NSW Gliding
Growing new generation instructors
NSW Gliding’s has been driving the ‘engine-room’ to conduct instructor courses in the last 15 months.
The underlying aim of the program is to train a new generation of instructors and although some do not fall into that age category, there has doubtless been a significant growth in the numbers of AEIs and L1s in particular. Successful courses have been held at Narromine (03/21), Bunyan (04/22), Pipers Field (04/22) and Warkworth (06/22).
Gliding Australia’s Chief of Operations Pat Barfield has been a strong supporter, instructing on three of the courses, while RMO(NSW) Aaron Stroop has been a constant member of the instructing team on all courses. I benefited from the Narromine course in gaining a Level 3 upgrade and I have since enjoyed the opportunity to instruct on the Bunyan and Warkworth courses.
All courses have been teaching in concurrence with the new integrated Training Program (ITP) GPC syllabus, noting that presently there is no dedicated syllabus for instructor training per se.
In total the courses have resulted in a total of 26 new instructor qualifications and/or upgraded qualifications spanning the AEI to Level 3 range.
All of the course graduates are converts to the ITP method and many of us have been introducing that within our clubs since the Spring of 2021
A champion of the Gliding ‘Fun, Fair and Safe ethos’ is GFA Board member Beryl Hartley. Together with husband Arnie, they have also been major driving forces behind creating the environment and funding for the NSW Gliding instructor courses. Beryl and Arnie have attended every instructor course noted, providing catering and, in some cases, aerotows; they are the unsung heroes of Narromine and NSW Gliding!
David McIlroy
Chair, Training Panel
Canberra Gliding Club Inc.
