At 10:52 AM 18/12/05 +1000, you wrote:
>Mike
>
>What model would you like to see set up that would embrace all the
>glidings there are out there and how would it work?
>
>The big difference between ultra lights and gliders is the need for tugs
>to get us airborne and I am not sure how things could be organised under
>a model similar to RAAus.
>
>--
>Robert Hart [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>+61 (0)438 385 533 http://www.hart.wattle.id.au
Robert,
As you well know there are such things as self launching motor gliders. Why
should these not be operated the same as an RAAus member operates?
Particularly for those glider pilots in remote areas like not even far
western Queensland this may be the only way they can go gliding.
Alternatively they may find someone in that town who owns a Cessna 182. Why
should they not organise a tow? Why should they have a club or fly under
the "control" or "authority" of a club. If this person can find a club that
will allow that, that is.
Clubs are quite sensibly saying they won't be responsible for operations by
individuals away from the home field although that is a joke really as
their members disappear over the horizon on cross countries.
For that matter why should anyone with a current PPL need to be a member of
anything? Provided you have the appropriate "design feature" endorsement in
your logbook ("no engine") you should be able to fly. A PPL holder can pile
as many people as fit in the plane and takeoff for Perth on only his own
say so. Why does a glider pilot need constant supervision?
There may be people who form gliding clubs to buy better gliders than they
can afford for themselves, others may form a club just to buy a launch
means, others may simply form an informal group and organise a launch or
simply self launch. Other clubs may exist to provide gliding training.
There may be commercial operations to do the same. Forming any kind of
formal club invokes serious administrative overheads which may simply be a
waste of time and effort in many cases.
Unfortunately at present GFA requires every club to be a training and
supervisory organisation. Some clubs have gone out of business as a result
of this when the numbers dropped or the ONE instructor left town.
As others have said, if we keep going this way, gliding will die. Year by
year the glider fleet gets older, as do the members. Sad really.
Mike
Borgelt Instruments - manufacturers of quality soaring instruments
phone Int'l + 61 746 355784
fax Int'l + 61 746 358796
cellphone Int'l + 61 428 355784
Int'l + 61 429 355784
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
website: www.borgeltinstruments.com
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