Would knowing how to fly a glider make it easier to become a commercial pilot?

Question

Would it be easier to get into flying school, given that it is easier to learn to fly a jumbo if you can fly a glider?

What I meant by flight school is one where an airline trains you up before you work for them.

I'd got into gliding before considering being a commercial pilot, and I don't have that much money, it's about £5.20 a launch and you do three launches a day so it's not that expensive.

And I wouldn't say gliding is "useless" when flying a jumbo. Remember the Gimli Glider?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimli_Glider

Just in case anyone's confused, when I say glider I don't mean hang glider, or paraglider, or microlight or anything other than one of these:
http://cotswoldgliding.co.uk/images/caption.jpg

Answer 1

Yes!

Answer 2

First of all you still need ground school to learn to fly a glider.
Second, when you learn to fly a glider you learn more energy management about flight, which is good.
You have to learn how far you can go with your height and speed and know where to find thermals to stay aloft.
Giving that learning to fly a glider is VERY helpful with understanding flight principles. With an engine you can apply power and climb. In a glider you fly way ahead of any situation.

A glider is a long way from a jumbo.
I cannot say if the airlines prefer glider pilots, however I do not think glider experience is preferred for jumbo pilots.
I have not seen too many jumbos gliding.

Answer 3

Here is a quote from Wikipedia:
"In the 1960s the Schweizer Aircraft Corporation designed and manufactured its line of most popular gliders, including the SGS 2-33, which to this day is the most popular training glider in use in the United States. Because it is easy to fly, of simple construction, and quite rugged and forgiving of a lot of abuse, it serves its role as a trainer very well. The 2-33 was adopted by the United States Air Force Academy as the TG-4, for use in introductory airmanship training. The Academy used over a dozen such gliders until 2002 when they were replaced by more modern sailplanes. The Royal Canadian Air Cadets continue to operate a fleet of over fifty 2-33As."

If it is good enough for the USAF and RCAF, it has to be good for something.

Answer 4

"What would I need to learn in school?" - Math, physics and English. "What type of degree in university do I need?" - You don't need. But some airlines could require you to have any kind of a four year degree (depending on where do you live). Can be online Bachelor of biblical studies if you wish, they don't care. "Is it easier to join the air force?" - Not really. But commercial flying and air force are the complete opposite. So, be good at school, finish some kind of a degree that interests you, can be aviation related if you need certificates, otherwise choose something else. Flight training is expensive these days. If you rule out military and airlines' pilot cadetships, you'll have to invest an amount to get somewhere.

Answer 5

Definitely all prospective future pilots should be trained on gliders first,prior to en barking on to powered flight, It gives you an excellent grounding, especially as it is unpowered flying. Therefore you will be more likely able to handle emergency situations that could arise in powered flight, such as complete engine failures, as all glider pilots know, once you lose the thermal lift you are totally committed to landing no matter where you are and I assure you that as I glider pilot you will have many o f them.

Answer 6

Yes, because flying a glider helps you to improve the skills in gliding an aircraft because it is also important to know the best gliding operation of your airplane specially in times of engine failure during flight.

Answer 7

I asked my instructor that a while ago! He said the best airline pilots are those who can fly a plane the simplest way. Many who fly those electronic-controlled planes tend to "forget" how to manouver a plane. The best pilots frequently fly in the small aircrafts they started in (gliders or powered) to keep "in shape".

Answer 8

NO, are you stupid. Just because you drive a car does not mean you are better qualified to drive a stock car. More than likely they won't even take that into concideration because there is no computers in a glider and a plane consists of a lot of them.

Answer 9

The one and ONLY requirement to gain admission to a fight school is money.

If your check clears, you are in.

If your goal is to fly powered airplanes, then start by flying powered airplanes.

I have known some people who have flown gliders prior to having flown powered airplanes because of the lower age restrictions placed on that by the FAA (I assume the age limits are still lower today, however I haven't kept up with it)... however, if you have that amount of money at that young of an age (mid-teens) then you won't have any problems that I'm familiar with.

Answer 10

Yes it would, because you'll learn the theory of flight and basic aerodynamics and meteorology and other stuff. but if you intend to become a commercial pilot don't waste your time on getting a glider license since it has no value towards the commercial pilot.

Answer 11

I think you could just pick up those skills throwing paper airplanes. It's easier than it seems to become a pilot, or at least when you've been one. My grandad hasn't flown in about 40 years but all the sudden he feels like flying and gets his license renewed in ONE DAY!!!