Frequently Asked Questions

In our region, from March to October. Our airfield is open from the first Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. Spring and summer are the two best seasons for gliding; fall offers calmer flights with magnificent scenery.

Starting at 9:00 a.m. on good days, pilots get busy taking the gliders out of the hangars. The briefing takes place at 9:30 a.m. and is normally mandatory for all pilots. An instructor presents the day’s weather forecast and safety instructions.

After the briefing, flying can begin as soon as the gliders are on the runway, usually with the school flying all day.

As soon as thermal activity begins, usually in the late morning, takeoffs pick up pace, and pilots take to the air for cross-country flights.

Toward the end of the afternoon, we anticipate the return of all aircraft that went on cross-country flights. They are stored in the hangars as they come back.

Once the school session is over usually around 7:00 p.m., all remaining gliders are stowed.

The remaining tasks include handling the administrative work related to the day’s flights, finalizing the start list, filling out the flight logs, and, for students and instructors, completing the training progress documents.

Gliders can stay airborne by utilizing various natural phenomena:

Thermals

This is the most common phenomenon in our region; the pilot exploits pockets of warm air that rise. Therefore, a sunny day with unstable air is required. Thermals are very often marked by billowing clouds called cumulus.

The slope

With a moderate to strong Bise wind, the pilot can use slopes that are oriented perpendicular to the wind. Around Montricher, we can generally use the slopes of Le Châtel, Mont d'Or, and Le Suchet.

The wave

A fairly rare phenomenon at the foot of the Jura, it generally occurs after the passage of a cold front when the airflow is steady and directed toward the northwest. You’ve probably already noticed a foehn band (blue sky) along the Jura; it’s a good indicator of the wave. The pilot will ride the rising part of the wave, much like a surfer on the water.

Thermals are likely the best conditions for a first flight; visibility is generally good, and the air masses are relatively calm.

It depends on the following factors:

• The pilot’s skills and desire to go further
• The day’s weather conditions and their extent
• The time available; average speeds on a circuit range from 90 km/h to over 140 km/h

Departing from Montricher, there have been a few flights of over 1,000 km, heading toward the Alps and then to Austria and back. Over the Jura Mountains, there have been a few flights of over 850 km extending into Germany toward Nuremberg.

In Europe, flights reach up to about 1,600 km. Some records set in the Andes have exceeded 3,000 km.

Gliding Records

Typical distance flights range from 300 to 600 km; anything beyond that is the domain of experienced pilots.

If you’re curious, you can check out the flights on an online platform, updated daily.

As with distance, good weather conditions are needed to stay in the air. However, for duration, the conditions don’t need to be extensive—it just needs to work in one spot. With wind and a well-exposed slope, you can stay in the air indefinitely...

In 1952, a record of 56 hours and 15 minutes was set in a single-seater, and in 1954 a record of 57 hours and 40 minutes was achieved in a two-seater. Since flying for such a long time is dangerous, particularly in a single-seater, these records were banned...

Today, long-distance flights range from 8 to 12 hours, with a maximum of 14 hours. You can understand that there are physiological limits to staying seated in a cramped cockpit for such a long time.

There are different launch methods:

• Tow launch: the glider is towed by an airplane
• Winch launch: the glider is pulled by a very long cable wound onto a powerful winch that remains on the ground
• Self-launch: the glider has a retractable engine that allows it to take off
• Elastic/bungee launch: a group of people stretches an elastic cord; once the ground anchor is released, the glider is propelled into the air. This method is used in mountainous areas with light or older gliders; an elastic cord is not sufficient for modern gliders
• Towed by a car: in open areas, it is also possible to take off while being towed by a car using a long cable

Detailed illustrations

Just like road traffic, air traffic is governed by numerous rules that give absolute priority to commercial aviation and passenger safety.

There is therefore an established infrastructure with precisely defined airspaces, each with its own set of rules.

You will understand that major airports like Geneva and Zurich are surrounded by airspace where it is virtually impossible to fly a glider, as the space is reserved for scheduled air traffic. On the other hand, in the Jura or the Alps, as long as we stay outside these reserved airspaces, we can fly fairly freely.

Full explanation

The cost of training can vary quite significantly and depends on the following main factors:

• Your talent (sensitivity, coordination of movements)
• Your commitment (consistency on the ground, preparation)
• Your ability/speed of learning

The costs can be broken down as follows:

• Registration fee: 250.-
• Theory classes: ~ 450.-
• Annual dues: from 400.- to 1,200.- (1 to 3 seasons)
• Flights / Towing / Takeoff fees: from 5,500.- to 8,500.- (50 to 100 flights)

These figures are based on licenses issued over the past 3 years.

This amounts to a total cost of approximately 6,500 to 10,500.

Preparing for your flights and coming to the airfield regularly can go a long way toward optimizing costs and reducing the final bill.

The training progresses in three main phases:

1. Phase 1 – Preparation for solo flight: Introduction to piloting, mastering basic maneuvers, and developing the independence needed to complete your first solo flight.
2. Phase 2 – Learning cross-country flying: Developing the skills to fly in thermals, first in a tandem glider and then solo. Managing navigation, optimizing thermal use, and making decisions en route.
3. Phase 3 – Preparation for the practical exam: Consolidating skills, practicing required exercises, and simulating exam conditions.

At the same time, comprehensive and structured ground school is provided. It covers all the knowledge necessary for safety and understanding of gliding. This knowledge is then validated by an official written exam.

Once you have your license, you continue to enjoy flying with progressively longer local flights.
To take it further, pilots are trained in field landings (in open fields), an essential skill for flying confidently over longer distances.
This mastery allows you to tackle long-distance flights safely and fully explore the potential of gliding.