About SOGGI
What We Do
SOGGI is a Charter Club of the Model Aeronautics Association of Canada (MAAC). We fly radio-controlled model sailplanes in the Hamilton, Ontario region and warmly welcome visitors and new members.
Some SOGGI Facts
The Southern Ontario Glider Group (“SOGG”) was formed in 1984. Since then, the club has grown and been incorporated as the not-for-profit organization now known as “SOGGI.” We currently have approximately 30 adult members, and junior members are always welcome.
Visitors are welcome at our flying sites — we just ask that you contact one of our members first to make the necessary arrangements. Guests are also welcome at our Membership Meetings, held at Beverly Hall in Rockton from October through May. Meetings include project show-and-tell, social time, and club business.
Our land-use agreements allow members to fly at sod farm sites and at a slope soaring site, with few restrictions beyond what the weather imposes. During spring, summer, and fall, fun-fly sessions are well attended and typically happen several times a week. Because the weather can be unpredictable, we don’t pre-schedule casual flying sessions far in advance — instead, we use the SOGGI Message Board to coordinate sessions on short notice, based on accurate 24-hour Weather Forecasts specific to our flying sites.
Each year we also organize two fun fly events open to all members — a great opportunity to enjoy a full day of flying and connect with fellow club members. Upcoming events are posted on our Calendar.
Club social activities typically include our annual Christmas Party, technical tours, attendance at public lectures, and swap-shop and hobby-show attendance. We also enjoy showcasing our hobby at various public outreach events. SOGGI’s Photo Gallery captures some of this activity, and back issues of our newsletter TASK are available on this site as well.
What SOGGI Asks of Its’ Members
We’ve touched on some of the benefits of joining SOGGI. Here’s what we ask in return.
Respect for Our Flying Sites
Good flying sites are hard to find and even harder to keep. We are genuinely grateful for the support of our landowners, sod farm staff, and residential neighbours, and we treat them with the same courtesy, cooperation, and respect we would like to receive ourselves.
Participation in Club Life
SOGGI is a club — members have come together for the shared purpose of flying R/C model sailplanes. Joining SOGGI means more than gaining access to the flying sites; it means becoming part of the community. In addition to gaining the use of the club’s facilities, you are also indicating your intention to participate in the social and organizational aspects of the club. We invite you to attend our Membership Meetings, make new friends, and take an active role in club life.
A Focus on R/C Soaring
R/C Soaring is the central purpose of our club. We expect that anyone joining SOGGI will participate in at least some aspect of the hobby. Not all aeromodelling activities are compatible with soaring operations, so there are some restrictions on aircraft types at our sites. See the Our Model Aircraft page for examples of what works well.
Transport Canada RPAS Requirements
Canadian regulations now require that all pilots flying aircraft weighing 250 grams or more hold a valid Transport Canada pilot certificate and have their aircraft registered. This applies to all MAAC members, including SOGGI members, and is a condition of flying at our sites.
Here’s what’s required:
- Pilot Certificate — at minimum, a Pilot Certificate – Small RPAS (VLOS) – Basic Operations, obtained through the Transport Canada Drone Management Portal. The Basic exam is an open-book, online multiple-choice test — straightforward for anyone familiar with safe flying practices.
- Aircraft Registration — each aircraft weighing 250 g or more must be registered with Transport Canada and display its registration number. Registration is a simple online process and costs $5 per aircraft.
Aircraft under 250 grams are exempt from both the pilot certificate and registration requirements, though all other flying rules still apply.
We know this adds a step for new members, but these are federal requirements that exist to keep our shared airspace safe for everyone. If you have questions about the process, our members are happy to point you in the right direction. More information is available through MAAC’s Transport Canada page.
Safe Flying
SOGGI has an excellent field safety record, and we work hard to keep it that way. As a condition of membership, all members are expected to have a working familiarity with our Club Flying Field Guidelines. On the flying field, every pilot is required to set a good example for others to follow.
Flight Instruction for Beginners
We are happy to provide Flight Instruction to anyone new to flying. If you plan to fly at SOGGI sites and are new to the hobby, we do require that you fly with one of our instructors first — it’s the best way to get started safely and confidently.
Check-Out Flights for Experienced Pilots
Pilots who already hold status at another club are very welcome. That said, flying sailplanes from a sod farm or slope site is a very different air-traffic-control experience than flying powered models from a marked runway. For that reason, we require that every new member first complete a check-out flight with one of our instructors before flying independently at SOGGI sites. This ensures everyone has a practical understanding of our field operations, safety provisions, and field etiquette.
Visit SOGGI
Visitors are always welcome at our flying sites. We ask that you contact a member in advance to arrange your visit. Guests are also welcome at our Membership Meetings, held at Beverly Hall in Rockton from October through May.
Constitution & Bylaws
SOGGI is an incorporated not-for-profit organization. The Constitution and Bylaws can be viewed here.
