SOFTE Annual Report 2025-2026

The overall purpose of the SOFTE initiative is to advance the sport of soaring by providing an additional source of cost effective, time efficient glider flight training. SOFTE currently comprises a series of 35 simulation-based flight training modules based on the Private Pilot Glider Practical Test Standard (FAA-S-8081-22A). Each module is composed of a recorded webinar, the associated PowerPoint presentation and embedded/linked video files, the Condor flight simulation software files for the module’s training exercises, and any related documents. Participants are encouraged to recruit a Flight Training Mentor (CFIG, Private/Commercial glider pilot) to critique their performance of each simulation-based training exercise. All course resources (course description and schedule, equipment requirements, webinar recordings, PowerPoint presentation and related video files, Condor files, etc.) are available/downloadable at no cost and without attribution from the SOFTE Course Resource Library.

SOFTE can be used as a self-directed course of study and is also offered each fall/winter as two concurrent webinar series on behalf of the Soaring Society of America (SSA). SOFTE (Part 1), nicknamed “Zero to Solo” takes participants with no flight experience and advances them to making complete aerotowed flights (takeoff, tow, free flight, approach, landing) in crosswind conditions. SOFTE (Part 2) covers the remainder of flight-related tasks in the Private Pilot Glider Practical Test Standard.

SOFTE (Part 1) was offered for the 3rd time this past fall/winter. SOFTE (Part 2) was newly developed and made available for the 1st time. The development of Part 2 is estimated to have taken approximately 800-1000 hours.

Based on person/session participation records, the 2025-2026 SOFTE (Part 1) webinar series provided 650 hours of simulation-based glider flight training. SOFTE (Part 2) provided an additional 700 hours of training for an annual program total of 1350 hours. Assuming each webinar participant spent as little as one hour of practice on each session’s flight exercises, especially in cooperation with a flight training mentor, the 2025-2026 instructional activity increase to a minimum of 2700 hours. Add in the training provided by the previous two years’ Part 1 series, and the combined SOFTE webinar series alone have provided more than 2450 hours of simulation-based flight training.

Information, consultation, and support for SOFTE are available from its developer. Contact smanley@wisc.edu.
Detailed statistics on SOFTE 2025-2026 are listed below.

97 individuals registered for SOFTE 2025-2026

• 19 Certificated Glider Flight Instructors (CFIG)
  • 3 Part 1 only
  • 3 Part 2 only
  • 13 Parts 1 & 2
• 6 Private Pilot – ASEL seeking to add a Glider category rating
  • 1 Part 1 only
  • 5 Parts 1 & 2
• 10 Private Pilot – Glider seeking review and/or additional knowledge
  • 6 Part 2 only
  • 4 Parts 1 & 2
• 62 Students – Initial Certificate/Rating Candidates
  • 21 Part 1only
  • 16 Part 2 only
  • 25 Parts 1 & 2
• 15 Participating Flight Training Mentors
• 33 Soaring clubs/associations/commercial operations represented, including two in Canada