New Jersey Wing Glider Operations

Glider Operations Staff

The New Jersey Wing Glider Program took flight on 12 July 03, when a test group of three cadets from Schirra Composite Squadron (NJ090) were taken aloft in a Schweizer SGS 2-33 sailplane over Blairstown Airport. The cadets were each flown to an altitude of 3,000’ where they were instructed to pull the release setting them free from the surly bonds of earth as the tow plane descended back towards the airport. Since that time, cadets from around the Wing have experienced the joys of soaring at one of our soaring facilities. This is just one of many soaring adventures awaiting cadets and seniors as the New Jersey Wing Glider Program returns to the skies in 2005.

On 21 November ‘04, The New Jersey Wing took possession of N5742S, a 1968 Schweizer SGS 2-33 Glider courtesy of the USAF Academy (see photo gallery). The glider was delivered to Blairstown Airport where it was assembled and inspected.  Don Vosseller conducted a test flight on 7 March 2004 and the ship is a joy to fly. The 2-33 will be used for all transition training, primary flight instruction, as well as cadet orientation flights.

Our program is growing: Tom Callahan (CFIG) and Don Vosseller (CFIG) are our NJ Wing Glider check pilots who will administer all CAP Form 5G rides. Robert Greitzer is a CFIG, Kurt Pricer has a commercial glider rating with a tow pilot endorsement in our Maule, while Mike Fadden, Peter Gates, and I make up our current orientation pilot staff.

Currently all New Jersey Wing Glider Operations are being conducted out of Woodbine Airport (1N4) in conjunction with our tow pilot training program with CFIG Tom Callahan heading the operation. Logistics have been worked and at present, tow pilot candidates will have to have a minimum of 500 total hours, 250 in single engine aircraft, complex & high performance endorsements in their logbook, 10 practice tows with a CAP Tow Pilot Trainer, glider rating, and a current form 5 check ride in our Maule. Once qualified, tow pilots will also have to be on orders (2A) in order to serve as PIC towing gliders.  While these requirements are high, they reflect the typical tow pilot requirements for the majority of the larger glider clubs in the US, and will ensure a good and safe tow operation.

Glider pilot transition training as well as primary flight instruction is now available to all NJ Wing cadet & senior members. A $25 per hop fee includes the 3,000’ tow aloft. You won’t be able to find prices like this anywhere around the state. Interested members should contact Tom Callahan directly to schedule instruction (see link below).

Since there has been a good deal of interest in our program, here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions…

• Any additional rating will qualify as a BFR, however, the flight review is for safety reasons and an additional review in the most complex aircraft would be advisable but not required.
• For an additional rating on a private pilots license: 3 hours of flight training, 10 solo flights, and a practical test (no written test). See CFR 61.109 (f) (2)
• For an additional rating on a commercial pilots license: 3 hours of flight training, 20 solo flights and a practical test (no written test). See CFR 61.129 (f) (2)
• For student solo (only a student license): an instructor’s endorsement (must be at least 14 years of age). See CFR 61.83 (b) It is the instructor’s responsibility to give the required training prior to solo. See CFR 61.87
• Private Pilot Glider: 10 hours of flight time in gliders including 2 hours of solo flight, 20 training flights in a glider including 10 solo flights. These are the minimum times before one is eligible for the practical test. A written test is also required. See CFR 61.109

A Flight Training Request Form is required for seniors or cadets: these require signatures from your local squadron commander in addition to Wing approval.

While waiting for your approval, take the wing runner course at the bottom of this page. A completed course including the on-line test is required prior to beginning training.

Prior to the start of your training for new pilots, download and print the “Glider Training Plan” from this website. Bring this with you so your instructor can document your progress.

For the training manual, we recommend the “Soaring Flight Manual private/commercial” available from the Soaring Society of America’s (SSA)  website. This book was used in preparing the FAA written test and includes a sample test. It also has information to help the flight training process. The present price is $29.95, (Log onto www.ssa.org. Go to “the store”, then ”books”, then “training guides” to find this book).

