Welcome

Joining in and getting support

Welcome

We’re really glad you’ve joined our club. This short guide is here to help you feel more confident in your first few weeks, and to help you find the right people when questions come up.

You don’t need to read everything straight away—just keep it handy and dip into it as you go. Whether you’re learning to fly, returning after a break, or joining for a different reason, this guide is for you.

Your Early Weeks: Settling In

Gliding clubs can be busy, unfamiliar places at first. There’s a lot going on, a lot of new faces, and often a few unspoken ways of doing things. That’s normal – and it gets easier once you begin to pick up the rhythm of the club.

Here’s what to expect:

You’re not expected to know how everything works. Most of us didn’t either when we joined.
There’s usually a mix of people on the airfield, each concentrating on one or more tasks. If you’re not sure who to ask, start with someone who looks approachable.
Almost everyone is a volunteer. While we do have some paid instructors, winch drivers etc., most of the people you see helping you get in the air and teaching you how to fly are members, giving their time for free. We hope that before long you’ll be happy to help, too.
Asking questions is encouraged – even if you think you’ve already asked it before. There is a lot of new information to take in and everyone finds it takes time to learn, you’ve probably noticed that there are a lot of new words too!
You don’t have to wait to be invited to join in. Just offering to help is a great start.
Getting to know a few names and faces makes a big difference early on.

Systems

We use rather a lot of systems to manage flying, training, booking etc. They can be a bit overwhelming to begin with. Here’s a brief overview:

camgliding.uk is our public website. You’re looking at it! It has a number of links for members that can help you navigate to useful pages (see under ‘Members’!).
members.camgliding.uk is the members’ website – appropriately enough. It provides a live picture of what’s happening at the airfield, access to the booking system, a wealth of information about flying and how the club operates. Don’t try to read it all at once!
If you’re new to the club and want to get started, we strongly recommend that you do so – straight away – by booking a two-seater training session with an instructor following the instructions here.
We use something called Aerolog primarily to manage member accounts (including the personal information we keep about you), retain flight logs and other formal information..
We use something called Gliding App to manage and record all flights, to keep your training records and qualifications, and to register who is doing what on the airfield. You will receive an email inviting you to sign up to the account we created for you when you joined – please do so!

(More detailed information is available in other documents here, and you will be encouraged to look at them over the coming weeks).

Getting Support as You Learn

Everyone’s gliding journey is a little different, but support is always available. Here are some common things new members ask about:

Flight bookings / attendance
We have a booking system for training (learning to fly). You will need to log in to the members’ website to make a booking. You need to book training sessions in order to learn to fly! Once you’ve booked a session you’re normally expected to turn up – there is always something to learn in the classroom or the simulator, and your booking means someone else can’t fly that day. That said, life happens – and if you need to cancel a few days in advance that’s understood (particularly if you’re new).
Learning to fly
Your instructor or coach will guide you through the training process. You can also ask about the progress card, the syllabus, or how briefings and debriefs work.
Club communications
You’ll be added to the club’s formal (“announce”) and informal (“news”) email lists. You can unsubscribe from the “news” list.
Most of the informal communications among members take place in our WhatsApp Community, which you can join using this link. There you will find many groups which you can join as you wish. (Membership is limited to the club, but the club does not control the conversations. If you are under 18, you should ask your parent or guardian before joining the Community) Initially we suggest that you join the ‘CGC General Chat’ plus a group aimed specifically at your experience level, such as ‘CGC Pre-Solo’. If flying in the evenings interests you, there’s a ‘CGC Evening Flying’ group.
If something’s unclear or doesn’t feel right
Everyone has a responsibility for safety and inclusion. If anything feels uncomfortable, on the ground or in the air, you can speak to the CFI (Chief Flying Instructor), a committee member, the Child Protection Officer or someone you trust. You won’t be judged for raising a concern.

You can also ask for a short check-in chat with someone from the instructor team or membership committee. If this interests you, please contact Jo in the office (office@camgliding.uk).

Ways to Join In

You don’t need to volunteer for big things straight away, but even small contributions will help you feel like part of the club. Remember to ask someone to show you how to do things if you are unsure.

Here are some easy ways to get involved:

Airfield set up or pack away: flying gliders is only made possible by the other people who launch us, so everyone is expected to help with either setting up or packing away. It’s a very good way of meeting other club members.
At the launch point: Helping move gliders, signalling, or simply observing what’s going on, talking to new people. Everyone will appreciate it if you ask what to do, and how!
Ground tasks: Tidying up, making tea, cleaning gliders and so on
Events and socials: Our club has numerous informal gatherings, barbecues and talks, which are great for meeting people. We have an annual prize giving and awards dinner too. Details of events are circulated by the various communications channels.
After flying: People will stay around to chat after flying, sometimes having a drink at the bar or eating an evening meal together. We know that this isn’t possible for everyone but do join in if you can, even if it’s only possible occasionally.
Behind the scenes: If you have a skill (IT, comms, admin, maintenance), let someone know! Clubs rely on members with all sorts of backgrounds. We also have all sorts of tasks where you can learn new skills.

As you settle in, you might hear about ways to help out more formally: on the committee, assisting instructors, or joining a working party. But there’s no pressure. Just show up and be part of things in whatever way fits for you right now.

How to find out if flying is on

Information about flying days should be on the Airfield Status page of the members’ website, although it’s generally assumed that the airfield is flyable during the summer and this page is not often updated.

What if the weather doesn’t look very good? Come anyway, something will be happening – ground training, some simulator training or maintenance tasks, as well as the tea and chat.

What If I Feel a Bit Lost?

That’s common – and OK.

Most people feel unsure at some point, even after they’ve been a member for a while. The key thing is not to assume you’re the only one, or that you’re doing something wrong.

Some things that help:

Come to the morning briefings at 9:30 in the clubhouse – it’s a great way to hear about what’s important that day. Do ask questions then and later in the day, as you need to.
Come on a day with others who are at a similar training stage to you – it’s easier not to feel like the only new person
Ask someone to talk you through the day’s plan or where things are kept
Let someone know if you’re feeling a bit unsure. A quick chat often solves it
Don’t worry if it feels like your ability to fly seems to grind to a halt or goes backwards – everyone goes through that phase, and although it feels unsettling, it is usually a good sign as the skills are beginning to be managed by a different part of your brain.

If other things in your life have been going on and you find that you haven’t been around in a while, you’re always welcome to come back. No one will mind. It’s never too late to pick up where you left off.

Useful Contacts / Notes

Topic	Person to Contact	Notes
General club questions	Office Manager	Joanne – works weekdays except Thursdays
Flying / training	CFI or any instructor
Bookings / duty rota	Duty organiser or launch coordinator
Safety / conduct concerns	Safety officer or Chair	Can also speak in confidence
Child safety	Child Protection Officer
Want to help out?	Any friendly face!
Not sure who to ask	Your “mentor” or any committee member

Finally…

Thank you for being here. Gliding is an amazing sport – and it’s even better when we help each other feel included.

Welcome to your new gliding club! We’re glad you’ve joined.

(If you would like to dive in to all the other detailed “Getting started” information on this site, please start at the index page, here.)