Holiday Courses
Why not try a holiday with a difference? Get into the exciting world of
gliding whilst enjoying the scenic beauty of the Cotswolds.
Finding a holiday that will provide you with both relaxation and excitement can be difficult to achieve - especially in the UK.
At Cotswold Gliding club we can offer you the best of both worlds, enjoy a relaxing break in the Cotswolds whilst learning a new exciting skill that will stay with you for the rest of your life. If you need to consider partners and family in your planning, the Cotswolds are hard to beat with a large variety attractions, activities and places of interest.
From a gliding perspective we have one of the best training facilities in the country. Our holiday courses are designed for all levels of experience, from the absolute beginner to experienced glider pilots – who still keep coming back to us year after year!
Holiday Courses Offer:
- 5 Days of gliding instruction tailored to your abilities.
- A stunning location with lots to see and do.
- The opportunity to try an exciting new sport.
- One of the best glider training facilities in the country.
- Friendly qualified instructors and staff – there to make your week as enjoyable as possible.
Holiday Course – What’s the benefit?
A
holiday course is the perfect opportunity for anyone who has the time to really
get to grips with the world of gliding. If you’re an absolute beginner
you will be doing most of the flying by the end of the week and will have
fully benefited from the continuity of training delivered by our highly skilled
instructors. From the very first day you will also be involved in all aspects
of the sport from learning about preparing gliders for flight, to assisting
the operation on the ground. By the end of the week you will have progressed
in all aspects of the sport which would normally take club novices weeks and
possibly months to achieve.
We Offer Two Types Of Holiday Course:
Beginners Course
For the novice, the ‘Beginners Holiday Course’ immerses you in the gliding world. The week consists of briefings, flying and teamwork. The briefings cover all areas including safety and gliding theory with the flying exercises covering everything you need to get you on your way to going solo. If the weather is good you will go on soaring flights and really experience the exhilaration of gliding, spending hours at a time above the Cotswold countryside flying through the skies.
Advancer Course
This
is for those already with some limited gliding experience or for power pilots
wanting to try their hand at gliding. The objective for anyone coming on this
type of holiday is to get solo and use our instructors for coaching on all
areas from soaring to cross-country. If you’re a solo pilot at another
club, why not take a week out in the Cotswolds and enjoy yourself! Our club
fleet for pilots wanting to go solo include K8’s, an Astir and a Pilatus
B4.
If
you’re visiting from another country, a trip to the Cotswolds is a must.
With the majestic river Severn valley it will give you soaring memories of
England that you will never forget.
How Safe is Gliding?
Safety
is the highest priority in all of our gliding operations and we work hard
to minimise the risks. All of our instructors are qualified by the British
Gliding Association and are subject to regular re-validation checks. Our aircraft
are checked each day before flying and are subject to thorough annual inspections.
Like other activities there is a very small element of risk that is comparable
with other sports. Should you have any concerns or want more information,
we would be pleased to discuss it with you.
Who Can Go on a Holiday Course?
The Holiday Courses are open to anyone who fits with the criteria below. We would also recommend that it best suits people aged 14 and over.
- If you are less than 7 stone (45kg) or more than 15.5 stone (100kg), you may not be able to fly. Also very tall people, more than 6ft 3ins, may have difficulty fitting into the cockpit.
- Alcohol – For legal and safety reasons you must not fly if you have more than 20 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood (a quarter of the amount for the UK drink drive laws). This is effectively a zero limit.
- Health - You must declare before your flight any health condition that may potentially affect your safety whilst in the air - e.g. motion sickness or epilepsy. Check with our office if you believe you may have a condition that will be problematic.
- For insurance purposes, please notify us if you are over 70 years old.
- If you are a solo pilot you must bring a valid medical certificate (please contact the office for more information).
What to Bring With You and Where to Stay
We
will provide you with a list of recommended clothing and accessories that
you should bring with you. Like all outdoor sports, protection from the sun
and maintaining good hydration are the priorities if you are going to enjoy
your week.
We have a wide range of accommodation that we can offer you from hostel type accommodation in our clubhouse to reputable local b&b’s, hotels and holiday cottages. Please see the accommodation page for details. We also have a caravan park with hookup facilities that you can use if you prefer your own comforts and/or want to bring the family. Camping on the airfield is also possible.
With all accommodation we advise that you book early to ensure that you have as many options as possible.
Course Details and How To Book
The courses are five days, Monday to Friday and run from early April to late September. There are normally a maximum of four students on each course - usually of mixed ability. We try to give you a minimum of 25 flights if no soaring is possible during the week otherwise every 20-30 minutes of soaring counts as two flights. If your course is affected by the weather, further dates can be arranged for you to come back and finish your course at no extra cost to you.
All training follows the standards laid down by the British Gliding Association.