In addition to the above text, one other necessary book is the Schweizer 2-33 Flight Manual. Ed Wuerker from the Cape May Squadron purchased 10 copies, price is $5.00 per manual while supplies last.

For any additional questions, please e-mail Tom at callahan_tom@hotmail.com

CFIG’s, tow pilots, and glider orientation pilots are needed at all of our sites and transition to gliders is an easy task… Part 61.109 (f) of the FAR’s spells out all the requirements while CAPR 60-1 fills in the regulations (the new CAPF 60-1 is now in effect… please refer to Chapter 5 concerning glider operations).

Glider operations will return to Blairstown Airport for Groups 221 and 223 and Hammonton Airport for Groups 224 and 225 this spring, however, cadet glider orientation flights have been temporarily halted due to a lack of Air Force funding. Once funding has been restored, we will continue to fly cadets out of one of these sites on alternating weekends thus allowing each Group to fly a selected squadron once a month.  Designated schedulers are in place for each Group. These officers will be your Squadron’s point of contact for the scheduling of Glider Orientation Flights. Your scheduler will make sure the Squadron Commanders are properly informed about scheduling issues, travel requirements, dress and rules of conduct while at the designated airports. Do not call the pilots or the FBO’s; scheduling will only be conducted through your Group’s designated scheduler: 

Group 221: Thomas Kennedy

Group 223: Walter Blonski

Group 224: Ron Wiley

Group 225: Carl Jezierski

Once you are scheduled and arrive at the designated airport, the participating squadron members will meet with the designated Pilot(s) in Command for a pre-flight briefing. A Glider Ground Op’s/Safety Officer (provided by the participating squadrons) will be in charge of all activities relevant to CAP Glider Operations such as presenting the necessary paperwork to the PIC as well as assisting in the launching and retrieval of the glider and keeping track of the flight times. It is mandatory that your designated Glider Ground Op’s/Safety Officer take the Wing Runner Course prior to your squadron’s arrival and to brief your cadets accordingly to insure the safety of all parties concerned. The Pilot in Command will be the liaison between CAP and the FBO supplying the flying assets. Do not get involved with the FBO. Should a problem arise, the Pilot In Command will have the final say in all aspects of the scheduled flights

In addition to your designated Ground Op’s/Safety Officer, commanders need to send enough senior members to adequately supervise their cadets. Be sure that each of your cadets has a current copy of the CAPR 52-7(E) Flight Syllabus as well as a current CAP ID in their possession. Commanders are also asked to download a copy of the CAPF 7 and have their Ground Op’s/Safety Officer fill out the portions of Section II (name and CAP ID) that are directly related to the cadets flying for that day. This document will be presented to the Pilot In Command upon arrival.

Glider Orientation Flights should be an interactive activity designed to get the cadets involved with not only the flying but the launch and retrieval of the gliders as well.  Some sort of activity should be planned for the cadets while they await the return of each flight; this is not the responsibility of the Glider Operations Staff on hand at the airport. Please check out some of the links below for ideas.

Your senior members will supervise all relevant activities related to ground operations with the cadet members of your squadron. Squadron Commanders will be responsible for adequate supervision and activities for their cadets not actively involved on the flight line. There will be no roaming around the airport or flight line unsupervised. We have made great efforts to secure agreements with the various FBO’s supplying assets… a big part of these negotiations were safety and insurance related issues. Your squadron members will need to follow the rules set up by the FBO’s. As with any new program, we will find unexpected glitches in the system. Please feel free to contact me at any time concerning these problems. Again, do not contact the FBO’s with matters concerning CAP Orientation Flight problems.

We are currently looking for “glider friendly” airports around the state from which we can conduct training (transition & primary flight instruction) in both the Maule and the 2-33. Since most glider FBO’s count on towing as additional revenue, many operations frown on outside groups flying their own assets. Should you know of any airport willing to allow us to tow our own glider, please contact me directly dog@njwg.cap.gov. Hopefully we will be able to move both our glider and tow plane to locations easily accessible to all.

