Grow your skills in pursuit of FAI badges
The FAI offers progressive badges encouraging glider pilots to improve skills and expand range through achievements like long-duration, high-altitude, and distant flights.
These badges, starting with going solo, challenge pilots progressively. The Diamond Badge is the highest achievement, signifying expertise in all aspects of soaring. These badges are internationally recognized, enabling pilots to communicate their skill level globally.
The club has a number of official FAI observers who can validate you badge leg accomplishments.
A Badge
Awarded for your first solo flight.
B Badge
Awarded for your first soaring flight over 30 minutes
C Badge
Awarded for your first soaring flight over 1 hour
Bronze Badge
The SAC Bronze Badge is issued by our club as a certification that you’ve completed the required training before a pilot is permitted to fly cross-country.
The Bronze Badge requirements are as follows:
- 3 consecutive spot landings 450′ from a designated point
- A demonstrated competency in thermaling (two flights of 2 hrs. of soaring or silver duration)
- Dual instruction in off field landing, dual x-country flight including pre-flight planning and a final glide
- Understanding and practice in rigging/de-rigging and trailering glider pilot intends to x-country fly
FAI Silver Badge
To qualify for a silver badge, you need to have achieved the following, in recorded flights that are verified by one of the official observers at the club:
- 50 kilometer flight
- 5 hour duration flight
- Height gain of 1,000 m
FAI Gold Badge
The requirements for this badge are:
- 300 kilometer flight
- 5 hour duration flight
- Height gain of 3,000m
FAI Diamond Badge
The requirements for this badge are:
- 500 kilometer free distance flight
- 300 kilometer flight to a goal
- Height gain of 5,000m
FAI Diplomas for flights exceeding 750km
The FAI also issues diplomas for flights exceeding 750 kiometers in increments of 250 kilometers (750, 1000, 1250, etc)