Goldfields Gliding Club

The Soaring Society of South Africa (SSSA) is the body to which all glider pilots must belong, as stipulated in law by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), to pursue the sport of gliding in South Africa.

It is affiliated to the Aeroclub of South Africa which in turn represents all the sporting bodies at the CAA. Membership is by subscribing directly to the SSSA.

The SSSA has the following responsibilities:

• Defining and publishing the standards for safe operations (approved by the CAA)
• Maintaining a register of airworthy gliders
• Approving courses for the training of instructors
• Negotiating to ensure access to airspace
• Promoting the sport of gliding
• Liaison with international gliding organisations

Membership

Membership is obtained by subscribing directly to the SSSA.

Club operations

SSSA Clubs operate in terms of a manual of procedures written and published by the SSSA and approved by the CAA. It is not a rule book, but a blueprint for the safe operation of a gliding club.

The gliders you fly

Gliders are inspected on an annual basis by approved persons and the society maintains a register of airworthy gliders which have a current authority to fly. [ LS-1 certificate ]

Your instructors

To become instructors candidates must attend an SSSA approved course, run by a member of the Society's instructor panel. This ensures that all South African instructors work to consistent standards that compare with the best in the world. The Society publishes a regular instructors newsletter that keeps instructors up-to-date with current trends on all aspects of safety and instruction.

The airspace you fly in

The Society spends an increasing amount time negotiating to preserve soaring's freedom. In the past the Society has been instrumental in achieving more freedom for clubs than before.

Background education

The SSSA's soaring development panel have run countrywide lectures on basic meteorology and cross-country strategy. Fascinating stuff, and essential to anyone who really takes gliding seriously.

Source: SSSA