Mmmmmm, before you all get too excited, I suggest you go onto Lasham's website and check out the "Tug Pilot's Notes" (or something like that) and work out how much the training and also the necessary time on type will cost you.
YOU have to pay for all the training and flight time before you get to be an approved tuggie. Balance that with the hours you will get which is largely flying round in circles, if that's your thing then great, it's for you (it doesn't sound like fun tome). I did some gliding there last year and they tried to get me interested when they knew I was a PPL, I made my excuses as it looked like a very one-sided deal and I didn't consider doing circuits all day as the flying I wanted to do (that and I'm a PPL not a CPL wannabe so aren't too bothered about hours building) and the notes revealed how much it would cost me.
Also, I suggest you go to a busy glider field on a competition day or busy weekend, tugging looks very hard work, not just a pleasant bimble around, you will be worked for your time and be prepared to have the glider jocks getting really arsey with you too when you take more than five minutes to do a tow and get down again.
Apart from the fact a tuggie needs to be able to appreciate what a glider is doing, (would have though being a solo A/B holder would be sufficient), the high gliding requirement is there, so I've been told, to get tug pilots that are actually keen on gliding, not just (CPL) hours builders who will run off at the first sign of a commerical job leaving the club in limbo. Not all clubs have this rule, I recall hearing of other clubs (up north I think) who just wanted "Glider experience", which meant A/B badge holders were eligable.
Each club has it's own rules and how stringent they are may determine how many prospective tuggies they've got on the list, if any. IMHO, it's not quite the fab gig many think it should be, it's up to you, just go in with your eyes & mind open and get past the "Ooooo, free flying" concept, TANSTAAFL as they say.
Last edited by DBisDogOne; 30th January 2008 at 17:02.