Soaring to new heights
How I became a glider pilot
By Emily Peelar
Just over a year ago, I discovered a dream I once thought impossible—becoming a pilot. As a 20-year-old aerospace engineering student at Toronto Metropolitan University, earning my wings seemed like a dream that was too high in the clouds, with the cost of entering aviation being a lightning bolt shattering any sense of hope. That was until I discovered the University Soaring Society and its simulator training program at TMU.
Simulator training has been used for powered airplanes for years, but the prospect of using it for gliders is relatively uncharted territory. While soaring is often seen as a low-cost alternative to power flying, simulator training is able to reduce the cost even further. Through the University Soaring Society’s program, students reach solo flights in an average of 25 flights—compared to the Canadian average of 35 to 45. The program uses Condor, a gliding simulator software, coupled with a virtual reality headset to immerse the student in real-life flying scenarios. Scenarios such as rope breaks at low altitudes are easily integrated into simulator training, making for improved safety. Students are able to connect with instructors from across the globe, since training can be completed on a virtual platform. Instructors themselves do not have to have access to the software or know how to use it to a high degree of proficiency, since graduates of the program act as a liaison, in the role of a supervisor, between the student and instructor.
Upon completing simulator training and ground school during the winter months, students make their way to Toronto Soaring Club, where their journey takes new heights. My first flight was an unforgettable moment—I knew immediately that I wanted to do it again. Instructors at Toronto Soaring Club were impressed by the effectiveness of the program in developing the basic skills of soaring. The basic flying maneuvers and understanding of concepts were exceptionally greater than that of a typical entry-level soaring student without simulator training.
During the summer months, the simulator went to the Toronto Soaring Club, where it was used to refine skills after real flights. If an instructor provided feedback on a maneuver, students could immediately practice it in the simulator before taking to the skies a short while later. In addition, the simulator proved extremely useful in advanced thermaling techniques and cross-country training during the winter. Simulator training has endless potential.
Becoming a glider pilot has allowed me to unleash a passion that was clouded over deep within. Although becoming a licensed pilot has been an incredible part of this journey, there is certainly a lot more to it than just the prized piece of paper. There truly is something thrilling about being able to soar like a bird, without the need of an engine. The quietness of the cockpit, with just the sound of a gentle breeze and the sense of achievement when the variometer starts singing, make soaring a sport of passion. Even better than that is the people and sense of community that is associated with it.
Soaring is a journey that grows with the pilot. Every flight is unpredictable. There is always something to work toward, whether it be a cross-country flight to a new destination or climbing to an altitude you have never reached before.
So, if you ever find yourself under a clear sky, take a drive to a soaring club. Meet the pilots, experience their passion, and before you know it, you may find yourself soaring on 15-meter wings. If you have ever dreamed of flight, take that first step. Whether through a soaring club or a simulator, the sky isn’t the limit—it’s just the beginning.
Emily Peelar was a scholarship recipient in the University Soaring Society’s specialized simulator and ground school training program at Toronto Metropolitan University.
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