Services to Glider Pilots
Airfield Assistants
Paid assistants on the airfield help with rigging, wing running and parking your car after takeoff. They will also help with retrieves when requested.
Flight Claim Processing
National and world record claims and badge flights can be observed and processed for you and your flights can be submitted to the Aerokurier On Line Contest, which we also use to determine our own champion.
Fuel And Oxygen
Fuel and oxygen is available at the airfield. Please bring your own filling adapter.
Internet Facilities
Internet and email facilities are available at the camp director’s residence for a small fee.
Launching
Our own specially upgraded Samba tow plane with 3 blade constant speed propeller has proven even better than a 250hp Rallye.
Our resident tow pilot is available from the beginning December until late January, depending on demand.
A backup tow plane and pilot is available on standby and for when the number of launches per day becomes excessive.
With two runways available, to get everyone off quickly as soon as the trigger temperature is reached, we use one runway for the self launchers and the other for aerotows. Our field assistants handle ropes for the pilots at the start point. Pilots must be current on aero tow. Note that contrary to Europe, we use the low tow position in South Africa.
Protection from 35 degree sun provided at launch point.
Medical
2 rapid response emergency medical rescue vehicles are stationed at Gariep Dam and world class trauma facililties are available only 90 minutes away in Bleomfontein.
Repairs
We have experienced glider and avionics repairmen on site. Our new hangar has facilities to allow us to repair damage quickly, allowing you to make the most of your period at Gariep. We also keep spare tyres, tubes, loggers, radios, etc.
Shade Parking
Gliders parked outside in the open sun for a month or more will suffer from ultraviolet light damage of the polyester gelcoat, unless protected in some way. We offer a parking area underneath a specially designed structure which is covered by nylon shade cloth with 85% UV filtering. It also provides piece of mind during stormy evenings. We have shade space for up to 15 private gliders.
Task Planning
We have turn point and task lists, which can be converted to suit most logger formats. Please request this in advance by email. We keep a supply of aeronautical maps of the task area. We can also supply the SeeYou task planning and flight analysis program, with South African geographical and airspace map. Click here to view. On arrival you will be provided with a map, turn-point list and suggested tasks.
Water Ballast
Water taps are situated in the glider tie down area, allowing ballast filling without traffic jams. Please bring your own hose pipe and filling apparatus for your glider.
Weather Forecast
At 0900 each morning we present a special gliding weather briefing, based on a forecast supplied to us by the South African Weather Bureau. This information is not just a broad synopsis by a foreign university, but a detailed localized gliding forecast developed from a multitude of weather sensors and stations around the country, using the latest computer models for gliding forecasts.
We are in daily contact with the Bureau, reporting on conditions found the previous day, thus helping to improve the forecasting accuracy further.
The data is presented in a unique set of easy-to-understand series of graphs and maps. We provide an interpretation of the data during the briefing, and from our years of experience in flying in these conditions, we will provide newcomers with advice on which task to select.…
Gariep Dam Airfield
The little town of Gariepdam is nestled against a hill at the western end of a man-made lake. The town was built to facilitate the construction of the dam in the ’60s. Today it is essentially a tourist destination, a focal point for lovers of water sport, nature and gliding.
Far away from the bustling city, Gariepdam is free from noise, pollution and crime. The sunsets are unbelievable and the stars so bright that the night almost seems to surround you. It’s a haven of peace for those who want to “get away from it all”.
Gariep Dam Airfield
The little town of Gariepdam is nestled against a hill at the western end of a man-made lake. The town was built to facilitate the construction of the dam in the ’60s. Today it is essentially a tourist destination, a focal point for lovers of water sport, nature and gliding. (Read more about the history)
Far away from the bustling city, Gariepdam is free from noise, pollution and crime. The sunsets are unbelievable and the stars so bright that the night almost seems to surround you. It’s a haven of peace for those who want to “get away from it all”.
Much drier than the Johannesburg area, the summer days are predictably very warm, with only an occasional brief shower. Winter days are crisp and sunny. There are none of the tropical sicknesses such as Malaria or Bilharzia and the water is very pure.
The countryside around Gariepdam is a fascinating combination of lake, rocky hills, grassland and the mighty tree-lined Orange River. The sparse vegetation favours sheep farming, but game and hunting farms are common and there are several large game reserves in the area.
Just north of the town, in the middle of a wide grassy valley, lies one of the best small airfields in the country. Once handling busy traffic during the construction of the dam, Gariep Dam Airfield has two long and wide tarmac runways, taxiway and apron. With a game reserve on one boundary and the lake only a few kilometres to the east, wild life is plentiful nearby. A high ridge several kilometres away to the north forms a long silhouette and shelter against the northerly winds. To the west the tree-lined Orange River slowly winds its long journey to the Atlantic.
Today, the airfield mostly handles occasional Eco-tourism traffic. It is also an ideal refuelling point on the way to the south. However, being located in the middle of South Africa, far away from any controlled airspace, and with such ideal weather conditions, Gariep Dam Airfield is also an ideal sport-flying centre. Glider pilots have been going there for years, exploiting some of the world’s best soaring conditions. Now, the airfield has been secured by two glider pilots who are implementing changes and improvements to make Gariep Dam Airfield the best soaring and sports aviation centre in the southern hemisphere.…