Soaring Club Information

For the Tri-Cities, WA
(Richland, Kennewick, Pasco and surrounds)
Soaring in the Columbia Basin
Wave flight at Desert Aire

Soaring Society of America (SSA)

The national organization for soaring in sailplanes. The SSA promotes all phases of soaring on a national basis, including individual members, clubs, State, National, and International soaring records, FAI badges, competitions, and is the primary advocate for glider airspace and regulatory issues with the FAA. Soaring magazine is the Society's official journal. Anyone is welcome to join the SSA. Please visit their web site for general information on soaring,  including club and comercial operations.

Seattle Glider Council

The Northwest's primary sailplane and soaring organization. Please visit their web site for more information.

Columbia Basin Soaring Association (CBSA)

The Columbia Basin Soaring Association (CBSA) promotes interest and participation in soaring activities in the Columbia Basin region of Southeastern Washington State. Soaring activities are primarily conducted at the Richland Airport, but we do not own any aircraft, and there are no towplanes here.

The CBAS is open to any member of the SSA (there are no dues for the CBSA). Meetings are held informally and infrequently during the year. Here is a Powerpoint presentation (2.5 mb) on soaring.

President (acting): Tom Seim (509-627-5532)

Other contacts:

Eric Greenwell (509-943-9065)
Rudy Allemann (509-375-0722)
Jim Leedy (509-375-4268)
Tom Seim (509-627-5532)
The active soaring pilots in the area all have motorgliders (two DG-400, one PIK 20 E,  one ASH 26 E, one DG 505 MB, one Taifun 17, one Ximango. and one Carat). 

The nearest tows are available in Ephrata, WA, about a 100 mile drive from here. The Seattle Glider Council and other clubs operate from there on weekends during the soaring season, with over 40 gliders based there. Tows are often available during the week. Wenatchee has an active club - contact them at Cascade Soaring Society.

Other Clubs and Commercial Operations in Washington and Oregon

Besides Wenatchee and Ephrata, there are clubs and operations in Washington near Seattle, and Spokane, and in Oregon near Portland, McMinnville, Hood River, and Bend. Please take a look at the Soaring Society of America's web site for information on these clubs and operations.