Learn to Fly Package

Kickstart your aviation journey with our 'Learn-to-Fly' package! It’s the perfect way to dive into the Deeside Gliding Club community, make new friends, and take to the skies.

You'll enjoy three months of full membership perks at a reduced cost—offering a great head start on your first year.

The Training Pathway

We follow the British Gliding Association structured syllabus designed to take you from your first flight to full qualification.

If our Training Pathway inspires you to start your journey, send us an email and we’ll be in touch to guide you through the next steps.

Solo Flight and Beyond

Expert Instruction:

Training is provided free of charge by our qualified BGA instructors.

Going Solo:

A big milestone is flying solo for the first time. Rest assured, you’ll only take this step when your instructors are 100% confident in your ability to launch, fly, and land safely.

Licensing:

After your solo, you’ll continue to refine your skills in navigation and emergency handling. This leads to your official Sailplane Pilot Licence (SPL).

Beyond the Licence:

Once qualified, the sky is truly the limit. Whether you’re interested in long-distance cross-country flying,  aerobatics, or competitive racing, there is specialised coaching to help you get there. You could even take friends and family soaring.

Time to Solo?

The time taken to reach Solo standard will depend on the weather, individual ability, and how often you attend (typically achieved in 50–100 flights).

Instruction is always free, you pay only for membership, launches, and glider time.

What's included

This introductory package provides a solid foundation toward your solo flight and includes roughly 3-5 hours of flying time—potentially more if the weather is on your side!

Membership & Savings

  • 3 months' free membership starting from the day of your first flight
  • Access the same lower flying rates as our regular club members
  • Cost -  £350 credit to cover your launches and glider time (typically enough for 7 - 9 flights)
  • Top up as you go once credit is used (see Prices)
  • Join fully after three months and save £78!

Training & Facilities

  • Includes an airfield tour, safety briefings, and sample ground-school lessons
  • Unlimited use of our immersive three-screen flight simulator to practice flight maneuvers on the ground

Pilot’s Welcome Pack

  • You’ll receive your own Pilot Log Book, a BGA Syllabus Training Card, and a Ground Training Card to track your progress
  • A welcome letter packed with tips on how to maximise your time at the club

The Small Print

  • Summary: 
    1). All flights are at the discretion of the instructor on the day.
    2). All flights are subject to the weather and cloud base - bad weather may prevent flying.
    3). You must be able to understand and speak English.
    4). Glider flights are weather dependent. *Flight duration and heights are indicative but may vary due to conditions on the day of the flight.
    5). If the recipient is taller than 193cm (6'4"), shorter than 145cm (4'10") please check with the club before hand. Anyone weighing more than 100kg (220lbs) should check with the Club first.
    6). Members are expected to help with airfield operations when not flying (we give full training; this is an opportunity to get involved and gain the full club experience).

You’re welcome to visit the airfield to learn more. Let us know when you're free, and we'll show you around. In the meantime, just ask if you need anything else.