What is ACAO
The ACAO – Aero Club Adele Orsi is an Italian gliding club with its own flight school and is one of the largest airlines in Italy. The club has a fixed membership base of over 200 people and successfully trains more than 20 pilots every year.
The flight school is aimed at those interested in obtaining a gliding license – with a combination of theoretical lessons and practical flying. The seat of the club is in Varese / Italy.
Offer of training
The ACAO flight school offers a complete course for obtaining the Glider Pilot License. The course is divided into a theoretical and a practical part.
Theoretical lessons comprise around 50 hours of teaching. Interestingly, this lesson is accessible not only for enrolled students, but also for external listeners free of charge.
Several sailplanes and powered sailplanes are available for practical training, including two-seater ASK21 and one Falke 25C powered sailplane and the punishable ASK21 M. Flight operations are usually from Wednesday to Sunday.
Costs
The total cost for the complete training for a gliding licence is on average about 3,500 € to 3,900 €. This amount covers enrolment, membership of the association for the current calendar year, administration, teaching materials, theory lessons and about 50 practical training flights including take-off and free flights.
For younger applicants (under 23 years of age upon registration), ACAO offers a significant discount: the enrollment fee is reduced to €100, and the total price decreases by about €1,400.
Requirements
Prior to commencing practical gliding training, a medical certificate issued by the competent Aeronautical Medical Institute (in Milan Linate / Italy) is required.
In addition, there should be sufficient time and continuity in flying – usually the course includes around 50 training flights plus entry flights. The duration until the license is concluded is usually about six months.
Training offer and costs in overview
| Offer of training | Type/Size | Cost (approximately) |
|---|---|---|
| Glider Pilot Licence (Glider Pilot License) | ~ 50 theory hours + approximately 50 practical flights | 3,500 € – 3,900 € (standard) ~ 2,100 € for registration under 23 years* |
* For under 23 year olds: registration fee 100 €, total discount about 1,400 €
Special tenders & Additional possibilities
In addition to the classical training, ACAO also offers so-called “tripper flights” or “Pilot for a Day” – ideal for those interested in gaining initial experience in gliding. These flights are intended as unique experiences and can be booked separately.
In addition, the club regularly organizes special training camps and sporting gliding events for advanced pilots, which is particularly interesting for those who target competitions or route flights.
Contact
📞 Phone: +39 0332 310073
✉️ Email: info@acao.it (or) via the contact form on the ACAO website