Gliding Federation of Australia

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Gliding Federation of Australia
Jurisdiction Australia
Founded1949
Flag of Australia (converted).svg

Gliding Federation of Australia, also known as Gliding Australia, is the governing body for the sport of gliding in Australia. It was founded in 1949. Gliding Australia is responsible to Civil Aviation Safety Authority for the conduct of safe gliding operations in Australia. This includes the setting and maintenance of flying standards and in particular training standards, for gliding and soaring flight in heavier-than-air fixed-wing gliders and sailplanes, powered sailplanes and touring motor gliders, but excluding flexible wing, weight shift hang gliders and paragliders.

Gliding Australia provides services to its members such as:


In Australia, glider pilots are exempt from holding pilot licences but the GFA is responsible for the establishment of glider pilot certificates. These are regarded highly enough by CASA and the aviation industry to be considered as a satisfactory substitute for licences. Australian glider pilots wishing to fly gliders in other countries can convert their GFA Glider Pilot Certificates (GPC) to CASA–issued (and ICAO compliant) Glider Pilot Licences Archived 5 April 2017 at the Wayback Machine .

As the inclusion of 'Federation' in the name suggests, the GFA is a tiered structure based on regional associations, which are in turn based on gliding clubs. It is only possible to be a member of the GFA if one is also a member of a gliding club which is affiliated to the GFA through the applicable regional association. The five regional associations are

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Gliding Australia is applying to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for formal recognition as an Approved Self-administering Aviation Organisation (ASAO) under CASR Part 149 legislation. https://www.casa.gov.au/search-centre/rules/part-149-casr-approved-self-administering-organisations Archived 30 October 2022 at the Wayback Machine CASA's assessment of this application is required to be completed by December 2023.

Gliding Australia has modified its Constitution to align with Part 149 requirements for key personnel, improve separation of Board and Executive functions, and drive greater organisational efficiencies. The Board includes regional, women's and junior representation, with a focus on strategy, priorities, governance, planning and performance. Executive functions include CEO (Accountable Manager), Safety, Operations, Airworthiness, plus Soaring Development, Marketing and Development, as well as enabling Administrative functions. As well as meeting legislated ASAO requirements, this organisation provides national support for regions and clubs seeking to enjoy the sport of soaring, run events and competitions, promote improved training and coaching and pilot development pathways, promote diversity and inclusion, manage airworthiness standards for diverse gliders and systems across many designs, learn from incidents and occurrences, and develop safe and robust training and operational systems.

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CASA has also delegated training, operational procedures and endorsement of glider towing operations to Gliding Australia, utilising general aviation and light sport aviation powered aircraft fitted with approved tow hooks and releases.

Australia has hosted World Gliding Championship contests on multiple occasions. The 2023 World Gliding Championships will be held in December 2023 at Narromine, NSW. https://glidingaustralia.org/worldchampionships/ Archived 10 August 2023 at the Wayback Machine

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References

    https://glidingaustralia.org Archived 30 October 2022 at the Wayback Machine

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