Originally Posted by
FANS
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 :-)