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SOSA, Canada’s largest glider club, is making the dream of pilot training and licensing affordable. A cost review sponsored by SOSA and conducted by professor Mark McDermott, found the estimated total cost to obtain a glider license to be 75 per cent less than powered training, which approaches $17,000 or more.
“There are generations of people who think the dream of flight is inaccessible to them because of the cost,” said prof. McDermott. “Unlike learning to fly a powered aircraft, glider flight training is really inexpensive.”
The cost review found powered flight training for a single engine aircraft such as a Cessna 172, typically takes about 80 hours. When you add all the costs, powered flight approached $17,000 or more (see backgrounder) depending on the hours the student requires to pass the exam.
In comparison, glider flight training at SOSA is conducted by highly skilled and qualified club member volunteers, and the cost of planes and equipment are shared by the entire club. As a result, SOSA glider pilot training costs approximately $4600 or 75 per cent less than powered training.
“Gliding is a fantastic gateway to flying at any level,” said former SOSA president, Lt. John Brennan, retired, “Since the skills you learn are applicable to flying any aircraft, gliding opens the door to both recreational and professional flying.”
Founded in 1948, SOSA Gliding Club is Canada’s largest glider club with a complete fleet of single-seat and two-seat gliders, tow planes and winch launcher. The home club of many of Canada’s most awarded pilots, SOSA Gliding Club boasts top caliber flight instruction.
SOSA Gliding Club is located between Hamilton and Cambridge, close to the African Lion Safari, just over one hour drive from Toronto and easily accessible to the entire western GTA and Golden Horseshoe.