Lastly, plans are still being made to conduct some sort of glider ground school course for both transitioning pilots as well as new glider pilots. Much of the information needed for the written & oral exams can be found in the SSA’s Soaring Flight Manual private/commercial mentioned above.

Guidelines for Glider Orientation Flights

• When arriving at Blairstown or Hammonton for orientation flights, it shall be the responsibility of the Squadron Commander or their designee to seek out the CAP Pilot In Command before allowing their Squadron members to leave the parking area.
• The squadron Ground Op’s Officer will check ID cards, check the CAPR 52-7(E), check proper attire for soaring, and complete Section II of the CAPF 7 (cadet info).
• Once assembled, the squadron Ground Op’s Officer along with the PIC (Pilot in Command) will brief the cadets on all safety issues necessary for safe flight operations.
• The squadron Ground Op’s Officer will assist teaching the proper signals and launch procedures for the Wing Runner Position prior to moving out onto the flight line. The squadron Ground Op’s Officer will then supervise all launchings and retrievals of the aircraft along with any designated individuals that may be assigned by the FBO.
• It is up to the squadron senior members to escort the cadets and keep all non-flying cadets out of the way during flight operations. This is not the job of the FBO personnel.
• The Ground Op’s Officer will keep the CAPF 7 and CAPF 52-7(E)’s during all flight operations, record flight times for each sortie, and ensure that the PIC signs off on the 52-7.  
• The cadets will help in securing the aircraft at the end of the flight operations for the day.
• The PIC will have the final word on any and all aspects of the flying activities for that day.

Checklist

The following checklist should be used to assure that the guidelines given above are followed:

• Proper attire for warm weather soaring will include: BDU Cover, T-shirt, Shorts, Sneakers, Sunglasses, Sun Screen, Water Bottle (no canteens), and a camera (optional).  Warmer clothing will be needed in both spring and fall flights… dress accordingly. No Boots!
• On-site Senior CAP Member(s) must be briefed prior to the start of glider activities for the day.
• Provide at least one CAP Senior member for every five cadets in attendance.
• The CAP Senior Member(s) in charge of the cadets will conduct some type of activity with those cadets who are not involved with the current ground operations.
• Cadets will need to present their CAP ID card and their CAPF 52-7 to the Pilot In Command.
• Cadets and CAP Senior Members are to review the Wing Runners PowerPoint presentation (available on our web site) at their Squadron HQ sometime before their scheduled flights.
• Squadron Commanders are to ensure all necessary paperwork is accurate and completed, including a signed CAPF 31 for each cadet participating.
• Commanders are to provide their scheduler with the phone numbers of the senior members in charge should the scheduled flights need to be cancelled due to weather or maintenance problems. It is strongly suggested that your cadets arrive as a group and not on an individual basis.

• Make sure your Ground Op’s Officer completes the CAPF 7 & 7T and that the Cadet Flight Syllabus (52-7) has been signed by the PIC before leaving the airport area.

Glider Pilot Reference Materials

• Flight Training Request Forms: Seniors, Cadets.

• Glider Check Ride Package - Download here

• Glider Program Test doc

• Glider Training Plan

• Tow Plane Course - Take course

• Cadet Orientation Flight  Syllabus - CAPP 52-7

• CAP Pilot Flight Evaluation-Glider - CAPF 5G dot, pdf

• Cadet Orientation Flight Consolidation Report - CAPF 7 pdf

• Tow Flight Consolidation Report - CAPF 7T pdf

• FAA Regulations relevant to glider operations 61.69, 61.107, & 61.109

• How Gliders Work by Marshall Brain and Brian Adkins

• USAF Academy Soaring program

  WINGRUNNER COURSE

NHQ Online Quiz System - tests

Announcing the delivery of N5742S

Our new glider (N5742S) arrived

Glider Orientation Flights Photo Galleries

Walter M. Schirra Composite Squadron - 12 July 2003
Gen Jimmy Stewart Composite Squadron - 26 July 2003
Atlantic County Composite Squadron - 2 Aug 2003
Group 221 - 28 Mar 2004