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GENERAL
York Soaring Association (YSA) has a history of successfully providing youth from across Ontario glider flight training to Ministry of Transportation licensing standards since 1972. Qualified participants may obtain their Glider Pilot license in 2-3 weeks by attending a youth camp, or by becoming a member and learning at their own pace over the course of the summer.
Whether a youth attends the YSA training camp, obtains their licence over the course of the summer, or joins as a licensed glider pilot, the following advantages apply:
- Discounted youth memberships are offered so that new pilots may continue to build solo time for the remainder of the year, advance to other types of gliders, obtain passenger ratings, and receive advance training to achieve Soaring Association of Canada (SAC) badges for height, duration, and distance.
- Glider types available for advancement include the single seat mid performance SGS 1-26, SGS 1-34, higher performance 2 seat Lark, and with time other high performance gliders.
- Youth Flight Canada Bursaries are available to licensed pilots in their subsequent years to provide additional low cost flight time and advanced training opportunities.
- Air Cadets who successfully obtain their licence at YSA may apply through their squadron to attend the CRGS conversion course that will enable them to fly with their local gliding center and wear the glider "wings".
- Qualified youth with disabilities are able to learn to soar at YSA through our affiliation with Freedom’s Wings Canada. Paraplegics or high functioning quadriplegics please seek more information through the Freedom’s Wings website.
To see YSA's Youth Training Program in action, check our video (created by one of our own Youth Flight Canada bursary recipients): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhnbMYwNPd8
YOUTH CAMP
Qualified participants may obtain their Glider Pilot license in 2-3 weeks by attending a youth training camp (YOUTH CAMP APPLICATION). Advantages of learning to fly at one of our camps include:
- Short Duration – At 2-3 weeks (weather permitting), the program enables the students the flexibility of getting their glider pilot license while also maintaining summer jobs, allowing the opportunity of attending 3-week cadet camps, or to go on summer vacation
- Low Cost – The program is financially supported by Youth Flight Canada and offers a fixed cost basis rather than paying per flight. (Students must reach solo stage after 28 training flights or pay additionally for any extra flights)
- Increased Flight Time – The camp offers students the introduction to thermalling, the opportunity to develop their technique, and the encouragement to achieve the SAC "C" badge (solo flight longer than 1 hour). Graduates can complete their licence closer to the 10 hour solo milestone required by most organizations to carry passengers
Information for Parents
During the day, students are supervised on the flight line by club instructors involved in the training program. In the evening, male and female adult club members are present on site in case of emergency and to enforce lights out (11 pm during youth camp). Parents are welcome to camp over night and to participate during the course of the camp.
For more information on the youth camp, an individual self-paced youth training option, ground school training options, please contact the Chief Flying Instructor.
ADVANCED TRAINING
Whether a youth attends the YSA training camp, obtains their licence over the course of the summer, or joins as a licensed glider pilot, they may apply for a Youth Flight Canada bursary the following year to help subsidize the cost of further flying:
- Discounted youth memberships are offered to all qualified youth under the age of 25
- Youth awarded bursaries have a further reduced membership fee and subsidised flight costs
- Typical progression from the 2-33 trainer includes the introduction to our single seaters, the 1-26 and 1-34, which can be used to obtain SAC badges for height, duration, and distance.
Advanced thermalling, navigation, cross-country training, and mentoring are available.
In 2009 some of our YSA bursary recipients achieved, and surpassed, the requirements for their SAC Silver "C" badge:
| Silver "C" Requirements |
YSA Bursary Recipients Achieved: |
| 1,000m Height Gain |
1,250 metre height gain |
| 5 hours Duration |
5 hours 39 minutes duration |
| 50 km Distance |
96 kilometre distance |
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For further information please see the Youth Flight Canada and the Bursary section.
YSA CLUB FACILITIES
Over the 2008 and 2009 seasons, YSA club facilities have been completely renovated and modernized. We are able to provide an environment where youth can learn, be self-sufficient, prepare their meals, and have personal space (with adult members in the vicinity).
Our club facilities offer:
- Club house has wheelchair accessible washrooms (men and women)
- Fully equipped and accessible Kitchen including:
- Two stoves
- Two fridges
- Microwave and Toaster Ovens
- Built in breakfast-bar island
- Classroom with desktop computers available for public use
- High speed wireless internet connection
- Large deck with picnic tables and club house lounge area
- Shower facilities (three separate individual shower stalls with changing areas) and common counter top with sinks.
- Overnight accommodations (separate accommodations for male and female).
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