On average the course takes 3 years, but this depends on your schedule. Flying regularly speeds things up.
Glider pilot training
To fly a glider solo you need a Sailplane Pilot Licence (SPL). This European licence allows you to fly throughout Europe. At SSZMZ you can follow our course to earn your SPL.
To start: see whether gliding is for you. Try it with a trial lesson! If you remain enthusiastic after this first taste of the sport, the next step is a medical examination.
Medical examination
To fly solo you must be medically fit. This can be assessed at several locations. It concerns a LAPL(S) (Light Aircraft Pilot Licence – Sailplane) medical, carried out by an Aero‑medical Examiner (AME).
Addresses can be found on the website of Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT).
EVO en VVO
EVO – Elementary training
VVO – Advanced training
Then you continue building experience in the second part of the course, the VVO (advanced). Here you practise—solo and with an instructor—thermal soaring, precision landings, steep turns, slipping and more. The end goal: your SPL licence!
Theory
Theory matters too. For both EVO and VVO there are concise, clear textbooks to study. For the SPL you take written exams in several subjects: Air law, Human performance & limitations, Meteorology, Navigation, Communications, Principles of flight (gliding), Flight performance, Operational procedures and Aircraft general knowledge.
You can find more information about theory on the STEBZ website. website van STEBZ.
Our glider training at Midden‑Zeeland
Our course is different from the usual. We schedule lessons by appointment, for example from 14:00 to 16:00—both weekends and weekdays. Always one‑to‑one: one student with one instructor.
How much time and money it takes depends largely on your schedule. If you can fly at least once every two weeks and devote enough time to theory, you can complete the EVO part in your first year.
The second part (VVO) typically takes around 1.5 to 2 years. We recommend doing your SPL theory exams in the winter after completing EVO.
Training is provided by our own instructors at SSZMZ at Midden‑Zeeland Airport in Arnemuiden.
Costs depend on your progress. The table below gives an estimate.