Cadet Scheme

The Booker Gliding Club Cadet Scheme enables young people to learn to fly at a very low cost and provides an enhanced ground training, mentoring and flying program. To join the scheme you must be between 15 and 21 years of age and in full time education.

As well as learning to fly, our cadets also have the opportunity to gain experience in many other aspects of gliding club operations, everything from managing the start line for a competition to briefing new members and course attendees.

The scheme can open the door to a number of flying scholarship programs and has helped many cadets progress to successful flying careers.

Free flying is earned by helping with the club operation on ‘duty’ days.
Typically ‘duty’ days would be rostered such that you attend the club one weekend day in every three to four weeks to assist with the day to day operation of the club.  In addition you would attend for around five to seven weekdays during the summer holiday period.
The more you put into the scheme the more experience you will gain and the more free flying you earn.  In addition to earning free flights you are also entitled to unlimited flying at greatly reduced rates.

In order to succeed in any aspect of flying you need to commit time and energy, and in order to be a good pilot a responsible attitude and degree of self motivation is required.

If you are thinking “hey, this is for me, I could actually learn to fly – it’s free” then you have got the idea.  

To apply, download and print this APPLICATION FORM and post it to the gliding club along with a short (70 – 250 word) note describing why you want to join the scheme.  If you can provide any relevant references then please add them.

From time to time the club holds OPEN DAYS to show prospective cadets and/or their parents around the club and our aircraft.  These also provide an opportunity to find out more about gliding and how the cadet scheme operates.  If you are interested in attending one of these open days for an hour or so then please contact us.

For more information you can download an INFORMATION SHEET or contact Booker Gliding Centre on 01494 442501 (office open Mon – Fri 9am – 12:30, Sat & Sun 9am to 3:30pm) or email us at info@bookergliding.co.uk

Gliding continually presents the pilot with many new and exciting challenges. Once you are hooked you will always want to glide.