A sailplane is a glider designed to fly efficiently and gain altitude solely from natural forces, such as thermal, ridge and wave.

About Alaska Mountain Soaring

The purpose for which Alaska Mountain Soaring is formed our to explore, research and promote the scientific and engineering aspects of motorless flights and to promote a greater understanding of the dynamics of flight and flight safety. To this and its equipment is used in educational and scientific activities. These purposes are exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

A separate activity is the scientific operations of the organization. These operations are varied and include the following research into sailplane flights, studies of better sailplane instruments for cold weather applications, and the investigation of Northern atmospheric conditions of Interior and Southcentral Alaska.

Towing a glider aloft to 2,500 or 3,000 feet afford the glider the opportunity to fly for about 20 minutes before it must land if the glider cannot find lift that will enable it to extend the duration of flight.  Towing consist of a tow plane with an engine pulling another plane (a glider) without an engine into the air. Tows aloft can be terminated at a lower altitude or extended higher depending on the local conditions experienced at the airfield. Training will be conducted in order to ensure all operations are conducted safely and efficiently, in addition to furthering the exempt purpose of promoting a greater understanding of the dynamics of flight and flight safety. The training will consist of flight safety, preflight inspection, principles of motorless flight, operating at a tow plane and other areas related to aeronautics.

Glider flights are conducted by Federal Aviation Administration licensed pilots who are properly qualified to conduct the operation that they carry out. The majority of members of the organization will consist of individuals from the Alaska region including, but not limited to Alaska Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest. Membership is not limited to any specific group and is open to all members of the public with a keen interest in carrying out the exempt purposes of Alaska Mountain Soaring. This includes, but is not limited to, glider instructors, ground instructors, office assistants, researchers, ground crew, wing runners, glider pilots, and tow pilots. Glider instructors must be rated as a certified flight instructor – glider (CFI-G). Two pilots must be at least private pilots with the necessary experience to tow gliders.

In order to operate a glider alone, the pilot must be at least a licensed private pilot or a student with an endorsement from a CFI-G. Additional pilots will come from the ranks of local qualified volunteers who wish to assist in the operations. These include individuals from surrounding areas, including, but not limited to, Alaska, Western Canada, the Pacific Northwest who have the necessary qualifications and experience in order to safely operate the aircraft. Familiarization flights will also be conducted that will allow any and all interested parties from the local area to experience glider flights in order to better understand the mechanics of flight and the unique characteristics of soaring.