Glider flying can look simple: a towplane pulls a glider skyward, the glider lands and the cycle begins again. During our visit to St-Jean Cadet Training Centre at Saint-Jean Airport (CYJN), I saw the coordination behind that safe and efficient cycle.
Led by Professor Shi Cao, our Collaborative Aeronautics Program (CAP) group observed an afternoon of cadet training. Before we reached the flight line, the spotless hangar and towplanes shining like new revealed the care and discipline behind the operation.
I was most impressed by the choreography on the ground. From what I observed, the team used three parallel grass landing lanes beside the flight line. I watched two Schweizer SGS 2-33 gliders land consecutively on adjacent lanes. My later estimate from satellite imagery suggested they stopped within about 100 to 150 metres after touchdown.
After each landing, cadets quickly pushed the glider backward to the flight line without making a U-turn. Meanwhile, a standby towplane moved into position for the next launch as the previous one cleared. The sequence happened on foot, without golf carts, but maintained a steady rhythm.
We also learned about the program's demanding training process. Cadets are selected through a rigorous screening process conducted during the winter, which includes ground school training, a national examination, and an interview. This year, the 50 cadets at CTC Saint-Jean were chosen from a pool of 2,400 cadets from across the country. The program is designed to prepare them for their first solo flight after approximately 24 training flights, with each cadet potentially completing up to five flights per day.
As both a CAP student and a student glider pilot, I found the visit especially meaningful. At my own club, I have seen how much teamwork supports every flight. St-Jean showed how the same fundamentals can support intensive training: clear roles, disciplined collaboration and thoughtful use of resources.
Efficiency must also suit the aircraft. The lightweight SGS 2-33, with its low stall speed, is well suited to short landings and manual retrieval. Heavier, newer gliders may roll farther, requiring different braking and ground-handling practices. There is no single ideal system because procedures must suit the fleet, facilities and training environment.
Overall, the visit gave me greater appreciation for the planning, teamwork and discipline behind an intensive glider training operation. I am grateful to Lieutenant-Colonel Yves Harvey, Commanding Officer of St-Jean Cadet Training Centre, Major Dominic Girard, the centre’s Chief Flight Instructor, and the entire St-Jean team for welcoming us. I also thank the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics, the Collaborative Aeronautics Program and Professor Shi Cao for making this memorable learning experience possible.