FI(S)

FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATE FOR SAILPLANE

Sailplane flight instructor course is a specialized program that trains experienced glider (sailplane) pilots to become certified instructors. It focuses on developing the skills and knowledge necessary to teach others how to safely and proficiently operate a sailplane. Upon completion, participants can qualify for a flight instructor certification for gliders, allowing them to train new pilots.

• Our training organization is certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
• You can register for training individually, there is no need to join a training group.
• We conduct training in two languages ​​- Lithuanian and English, so participants can choose the language they want.

Requirements to start training:
• Be at least 18 years of age;
• Hold at least class 2 aviation medical certificate;
• Hold SPL including the privileges, ratings and certificates according to which training will be organized;
• Be entitled to act as PIC in the sailplane during flight instruction;
• Have completed 100 hours of flight time and 200 launches as PIC on sailplanes.

The training program consists of two stages:
• Theoretical training – 55 hours.
• Practical training – 6 hours or 20 take-offs flight instruction in sailplanes.

Theoretical training stage
Theoretical knowledge instruction course comprises of a total of 55 hours:
• 25 hours of teaching and learning;
• 30 hours of theoretical knowledge instruction, including progress tests.

The theoretical knowledge training to includes revision of theoretical knowledge, the preparation of lesson plans and the development of classroom instructional skills to enable the applicant to instruct the theoretical knowledge syllabus and perform pre and post flight briefings.

All the subject detail contained in the SPL theoretical knowledge instruction syllabus and flight instruction syllabus which should already be known by the applicant is complementary to the FI(S) course syllabus. Therefore, the objective of the course is to:
• refresh and bring up to date the technical knowledge of the student instructor;
• train the student instructor to teach the ground subjects and air exercises (briefings);
• teach the student instructor the principles of basic instruction and to apply them at the SPL level.

The theoretical subjects covered is used to develop the instructor’s teaching skills. The items selected should relate to the student’s background and should be applied to training for an SPL.

Practical training phase
Practical training consists of at least 6 hours or 20 take-offs flight instruction in sailplanes, in accordance with PART-SFCL regulations, with these two-seater gliders:
• Schleicher K7 or
• SZD-9 Bocian

During this training, the student instructor occupies the seat normally occupied by the FI(S) trainee. The instructor providing this instructor training is normally taking over the role of the student pilot.
Practical training exercises are similar to those of the SPL training course but with additional items designed to cover the needs of a flight instructor. It is to be noted that airmanship is a vital ingredient of all flight operations. Therefore, during exercises, the relevant aspects of airmanship are to be stressed at the appropriate times during each flight. The student instructor should learn how to identify common errors and how to correct them properly.

After the training, practical exam (skill test) is conducted at our training center, which is held with a pre-assigned examiner.

FI(S) refresher seminar, to update and refresh the knowledge, relevant for those who already have sailplane flight instructor certificate can be also organized in our training center.