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-   -   First solo for 14 year-old glider pilot in UK? (https://www.pprune.org/private-flying/503784-first-solo-14-year-old-glider-pilot-uk.html)

gpn01 27th Dec 2012 12:21

First solo for 14 year-old glider pilot in UK?
 
Congratulations to Callum... Bicester club member is youngest flyer in country - Community - Buckingham Advertiser

Flying_Anorak 27th Dec 2012 14:25

Well done Callum, but certainly not the first. I know that my club Oxford GC had a 14 & 15 year old go solo in the autumn, but maybe Callum is the youngest 14 year old to date?

Well done anyway!

FANS 27th Dec 2012 14:59

Why the hurry? I ve got nothing against it, but some are petrified at that age and would be much better off waiting until that little bit more mature.

nigel h 27th Dec 2012 16:10

Well done Callum
 
Perhaps a Visit to Bicester Gliding Club and meet the crews

Have a great day out and see if you can recognise Callam, he is just one of the professional teens we have flying at the Club. Boys and Girls.

If you are born with the bug you just have to go with it.

If you are 14 or 80 you are always made very welcome and to watch a 70 year old chatting to a 14 year old and all have the same passion for flying and helping one another and working as a team.

We even have Girls who are instructors and lady Glider pilots as well.

I think what I am trying to say is age, sex is not important.

I know, I am a 58 year old glider Student! At Bicester Gliding Club

cats_five 27th Dec 2012 16:37


Why the hurry? I ve got nothing against it, but some are petrified at that
age and would be much better off waiting until that little bit more mature.
The petrified ones don't get sent solo, any more than a petrified adult would.

This particular lad was first taken gliding when he was 7 so at 14 I imagine he was more than ready.

thing 27th Dec 2012 16:43

Well done that man....er, yoof.:D:D:D

Thecope 27th Dec 2012 17:30

Officially I'm the youngest person at my club being 16 and the nearest peron is 33 apart from a mate who's 20.

FANS 27th Dec 2012 17:39

So can an 11 year old go solo if they are deemed "ready" ?

glider12000 27th Dec 2012 18:47

14 is the minimum age for solo

David Roberts 27th Dec 2012 18:53

No, earliest is age 14 for solo in a glider. They then have to wait until 16 to get a licence under the EU FCL rules.
In the UK the first solo age has been 16 until a few months ago but this was changed (by the BGA) to align with and anticipate the implementation of EU rules, which although in place legally are not in effect in practice yet in the UK.
Solo at 14 has been the case in Germany for a long time, with no particular adverse consequences afaik.
Allowing someone to solo is entirely the discretion of the instructor, as it has always been.

longer ron 27th Dec 2012 19:18

14 has been the gliding solo age in quite a few countries for many years,but well done to him anyway :ok:

Jim59 27th Dec 2012 19:50

Actually it was changed by the CAA in August following consultation to align UK law with EASA regulations. Subsequently the BGA fell into line in October.

gpn01 28th Dec 2012 08:02


Originally Posted by FANS (Post 7598047)
Why the hurry? I ve got nothing against it, but some are petrified at that age and would be much better off waiting until that little bit more mature.

You're mixing up age with maturity. I've flown with 12 year olds (and younger) who have demonstrated incredible maturity, responsibility and capability. I've also flown with 30 year-olds who've demonstrated none of those attributes! As an instructor it's imperative to identify an individual's capability and ability to cope before sending them solo. That's best done through testing, assessment, etc. and not through an arbitrary "ok, off you go..."

The great thing about gliding is that it provides an environment that allows individual's to progress at their own rate. In my experience of UK gliding clubs, there's usually a few pairs of eyes keeping watch over you too :-)

Pilot.Lyons 28th Dec 2012 08:27

First solo for 14 year-old glider pilot in UK?
 
Lol as thing said

Mechta 28th Dec 2012 14:40

Congratulations to all the new under 16 solos.

We had our youngest member at the Kestrel Gliding Club RAF Odiham go solo a couple of months ago aged 15, as soon as the rule change and weather allowed. He started flying aged 9, and has had over 300 flights since then. When not flying, he mucks in with the various tasks any other member does. He is also one of the most regular attendees on non-flying days to keep things maintained.

From what I have seen, the best way to make responsible youngsters is to give them responsibility.

FullWings 28th Dec 2012 16:37

I don't think there's any reason that a 14-year-old can't go solo, given a mature outlook and provable skills but I'm not so sure about the whole culture surrounding soloing on the date it becomes legal.

It is highly unlikely, given the random nature of the British weather and availability of instruction and aeroplanes, that the student will reach the point that they would normally be sent solo, exactly on their birthday. Logically, one could say they're either being held back unnecessarily or being sent off too early.

It also attaches a slight air of 'failure' to those who don't make it into the air on their significant date - rubbish of course but I've overheard jokes in the bar and it could give you a bit of a complex if you were sensitive.

I'm not sure about the long-term consequences of a seriously early solo in terms of continuing in the sport - yes, it's the best time to learn and get good habits but I've seen many "solo at 14/16" articles in the local papers (good) but often fail to find these people at the club several years later (bad). Time will tell...

JW411 28th Dec 2012 16:43

I had a lad in my club who could easily have gone solo at the age of 12. That was 45 years ago. At the time, I think it was possible to go solo at the age of14 in Holland and Austria.

FANS 28th Dec 2012 17:11

Go - I take it that you want to remove any minimum age requirements then?

How old can the instructor be to authorise such flights now?

Benjybh 28th Dec 2012 17:26

I soloed at 16. Quite proud of the fact I was trusted to fly alone before I could drive :cool:

bad bear 28th Dec 2012 18:57

Not sure if things have changed but there used to be no minimum age for solo in NZ.

bb


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