Capt. Jim Davis (United) and one of the Chicago Glider Club’s Schleicher ASK 21 sailplanes.

Loss of engine power is something airline pilots train for but hope they never have to encounter. However, Capt. Jim Davis (United) routinely soars high above the Chicago, Ill., suburbs, relying solely on the area’s thermals to keep him aloft. A member of a glider club, he frequently flies one of the club’s four sailplanes, taking advantage of rising air currents in the atmosphere to increase his altitude.

The B-787 pilot began glider flying, also referred to as soaring, about 10 years ago. “It was a bucket-list item I always wanted to do,” Davis said, adding that the simplicity of the stick-and-rudder operation particularly appealed to him. “In many respects, glider flying reinforces basic flying skills, doesn’t burn fuel, and is a lot of fun,” he observed.

Like many of his peers, Davis used general aviation as a stepping-stone for a career in flying. A navigator in the U.S. Air Force, he had less than 20/20 vision, an obstacle at the time for anyone attempting to access the service’s undergraduate pilot training opportunities. So he left the military, earning his certificates and ratings, serving as a flight instructor, and flying for CommuteAir before moving on to his current carrier.

The United captain later earned his private pilot-glider certificate at a commercial school south of Phoenix, Ariz.—Arizona Soaring—taking advantage of air currents created by the nearby Sierra Estrella Mountains. After obtaining this certificate, Davis’s first passenger was his wife. “She expressed some trepidations about climbing into the cabin of the club’s Schweizer SGS 2-33, eyeing the aircraft’s wooden floor and its dated-looking instrumental panel,” he said. However, Davis reassured her that everything would be fine, and the two had a memorable flight.

He eventually earned his commercial gliding certificate and is currently working to obtain his flight instructor-glider certification.

A member of the Chicago Glider Club, located in Minooka, Ill., Davis flies whenever he can. The club requires members to volunteer their time when they aren’t slipping “the surly bonds of Earth.” Notes posted in the clubhouse and an ongoing e-mail chain enable everyone to stay in touch and coordinate activities.

“It takes a village,” said Davis, noting that if you want to schedule a flight, you need to have the right weather (e.g., bright and not too gusty), an available ground crew, and a tow plane and pilot to help get you airborne. When club members aren’t soaring, they’re flying one of the two tow planes, a Piper PA-25 Pawnee or an Aviat Husky, or mowing the club fields. Several of the members are airframe and powerplant mechanics, whose knowledge and skills continue to help the club preserve funds.

The fleet includes two Schleicher ASK 21 sailplanes, a Schempp-Hirth Duo Discus, and a single-seat Schempp-Hirth Discus CS. The club routinely upgrades its aircraft and places a high priority on operational safety.

Discussing the knowledge gained by flying sailplanes, Davis highlighted another airline pilot, Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger (US Airways, Ret.) who’s also a certified glider pilot. Referencing the US Airways Flight 1549 accident in which Sullenberger landed the Airbus A320 in New York’s Hudson River after a bird strike, Davis suggested that Sully’s glider instincts clearly kicked in after his aircraft experienced total engine failure.

“For those who are interested, the best way to get started with glider flying is to visit a local club,” Davis observed. Members are more than happy to talk about their experiences, and these organizations typically offer FAA-certified flight instructors. The Soaring Society of America, a clearinghouse of glider information, can help you locate the nearest club.

Davis noted that approximately 20 percent of the Chicago Glider Club’s current members are airline pilots, and its president, Ron Ridenour, is a retired United Airlines pilot. Clearly, soaring has a natural appeal for those who love aviation and, as one of them, Davis recommends this novel way to enjoy recreational flying while spending time with family.