I agree with what Emilis has said as it matches my own experiences and I may be the 1 in 300 he cited.
Peter Creswick said "not up there in the "cool" things to do on a weekend". Historically the "air mindedness" of the community that existed for most of the last century and fed gliding is gone. I still participate because of the airmindedness of my generation and then rarely on weekends because I have another life related to family, friends & other interests and that is the only free time that they have. Ever been labelled "antisocial" because of the time commitment required by gliding? Ever wonder if the emergence of powered gliders might be driven by this? I am not optimistic as to the future of gliding as I feel it is heading to be a very rich persons sport only, as even dinghy sailing has done, but I am going to enjoy it while it lasts. Chris McDonnell ----- Original Message ----- From: "Emilis Prelgauskas" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia." <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, 23 March 2005 3:07 PM Subject: [Aus-soaring] mining past glider pilots > On Thu, 24 Mar 2005 07:00:25 +1000, Robert Hart wrote: > >I believe that the ex-glider pilot group is one to which we should > >be marketing. > > > >From the work that has been done at some clubs and within one region > in 'exit surveying' glider pilots leaving the sport, the problems > have been to get truthful answers. > The responses were more in the 'nice' form - 'family commitments', > etc. > It was impossible to get a sample that gave valid data on cost or > access or failure to meet expectations and what these might be as > barriers to participation. > > This scatter was overlaid by the 'noise' of consumers seeking best > price - 'that other club is cheaper' where the pilot then didn't > shift to the other club, but exited the sport. > (the other club was further away, the ambit claim was more for the > home club to lower its fees) > > > There is a belief, but without backing evidence, that exiting glider > pilots fit into the following categories - > > - young people moving into career development or family formation > phases of their life; where it is hoped they will return once > established. And some do. > But the ROI is so poor (1 in 300 trainees) that I exited that field > after 15 years in it. > > - And I am still contacted on a regular cycle by a number of > ex-glider pilots (between 30 and 60 in age) with 'let me know when > you're flying next; 'cause I want to come out to get back into > gliding'; but after a dozen offers of mid week and weekend days > declined by them because of 'family commitments' I stop offering. > > - there are ex-glider pilots who found that wearing the flight jacket > just doesn't pull the birds at the party the way it did in past > generations > > - that there are a group of ex-glider pilots who were alienated from > the sport by its archaic structure giving little flying for large > time investment against a background of family quality time demands > on them. > > The last group would need to be reassured that the gliding they want > is available on demand with the sport providing the current > generation fleet, surround social scene, ground facilities and > support, ease of access to equipment which makes the place attractive > both for their own flying and not to be embarrassed to bring their > friends. > > The embarrassment comes in diverse forms: the untidy facilities (no > where to sit out of the heat) and fleet, the access restrictions > which make them look bad in front of their friends (public critique > of their status to type rating, check flight, flight list placing, > aircraft not actually available when booked). > > The practical problems that this raises for the sport are: > - the capital costs and at what the charge levels would have to be > set > - the possibility that we need to accept a higher prang rate in > return for giving people less onerous access to the sport. > (Callers for passenger flights still include sizeable numbers that > assume they will be given a single seater to go off and play in just > as seen on TV) > > In one club structure where all the support was offered if the pilot > came with their own glider (to cover the prang rate issue), the > response was outrage because exiting glider pilots feel the sport > should continue to offer everything at traditional charges as in the > past; just add in the professional ground staff and adequate numbers > of current generation equipment at no extra charge to meet their > expectations. > >From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Wed, 23 Mar 2005 15:15:43 +1030 > From: Emilis Prelgauskas <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: P & W <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > X-Mailer: PocoMail 2.64 (1133) - Licensed Version > X-Account: My Account > Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2005 15:15:43 +1030 > In-Reply-To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Re: List as requested > Mime-Version: 1.0 > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" > Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable > Status: RQ > > On Wed, 23 Mar 2005 21:52:26 +1030, P & W wrote: > >Please find attached the list we spoke of > >Regards P&W > > > > With my thanks, a copy of your list will go to Chris bailey, and I'll > use the contacts for the documents issue for the first 4 main trades > (plumbing, site work, concrete, timber frame) > > > _______________________________________________ > Aus-soaring mailing list > [email protected] > To check or change subscription details, visit: > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring > _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [email protected] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
