Welcome to the Scottish Gliding Centre! Whether you are joining as a Cadet (aged 13–17) or a Junior (aged 18–26), we're delighted to welcome you to Portmoak. This page provides an introduction to flying at the Scottish Gliding Centre, explains what you can expect as a new member and provides information for both young members and their parents or guardians. Gliding develops confidence, teamwork, leadership and decision-making, and we hope you enjoy your time with us.

Peter Townsley - Honorary Cadet & Junior Lead - cadets@scottishglidingcentre.com

Lewis Tobin - Deputy Cadet & Junior Lead

Wendy Carmen - Child Protection Officer - cpo@scottishglidingcentre.com

The minimum age to join the Scottish Gliding Centre is 13 years. The minimum legal age to fly solo in the UK is 14 years, subject to meeting the required training standard.

Cadets may join through Annual Junior Membership or the Learn to Glide Package, which can be converted to full membership on a pro-rata basis.

=====
Juniors (18–26)

Members aged 18–26 join as Junior Members and enjoy the same flying training and opportunities available to all club members.

Introduce yourself to the Duty Instructor on arrival. You will receive an introduction to the airfield, club procedures and how the flying day operates. Everyone was new once, and members are always happy to help.

The legal minimum age for flying solo in the UK is 14 years and this is also the minimum age for joining the SGC, except for children of adult members.

If you are aged under 18, there are two ways you can join the Scottish Gliding Centre

1. Join as a Junior Member - For those who are committed to joining the club and learning to fly beyond three months, this means you become a full member for the year or pro-rata if you join after April.

2. Join through the Learn to Glide Package - Ideal for those who want to give gliding a try, but aren't sure if they want to commit to the sport yet. This package gives you three months membership and credit in your flying account towards your training. This is the recommended approach if you're not sure gliding is something you will commit to for the long term. If you do wish to continue, you'll be able to become a junior member pro-rata.

Members in this age group can join the SGC as a 'Junior member'

Gliding is a team sport, and it requires a team of volunteers working together to get everyone flying as well as keep costs lower than other forms of aviation. It's a full day acitivity.

On your first day, please make yourself known to the duty instructor and let them know you are new to the club.

The average day works as follows.

1. The day starts at 9:00am with a briefing - it's important that members, especially new members, are present at 9:00AM for the daily briefing so they understand operational aspects of the day, as well as weather and important safety information.

2. Put your name on the flying list - this guides the order of who flies first, the earlier you arrive at the airfield the sooner you will fly. Sometimes late arrival means you may not fly if the day is busy.

3. Members help get the gliders out and inspected - this can happen either before or immediately after the briefing, and new members will receive training on how to do this safely.

4. Flying and Operations - once the gliders are out of the hangar and inspected we fly! Instructors will usually work sequentially through the flying list mentioned in point 2. While you are not flying, it's expected you'll help at the launch point in the caravan with logging, operating the launch lights, running a wing etc. It takes a village to run a gliding club and everyone plays an important part.

5. End of Day (Approx 5:00pm but potentially later in summer) - gliders are washed and put away in the hangars, logbooks are signed by instructors.

Each new member is provided with a logbook and two training cards:

Green Card - The green card is for ground based training and must be complete before a pilot goes solo.

Yellow Card - The yellow card documents your flying experience with instructors and progress towards objectives.

It's important you have your logbook signed by an instructor for each of your lessons while you are under training, and that your training cards are filled out.

Please also keep your logbook up to date.

Any Junior member of the SGC can apply for the Cadet Scholarship Scheme - more information can be found here.

Held once a year, all members between 13-26 are welcome to attend. More information can be found on the cadet and junior week page.