Gliders

Licensing Requirements

The various forms of gliders, i.e sailplanes, hang-gliders, paragliders, gyrogliders , are exempt from any pilot licensing requirements when operated internally in Ireland and as "Private Aircraft" i.e., aircraft used for recreational pleasure flying and not used for hire or reward. However, it is emphasised that the Irish Aviation Authority strongly recommends that no person should fly or attempt to fly these aircraft without receiving the full course of appropriate training provided or approved by the relevant sport aviation association covering these aircraft. Failure to receive such training may result in serious injury or loss of life, as well as damage to aircraft and property.

Airworthiness Requirements

The Irish Gliding & Soaring Association (IGSA) oversees all aspects of glider continuing airworthiness, glider maintenance, and pilot and inspector authorisation for gliding operations conducted in the Republic of Ireland.

The scope of gliding operations in the Republic of Ireland in 2007 encompasses some 120 pilots operating approx. 30 gliders under the control of the IGSA.

The IGSA are responsible for the oversight of all of Sailplanes and Self-Sustaining Sailplanes under their control.

They are approved to make recommendations to the IAA for the issue and validation of Certificates of Airworthiness

The IGSA Procedures manual defines the organisation and procedures, upon which, the IAA approval is based.

Owners should make applications for the issue or replacement of a Certificate of Airworthiness for Sailplanes and Self-Sustaining Sailplanes to the IGSA.
IGSA inspectors undertake the annual inspection of their gliders and make recommendations to the IAA for the validation of the certificate of airworthiness.

They also liaise with the IAA regarding the re-registration of aircraft, the replacement of documentation and modifications carried out on aircraft.

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is the agency of the European Union for aviation safety. The agency became operational in 2003 pursuant to European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) 1592/2002 now repealed by Council Regulation (EC) 261/2008 referred to as the Basic Regulation. The implementing rule for Continued Airworthiness, (EC) 2042/2003 contains detailed requirements for the continued airworthiness of aircraft including maintenance of all non commercial aircraft under 5700kg. Aircraft listed in Annex 2 of the Basic Regulation are excluded from these requirements and national regulations apply instead.

All Gliders with a maximum empty mass, of more than 80kg when a single-seater or 100kg when a two-seater, including those which are launched are subject to the requirements of Regulation EC2042/2003 Part M.

• A Certificate of Release to Service (CRS) shall be issued before flight at the completion of any maintenance by; (M.A. 801 CRS)
  
• A Part 145 organisation.
  
• A Subpart F organisation.
  
• A Part-66 licensed engineer for non-complex tasks (see Part M Appendix V11) excluding components off the aircraft.
  
• An authorised person in the case of Gliders and Balloons.
  
• A pilot owner MA 803 (see part M Appendix V111)

A pilot-owner is the person who owns or jointly owns the aircraft being maintained and holds a valid pilot license with the appropriate type or class rating.

For any privately operated aircraft of simple design with a maximum take-off mass of less than 2000 Kg, glider and balloon, the pilot-owner may issue the Certificate of Release to Service after the limited pilot owner maintenance listed in Appendix VIII to Part-M.

A Certificate of Release to Service issued by a pilot-owner should contain the following statement:

"Certifies that the limited pilot-owner maintenance except as otherwise specified was carried out in accordance with Part-M and in respect to that work the aircraft is considered ready for release to service."

Tasks included in the AFM/Operators Handbook are not considered "Maintenance tasks" except in those cases where there is an attachment to the AFM showing the maintenance schedule.