Gliding Federation of Australia

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Gliding Federation of Australia
Jurisdiction Australia
Founded1949
Flag of Australia (converted).svg

The Gliding Federation of Australia (GFA), also known as Gliding Australia, is the governing body for the sport of gliding in Australia. It was founded in 1949. The GFA is responsible to Civil Aviation Safety Authority for the conduct of safe gliding operations in Australia. This includes the setting and maintenance of flying standards and in particular training standards, for gliding and soaring flight in heavier-than-air fixed-wing gliders and sailplanes, powered sailplanes and touring motor gliders, but excluding flexible wing, weight shift hang gliders and paragliders.

GFA / Gliding Australia provides services to its members such as:

In Australia, glider pilots are exempt from holding pilot licences but the GFA is responsible for the establishment of glider pilot certificates. These are regarded highly enough by CASA and the aviation industry to be considered as a satisfactory substitute for licences. Australian glider pilots wishing to fly gliders in other countries can convert their GFA Glider Pilot Certificates (GPC) to CASA–issued (and ICAO compliant) Glider Pilot Licences.

As the inclusion of 'Federation' in the name suggests, the GFA is a tiered structure based on regional associations, which are in turn based on gliding clubs. It is only possible to be a member of the GFA if one is also a member of a gliding club which is affiliated to the GFA through the applicable regional association. The five regional associations are

GFA in applying to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for formal recognition as an Approved Self-administering Aviation Organisation (ASAO) under CASR Part 149 legislation. https://www.casa.gov.au/search-centre/rules/part-149-casr-approved-self-administering-organisations

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