Cross Country Clinic

SOSA provides an annual 1 week specialized training course aimed at enhancing your cross-country soaring abilities. The week long clinic comprises all aspects one needs to successfully and safely prepare, plan, and perform long flights in the southern Ontario task area.

Overview

The cross-country clinic is a fun and low-key training week, designed to support newer members in expanding their soaring horizons. The clinic starts every day with a 09:00AM briefing in the club house consisting of a ground school component, followed by a weather briefing. Assuming good flying weather, attendees should plan on spending the entire day at the field. A registration charge is required to cover expenses, with any surplus to be allocated to the Junior Jantar fund or contest participation.

Who will benefit from this clinic?
The clinic is ideal for members that have completed a minimum of 2 two-hour solo flights and/or their 50 km Silver distance. Members with less experience will be accepted, but it is more likely that your instructor will do much of the flying. The clinic will include shepherded flights for advanced students (including those who bring their own gliders). Pilots with a bronze badge completed and ready to attempt silver badge flights can take advantage of this training opportunity. Pilots working on their Gold badge (300 km) and/or planning to enter the competition arena should benefit greatly from attending the clinic.

The following allocation of gliders will apply:

Members who have completed their Silver Distance will have top priority.
Members who have completed all requirements for the Bronze Badge will have next priority.
Members who are still working on their Bronze badge will be able to fly if instructors and gliders are available.
All members may attend the ground school sessions and daily briefings no matter what their flying status.
If private owners wish to participate, they are most welcome.
The Puchacz will be assigned to basic thermalling training and will not engage in serious cross-country tasks (it has no trailer).
The ASK 21 gliders and the Duo Discus will be used for cross country tasks.
Depending on demand and member qualifications, Juniors and Discus 2's will be allocated for solo flights.

Sign Up

Course Dates and Time
Dates: July 10-14, 2023
Time: 09:00am start in the clubhouse
Fees: $75

Registration
Note that you must be registered in advance to participate in the clinic to ensure an effective trainee to instructor ratio. Members, please contact Rafael Bravo directly for further information.

“As a low-time solo pilot, I was looking forward to learning more about the basics of cross-country soaring and getting a chance to rack up some quality flights with our XC instructors. It was a great week and we had beautiful weather. To start, I had three fantastic flights with instructors (all around four hours; by far my longest flights). On Thursday, I did my longest local solo flight of more than 60 kilometers, a great way to wrap up the week and an excellent learning experience overall."

– Jeff

“As a relatively new, low time pilot I found the experience invaluable. The exercises, both on the ground and in the air were extremely beneficial to my piloting skills. Also, the time with other pilots, both low experience and veteran, was both enjoyable and informative. It was a great way to spend a few days flying!"

– Ian