ANAC Glider Pilot study plan
ANAC Glider Pilot · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Air Law and Operational Regulations & Meteorology
Map the ANAC regulatory structure for glider operations, identifying the key articles on pilot licensing, aircraft airworthiness, and operational limits
Define the VMC minima, cloud clearance, and visibility requirements applicable to glider flights in controlled and uncontrolled airspace
Interpret the rules on right-of-way, cruising altitudes, and emergency transponder use for gliders
Explain the basic thermodynamic processes that drive convection and the formation of cumulus clouds
Your checkpoint
Create a one-page reference sheet listing the five most critical ANAC glider regulations with their practical implications, plus a sketch of the daytime convective cycle.
Air Law and Operational Regulations & Meteorology
Differentiate between controlled, uncontrolled, and special-use airspace classes and their entry requirements for gliders
Apply the rules for glider launches, including winch and aerotow, and the associated notification and separation requirements
Describe the formation and hazards of thunderstorms, mountain waves, and lee waves relevant to glider operations
Relate stability, lapse rates, and moisture to soaring forecast quality
Your checkpoint
Produce a 10-item quiz (with answer key) covering airspace entry and weather hazards, scoring at least 80% on a self-administered attempt.
Flight Performance, Planning, and Loading & Principles of Flight
Compute wing loading, aspect ratio, and sink rate for a representative glider using standard formulas
Explain the relationship between bank angle, load factor, and stall speed in turns
Interpret a polar curve to determine best glide speed and minimum sink speed for given conditions
Calculate density altitude and its effect on takeoff and landing performance
Your checkpoint
Solve a set of five performance problems (including a polar curve interpretation and a density altitude calculation) and submit a worked solution sheet.
Flight Performance, Planning, and Loading & Principles of Flight
Construct a weight and balance calculation for a glider with pilot, ballast, and equipment variations
Explain the four forces in gliding flight and how they change during a winch launch and in a steady glide
Plan a cross-country flight using a task sheet, accounting for wind, thermal strength, and safety margins
Identify the causes and recovery techniques for a spin and spiral dive
Your checkpoint
Complete a full cross-country flight plan (minimum 50 km) with weight and balance, performance, and fuel/ballast calculations, and pass an oral quiz on spin recovery.
Human Performance and Limitations & Glider General Knowledge (Airframe, Systems, Instruments, and Equipment)
Recognize the symptoms and management of hypoxia, hyperventilation, and carbon monoxide poisoning in glider cockpits
Describe the effects of fatigue, dehydration, and stress on decision-making and scan patterns
Identify the components and failure modes of pitot-static and total energy systems in gliders
Explain the operation and limitations of glider radios, transponders, and ELTs
Your checkpoint
Create a cockpit checklist card for human factors and instrument pre-flight checks, and correctly answer 15 scenario-based questions on physiological incapacitation.
Navigation & Operational Procedures
Convert between true, magnetic, and compass headings using variation and deviation
Plot a cross-country route on a sectional chart, identifying airspace, obstacles, and emergency landing fields
Apply the principles of thermal centering, MacCready theory, and final glide calculation
Outline the procedures for a glider ground launch, aerotow, and emergency off-field landing
Your checkpoint
Navigate a simulated 100 km triangle task on a sectional chart, producing a nav log with headings, times, and altitude estimates, and brief the emergency landing procedure.
Glider General Knowledge (Airframe, Systems, Instruments, and Equipment) & Operational Procedures
Inspect a glider's primary structure (spar, fuselage, control surfaces) for common defects and damage
Describe the pre-flight inspection flow and the documents required for legal flight
Explain the assembly and disassembly procedures, including control connections and ballast systems
Identify the actions for a launch failure at different altitudes and the use of the parachute
Your checkpoint
Perform a mock pre-flight inspection on a glider (or simulator) and document all checkpoints, then pass a verbal assessment on launch failure procedures.
Air Law and Operational Regulations & Flight Performance, Planning, and Loading & Meteorology & Principles of Flight
Review and consolidate the heaviest domains through mixed practice questions under timed conditions
Analyze weak areas from previous weeks and create targeted remediation notes
Simulate a full exam session covering all domains with a focus on air law, performance, meteorology, and principles of flight
Finalize a personal minimums and go/no-go decision framework for glider flights
Your checkpoint
Score at least 85% on a full-length practice exam (80 questions) and submit a one-page personal minimums checklist.
Milestones
Week 2: Score 80% or higher on the self-made airspace and weather quiz, and correctly explain VMC minima for gliders without reference.
Week 4: Complete the cross-country flight plan with all calculations accurate to within 5%, and demonstrate spin recovery knowledge orally.
Week 6: Produce a nav log for a 100 km task with headings within 5 degrees and time estimates within 10 minutes, and brief emergency procedures without notes.
Week 8: Achieve a passing score (85%+) on the full-length practice exam and present a completed personal minimums checklist.