Hawaii Glider and Sailplane Academy

Flight Activities

Scenic Glider Flight ~ $110

This 15 minute ride will offer incredible views of Oahu’s North Shore! We’ll seat you in our high-performance Grob 103 glider along with one of our FAA-certified glider pilots. After a short tow (with our L19 “Bird Dog”) to 1,000 feet , you and your pilot will release the tow rope and soar like an eagle! From Kahuku Point (Oahu’s northern tip) to Kaena Point (the western tip), you’ll experience the breath-taking scenery of the deep blue ocean, aqua coral reefs, lush green mountains and maybe even humpback whales! We guarantee this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you’ll never forget!

Introductory Glider Lesson ~ $160

What an amazing experience! More than a simple introduction to gliders, this lesson will allow you to really “feel” the glider—how it reacts to your control inputs—as if the wings are actually an extension of your own arms & feet. An highly experienced flight instructor will spend one-on-one time with you, explaining the parts of the glider, and how it flies. Of course, your instructor will handle the takeoff and landing, but once up in the air, you’ll be able to fly the glider yourself! To most, the thought of flying is simply a dream, but we can help you make it a dream come true…If this 20 minute introductory lesson lights a fire within, we can provide you with flight training all the way up to the Commercial Pilot & Flight Instructor.

Flight Training

Here is a brief outline of the professional flight training we provide. Please contact us for more information and a personalized consultation in order to meet your specific goals!

Private Pilot Certificate: This is the first pilot certificate level. Training for the private pilot certificate will commence your aviation aspirations! You’ll learn the basics of aviation—aerodynamics, airspace, takeoffs, landings & soaring techniques to name a few. It’s an exciting journey that the seldom few embark on. But for those that do, they never regret it! In addition to flight training, there is a lot of bookwork involved (after all, you are learning to fly). Once you complete our training course, you will take a written, oral and flight test with an FAA designated examiner. Our owner, Yuko Matsumoto, is able to conduct these tests (otherwise known as “checkrides”), and can offer valuable guidance along the way! The FAA requires a minimum of 10 hours total time (2 hours solo) and 10 solo flights for this certificate. If you already have logged some flight time in an airplane or helicopter,the minimums go down!

Commercial Pilot Certificate: If you want to get paid for your flight services, the FAA requires that you hold a commercial pilot certificate. To upgrade your private pilot certificate to the commercial level, more training is involved. You will learn how to more accurately control the glider and handle more challenging situations. Again, our owner Yuko Matsumoto is able to conduct your final checkride. The FAA requires a minimum of 25 hours in gliders along with 100 glider flights (private pilot time may be used towards this).

Flight Instructor Certificate: In order to provide flight training to other student pilots, a flight instructor certificate is required. Throughout this course, you will learn the fundamentals of instructing, as well as how to teach everything you already know. As a flight instructor applicant, you will master every aspect of the glider as well as aviation knowledge. Effective communication in the learning process is emphasized. This certificate takes a minimum of 15 hours as pilot in command (PIC) to achieve.

Additional Glider Rating: If you already have a pilot certificate, adding a glider rating is easy! Our specialized course on additional ratings will focus on the issues specific to gliders the local area. We offer flight training for the additional glider rating to the private, commercial or flight instructor certificate. Minimum hours vary. Please contact us for more information.

Flight Review (previously BFR): As required by FAR 61.56, every 24 calendar months a pilot must obtain a flight review. If your pilot certificate contains a glider rating, we can do this review in our Grob 103! At Hawaii Glider School, our flight review consists of a minimum of 3 flights with 1 hour of ground instruction.

Spin Training: All pilot certificates require the training in spin awareness & recovery, but the FAA does not require actual spin training in the air. Hence, most pilots have never actually spun an aircraft—only learned about them on the ground. We offer spin training that involves ground & flight training. Learning & experiencing what an aircraft does prior to, during, and recovering from a spin is invaluable experience.

Flight Proficiency Check: If you have only flown in “trainer” gliders, it may be time to broaden your horizons. Our high performance Grob 103 “Twin II Acro” will open your eyes to the capabilities of high-end gliders. Dillingham Airfield is the perfect place to practice crosswind takeoffs and landings. If the conditions are safe, a couple simulated rope breaks might be in the mix!

Rental Check Out: If youalready hold a glider pilot certificate, we welcome you to rent our Grob 103 high performance glider after a brief checkout with one of our flight instructors. This rental checkout consists of a minimum of 3 flights and 1 hour of ground instruction.

Useful Flight Training Links

FAA.GOV Certification FAR61
FAA Practical Test Standards (PTS)
Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs)
FAA Safety
FAA IACRA
www.bobwander.com
FAA’s Glider Flying Handbook
Condor – Flight Simulator
www.gliderbooks.com
FAA Written Test Prep
AOPA Rental Insurance
AVEMCO

Schedule your flight activity today!

Reservation Form