required if these are used. See this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1Uis0N-hKY&list=PLw8r6ZtUaBydnUYCdnpwQ_bH3LMsxs0oU&index=7

The aim of this GPC unit is to: ● Develop the primacy of effective lookout; and ● Develop the application of the basic rules of the air for collision avoidance.

 Lookout Priority: ●The priority of lookout to avoid collisions through see and avoid; ● the potential collision risks in flight; ● the use of radio for alerted see-and-avoid; ● Situational Awareness at all times in flight; ● the risks of excessive focus on instruments and devices.

Application of Lookout: ● The importance of checking airspace before commencing any maneuver; ● the limits of vision and how to look in difficult to see airspace (above, below, behind), when turning; ● the use the clock code to report other aircraft and identify prominent landmark

The aim of this unit is to develop the skills and knowledge required to safely handle gliders on the ground and use correct signals.

Control, move and secure the aircraft on the ground;  Use the standard ground signals; Correctly perform wing tip runner and hook-on duties.