Hello John,

Since you are going to fly at Seminole-Lake Gliderport west of
Orlando, FL, then contact Knut and explain what you need. He will
know your options. His website is www.soarfl.com

As a DPE I have issued (by checkride) more than 35 US glider pilot
certificates NOT "based upon" the foreign license in the past 2 years
to non-US citizens. There is a TSA / Homeland Security exemption for
your glider pilot training.

(Note to CFIG's: You can find this TSA glider waiver on the www.AOPA.org
website or email me for a copy.)

To earn a US PVT / COM Glider Pilot certificate, you must take the FAA
"Airman Knowledge Test" (written) for Private or Commercial Glider,
then get the minimum (at least) ground and flight training required by
FAR part 61, then be recommended by a US CFIG for a practical test
(checkride) by a FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE).

As a glider pilot in Canada, you will find this written test that you
must take in advance of the checkride to be fairly easy if you study.
I recommend the "Glider Pilot Ground School" book as one of many
resources. Obtain the current Jacksonville Aeronautical chart and the
Orlando Class B chart and study them for the practical test, since
Seminole-Lake Gliderport is between the Tampa and Orlando class B
airspace.

There is another method that would be totally at the discretion of a
DPE: Issue you a US Student Pilot Certificate. This may not sit well
with the owners of the rental gliders, nor with their insurance
underwriters. I certainly would not rent my gliders based on a "no-
test" Student Certificate because I would want that pilot to know the
US procedures, signals, regulations and airspace.

Upon reflection, there are three levels of rule-making: The FAA, the
Insurance Underwriters, and the Owners of the aircraft. If this
means we are a safer community of glider pilots, then this is good. A
safer soaring community probably keeps the FAA from expanding the
already minimal rules for glider pilot certifications, and keeps us
"insurable" in the minds of the insurance underwriters.

So, get ground and flight training (from a US CFIG) in US procedures
and go ahead and earn your US certificate if you plan to fly "N"
registered gliders in the USA. The previous reciprocal agreements
for pilot licenses have changed since the events of 9/11/2001. The
reciprocal agreement that is specific to US and Canadian pilots is for
Airplane only. (This was FAA Notice N 8000.364 effective May 4,
2007.)

You still can get the US "restricted" Private Pilot certificate "based
upon" your foreign license, but this now requires written
"verification" of your foreign license by the FAA with your country's
aviation authority. Info on this verification application process is
on the FAA website www.faa.gov This method is time consuming and
the last guys who did this with me had to wait about 2 months for FAA
to complete the paperwork. Then they had to make an appointment with
the FAA FSDO inspector who was familiar with this process. Note this
is the FAA paperwork, not the TSA "background check" from which glider
pilots are exempted (although a few FAA inspectors do not know about
this TSA waiver.)

So it is probably faster, easier and smarter to take the US written
test and the checkride to earn the "unrestricted" regular US pilot
certificate in category glider. You already have the flying skills,
so enjoy a mental workout on the US rules and procedures and you'll
have a US certificate in your pocket in no time.

Burt
Marfa, Texas USA