Soaring in the Middle East / Gliders.

[Airgus]

Hi all, I am working in DXB at the moment and I miss my hobby... I would like to spend my free time in flying gliders in the UAE, Qatar or Oman. Does anyone know where should I go in this region?.

Is someone else in my position?

The only thing I found is that one Saudi has a glider in KSA...

I will appreciate your info about it.

Thanks,

AirGus.-

[Do-27]

:ok: Hi Airgus!!....

I am the same position of you....or i should say....in two months maybe i will be like you.

Sorry i can´t help you...but i get any info i will let you know...

It will be really nice to soar around here...with an ELT... and some water in the backpack ;) i guess:

Glide instructor "c gold badge"+ 1 diamond.

Plase keep in touch and gracias for the post!!:)

[Wiley]

Nearest I'm aware of is Jordan.

[John Miller]

You dreaming!

Wiley is right - the only place to glide in relative peace is Marka Airport, Amman, in Jordan. However, the floppy hat brigade only fly on one day of the week (Saturdays I think) and have a motor glider too. Their website is at RJGlidingClub.com (http://www.rjglidingclub.com)

There is a Virus motor glider based at Umm al Quwain but I think the owner, an Emirati, uses it exclusively.

Otherwise, take a flight to South Africa - almost the same time zone, inexpensive fares and some of the best gliding in the world.

[Airgus]

Thanks for the info... I would try to convince some locals to form a gliding club there.... who knows! at least is a good way of training for the aviation schools there...


cheers,

AirGus

[WE992]

A bit far from DXB, but there is plenty of gliding in Israel.

[Panama Jack]

A bit far from DXB, but there is plenty of gliding in Israel.

With immigration issues for Gulf residents, Isreal might as well be on another planet.

The closest gliding as another member posted is in Amman, Jordan. A few princes in Saudi Arabia have gotten motor gliders, and I remember reading a few years ago about gliding in Iran and India. None of these places offer easy access to do some nice gliding on the weekend. Best probably to save your cash and do a gliding safari or an intense gliding holiday when you can in Africa, Europe, or America.

[S.F.L.Y]

I would try to convince some locals to form a gliding club there.... who knows! at least is a good way of training for the aviation schools there..

If you're talking serious I'm in with you :ok: Are you going to Al Ain this week-end? If so let me know.

[SU-GCM]

For The Jordanian Gliders Club They fly in Marka Every Friday

A Gliders club has been restarted recently as it was stopped since 2001 in Egypt, 6th October Airport HEOC
They fly every friday as well
But only Gliders NO motor gliders
they start at 0800 AM Cairo Time every friday on first come first serves basis and costs around 50 Egyptian Pounds
They have a Facebook Group called ( Amateur Pilots)

Regards And Happy Flying

[727gm]

This time of year, the UAE is beautiful, and looks like great soaring, however having been there in May thru Sept, the visibility was about 3 miles and tops of the haze about 12000 to 15000 feet. With 40+deg C temps and humid as hell, not the nicest soaring conditions.

Still, I'd like to do some if there was a place to fly from; after all, they have indoor skiing.....

[Airgus]

Dubai Soaring Club... yeah right keep dreaming........ but I will try!

Thanks everyone...

Cheers

AirGus

[QCM]

...seems that at the HUDSON Gliding Club they practise hydrogliding on A320:ugh::*:}

[Makaya]

I couldn't even find a propre soaring site for my paraglider...
(much easier to carry along in your luggages than a Nimbus)

But still looking...

[Colleague]

On the east coast try to contact "Ittso" at Al Marsa Travel Dhibba Port, that is Dhibba OMAN side.

He runs paragliding into Evasion Bay Resort at Ziggi Beach north of Dhibba, top of the road around 1,000 feet above sea level

Ittso

050 3645291

Hope this helps

cheers

[mclaughlinn]

Hi Guys,

Id definitely be happy to get involved in there was one! Surely there must be enough people to start one. Although, knowing the way things work here, it'd probably take years to get approval for a club etc

Why not set up a syndicate and buy a self launcher?

Also, isnt there a club in jeddah? Im fairly certain i remember hearing about a k21 going from the BGA or UK there a few years back? Any truth in it

[qatarengineer1960]

There are a number of private pilots flying in Qatar. The private guys operate a mix of aircraft, ranging from a rotax powered trike, through to Cessna 172, 182's, Rockwell 114, Piper Matrix, TB20 and Cirrus SR22.

If anyone is interested in visiting Qatar, I can put you in touch with the owner / pilots.

[Alekcendres]

Hi,

any updates on this file? any club in the pipes or new possibilities in any country close to UAED except Jordan?

I miss my hobbie too!!!!

many thanks

[Panama Jack]

Now may be as opportune a time to push this issue as ever.

Last week during the Abu Dhabi Air Expo, GCAA unveiled a proposed Light Sport Aircraft Regulation which is now in a 12-month long consultation phase.

Arabian Aerospace - Light aircraft boost for UAE as GCAA develops regulations to open skies for GA (http://www.arabianaerospace.aero/light-aircraft-boost-for-uae-as-gcaa-develops-regulations-to-open-skies-for-ga.html)

It seems that a number of parties are interested in developing Sport Aviation (and the business this drums up). One of the more exciting aspects will be the development of VFR corridors for some cross-country flying, rather than just flight in the local traffic pattern.

