Line Crew Program


Learn to fly!

In this season-long program, qualified students, typically ages 13 to 18, work under the supervision of
Sugarbush Soaring’s FAA-certified flight instructors and qualified Line Crew members. Once they
complete a formal training process, they earn credits toward instructional or solo glider flights
at the rate of one flight per day worked. Key duties include:

  • Preparing gliders (positioning, attaching tow lines).

  • Assisting passengers (escorting to and from the gliders).

  • Supporting flight operations (signaling launches, recording flight data, retrieving landed gliders).

  • Completing general field chores as trained and assigned.

    Interested in applying?

    The Line Crew program is a serious commitment and a real, performance-based job. Applicants must demonstrate:

    • Unwavering attention to safety, strict adherence to procedures, and clear communication.

    • Excellent situational awareness and maturity.

    • The ability to be on time for shifts (typically 9:00 AM–5:30 PM weekdays and 8:00 AM–5:30 PM weekends).

    • Reliable transportation to the airport.

    It’s your application: You take the lead!

    Although we have a waiting list for this popular program, we encourage new applications. To apply, the youth (not the parent) must send a letter of interest to linecrewprogram@sugarbushsoaring.com that clearly answers:

    • Why you want to join the Line Crew.

    • What you expect to gain from this experience.

    • What you can contribute to Sugarbush Soaring.

    We select new members based on motivation, maturity, interest in aviation, and work ethic. No prior flight experience is required, but academic standing is considered.

    Program requirements:

    • Ages: 13 to 18 years old.

    • Due to restrictions on the amount of weight our aircraft can safely carry (based on FAA regulations), we can only accommodate students that weigh 242 lbs. or less.

Last year, FEFY funded nearly $24,000 in flight training!

  • Line crew member directing a small white and red airplane on a grassy airfield, with trees and a few buildings in the background, under a partly cloudy sky.

    Attention to safety, clear communications, following procedures and excellent situational awareness are critical

  • A small white glider airplane on a grassy airfield with a person walking nearby and another person sitting in a golf cart beside it. In the background, there are trees and mountains under a partly cloudy sky.

    Retrieving and positioning the gliders on the flight line

  • A man in an orange T-shirt walking on a grassy field near small planes parked on the grass, with a backdrop of trees and a partly cloudy sky.

    Fetching and attaching tow lines to the gliders and the towplane

  • Two men are working at a picnic table outdoors under a wooden shelter. One man, wearing an orange shirt and sunglasses, is leaning over and looking at papers while the other man, wearing a black cap and a blue jacket, is writing. The background shows trees with colorful autumn leaves and a golf cart.

    Recording data for each flight

  • Three people at an indoor booth near an airport tarmac, with a jet visible outside. One young man in an orange shirt and hat is speaking to a man and a woman, all facing each other. The booth has a large TV screen, folded shirts, and promotional materials on an orange table.

    Acting as an ambassador for the sport of soaring

  • Group of children and adults observe and work on a small glider aircraft outdoors on grass near a blue metal building with a green forest background.

    Assisting with glider assembly and disassembly

  • Person sitting on an orange tractor in a grassy field, wearing a blue wide-brimmed hat, orange t-shirt, black pants, and yellow shoes. The tractor has a mower attachment.

    Maintaining the airfield

  • A person with blonde hair in a ponytail flying a small aircraft through a clear sky with white clouds below.

    And flying!