Bronze Badge Program

The Bronze Badge training curriculum at SOSA is designed to help new pilots progress from their license to Cross-Country flying, including their first 50km Silver Badge flight. Any pilot with a local flying checkout in the Junior is eligible to join the program.

Overview

Each winter, through the SOSA Hangar Talks series, participants receive online training and begin preparations for completing the in-person exercises. Participant progress is tracked on their Cross-Country and Fleet Progression Training Cards as they gather the necessary endorsements towards completion.
Curriculum
The following online training courses are mandatory:
  • ​Off-field landings
  • Speed-to-fly and Final Glide
  • Instrumentation
  • Map reading and Southern Ontario airspace

Ground training exercises will include de-rigging, rigging and trailering the Junior, as well as glider trailer towing.

An instructor will provide dual in-flight training for:
  • Off-field landing field selection
  • Puslinch field landing and takeoff
  • Speed-to-fly and Final Glide
  • Map Reading

The following items will be covered and tested:
  1. Dual field selection exercise
  2. Review of basic map reading and course plotting
  3. How to plan and execute your first off field landing
  4. Dual flight and landing at another airfield including map reading and communication with Waterloo tower
  5. Rigging and derigging the Junior

Completion of this course will allow you to start meeting the requirements of the Silver badge, including your first 50km flight from SOSA.
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Sign Up

Requirements
Participants must satisfy these requirements before completing the program:
  • Glider Licence from Transport Canada
  • Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Certificate from Industry Canada
  • 10 Hours Solo glider time
  • 1 soaring flight of at least 1hr in duration
  • 2 soaring flights of at least 2hrs in duration each
  • Three consecutive precision landings in a Junior at SOSA as supervised by a SOSA instructor
Registration
Please register for the program in the club's #bronzebadgers slack channel to obtain your Cross-Country Pilot Training Record as well as to schedule your trailering and dual flying exercises. The dual flying exercises will be scheduled for when 3-6 participants are ready to work together.
“The bronze badge program was critical in helping me to make the jump from newly licensed pilot to competent local soaring pilot. It helped to prepare me for many aspects of cross-country flying, connecting me with instructors, mentors, and resources that were incredibly helpful at every step. It also required me to set goals and stay engaged with gliding, something I struggled with after the initial high of achieving license had faded."
​– James
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