While the LSA regulations make provisions for a "Sailplane" Category pilot certificate, a closer look mentions hang gliders, paraglider vehicles, and powered parachute vehicles as Variants of this Category.

One of the greatest impediments, in my opinion, is the availability of infrastructure and suitable airspace. The UAE's most active airspace for fixed-wing sport aviation, the Jazirah Aviation Club in Ras Al Khaimah, has a runway too short for glider launches and the airspace restrictions limit the maximum altitude of 1400'. In Fujairah, it is 2000'.

Nevertheless, I think that the GCAA might be more receptive now than ever, and if a business case could be put together for a location (might even be a dirt runway long enough for glider winch launches) in uncongested airspace, perhaps they would be able to provide a box area with a good height limit to allow for some serious thermalling.

[Alekcendres]

Well it's a beginning! Let's form a club/association, I'm sure we will find a lot of peolple intersted. Mainly, it's a story of contacts and money, only a team will succeed.

I think the best way to introduce it is to use motorglider, could be a good start (at least better than nothing).

Any one keen enough?!?

[RV6]

I wonder if there's any possibility of gliding from Al Khor airfield in Qatar? There is a small GA community based there. One problem would be transport from Doha - it's a 45 minute drive north of town, so you'd have to be really keen, to do this while based in DXB! Could work if you got some Doha-based guys with cars involved too - and a spare room so you could stay over :-)

[ChrisJ800]

Aden Services Gliding Club had around 6 gliders in the 60's and have a nice facebook page with pics.

[Alekcendres]

Well, It looks like this Aden services gliding club doesn't exist anymore!
For Al Khor in Qatar, I saw on their website SINUS pipistrel pictures...

[paradigmshift]

Hello,

Does anybody know of any updates to this thread. Have any soaring clubs opened since the last post?

Thanks,

paradigmshift

[Wizofoz]

No, but there will be a gliding event at tne World Air Games in Dubai in December- hopefully it might be the catalyst to get a local movement happening.

[BLOGGSON]

No, but there will be a gliding event at tne World Air Games in Dubai in December- hopefully it might be the catalyst to get a local movement happening.
Don't count on it. From personal experience I can tell you that any attempt to own/operate light sport aircraft will be bogged down in a quicksand of bureaucracy dissimulation and stubborn unwillingness to help. You will be shelling out cash right left and centre long before your pride and joy leaves the ground.

[pkam]

In the early 1980s a German ex pat at Tabuk managed to import a hang glider diguised as a tent. He used to fly from the higher hills off the Jordan road north of Tabuk. My Father in law had a few flights as well. It went well for a few weekends until security arrived, glider was confiscated, but was handed back when the German guy went on leave, they were concerned
that there was a temptation to fly booze in from Jordan/ Israel/Egypt.:=
pkam

[Violetta91]

Well, I purchased and hang glider and it got delivered in Abu Dhabi in 2014. It was not disguised but it got cleared off customs in the category "Baloons and dirigibles...". I have been flying it for a while, check UAE Hang Gliding | ?fly like a bird (http://www.uaehg.com) for more.

[EagleA25]

Last post was last year; any news on Soaring in the UAE?

[Airgus]

well... Ohlmann and Tilo Holighaus were showing off a bit on the Marina during December 2015 (It felt so nice to see some gliders there).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJ9OAxv8YJk

On another occasion I saw a (I believe it was) Stemme over the Marina/SkyDive Dubai during the last week of February 2016 (low ceilings and that machine was never loosing height... kept flying and flying)...
I believe that it is difficult to have them in Dubai as there are many constrains in the airspace...
I was dreaming that Fujeirah or DWC one day would open a GA/Glider club...

[ChrisJ800]

I believe this vid is near Dubai from a world champ glider guider that I just happened across on you tube:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRn07rM46sk

[Wizofoz]

Yeah- that was at the World Air Games- a rather silly, one off "glider efficiency challenge" as they couldn't get the airspace to do a proper cross-country soring event.

[CKH111]

Thanks for the info... I would try to convince some locals to form a gliding club there.... who knows! at least is a good way of training for the aviation schools there...


cheers,

AirGus

I am definitely up for gliding on the UAE and will be happy to help set it up. Maybe we could persuade skydive dubai to expand into gliding and set up launching facilities.
Let me know.
Chris

[CKH111]

Well it's a beginning! Let's form a club/association, I'm sure we will find a lot of peolple intersted. Mainly, it's a story of contacts and money, only a team will succeed.

I think the best way to introduce it is to use motorglider, could be a good start (at least better than nothing).

Any one keen enough?!?

Yep sign me up. Regards. Chris

[Hafez95]

Hello fellow glider pilots - any news since the last post? After the 2015 glider games that resembled CX soaring, I have been left wondering why no gliding activities have been taken up yet here.

Best,
Omar

[Hafez95]

I am definitely up for gliding on the UAE and will be happy to help set it up. Maybe we could persuade skydive dubai to expand into gliding and set up launching facilities.
Let me know.
Chris
Hey Chris! Any updates on this?