A friend of mine just got his commercial ASEL. Soon after he got a job in Hawaii towing gliders...or so he thought. Turns out that the FBO really needed him to fly Japanese tourists in gliders. I asked him if he would start to tow soon. He didn't know when he would start towing. He said that he makes more flying the gliders. I asked him if this would help his progression toward an airline, cargo job, etc. He said that he could count the glider time in his "total time". I don't doubt that, question is for all you airline guys out there, how is glider time regarded in the industry?

Thanks,

-ifrflyer

I can only speak from the regional airline side of things. Airlines, yes, are concerned with total hours, but more importantly...what type of hours. They want to see multi time, cross-country time, complex time, and turbine time (not in that order).

As far as soaring goes...it's great, it's fun, and it's peaceful, but I wouldn't count on it making a hill of beans to the airlines.

I agree-

I'd say that glider time is probably a little more valuable than flight engineer or navigator time in the airlines eyes. Having glider experience might give you extra points in the "all around pilot" category, but only if already have a good quality bit of ASEL/AMEL first.

Guppyguy

That's what I figured. I hope he starts towing soon. At least he will be building time that is worth a little more.

"Glider time and a quarter will make you a collect call." Just remember that.

"Glider time and a quarter will make you a collect call." Just remember that.

REVIVAL from the WAYBACK machine!!

#1 Glider time + 20 hours of power (At the time) got me the top score on the PCSM.

#2 In light of Capt. Sully, I think people are going to be taking a closer look at glider time in the near future.

#3 WOW, am I bored right now to be replying to a thread from five years ago.

Keep in mind, the requirements for those with a PPL or higher, to get a glider rating are significantly less. I've only been up a couple times but I'm definitely going to get the add-on in the next couple years.

https://www.ssa.org/sport/gliderpilot.asp

Edited February 9, 200916 yr by Whitman