Allan, et, al
Way back in the 70's I worked for a commercial flying school and we saw
similar trends. We lost approx 70% pre solo through cost of deciding it
was not for them. The next identifiable bump in the graph was post licence +
6 to 12 months where we think people having got their qualification and made
a few trips finding it hard to justify the expense during family budget
negotiations.
People have to be stimulated to remain interested; cross country,
competition or wave achievements - this will depend on the person, the club
they have joined, even the people they associate with in their club. Also it
is not just the club, twice this season I heard members of our club say some
of us are "too competitive", in short those people felt uncomfortable the
many of us were focused on going further, faster: involvement with the OLC
was avoided by many.
Having accepted the sport will have a higher than average attrition rate
that does not mean we can't improve, and in the case of our club we always
loose early students over the cross county camp season, and it on our agenda
to minimise this loss. I also think Bernard has a good point, we should show
early students a little cross country, and a little wave, etc keep the
hungry for more. The future value of our gliders depends on a constant flow
of students progressing into private ownership.
SDF
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Allan
Armistead
Sent: Sunday, 12 February 2006 6:42 PM
To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.
Subject: RE: [Aus-soaring] Soaring training
Robert Moore said:
"In the cadet gliding club about 70% but 4 out of 20 pilots attended
Joey Glide 3 as competitors.
Most cadets just want the Solo Badge.
In the ASC I think 60% of our trainees will have gone on some sort of
X country before they leave the club"
>3) Do members of this newsgroup think that we can lift the retention rate
by
> providing better pre-solo soaring training?
"Possibly but you must realise that most pupils only have the goal of
solo and only a few if shown the delights you mention will decide to stay."
I find the above quite an amazing statement. While I can understand that
someone in an "air cadet" or scouting type environment might be looking to
"tick the boxes" to get a badge then move on to the next badge, is it really
credible that when someone comes onto an airfield and joins a club that they
are planning to stay to solo and then go away again? I can believe that
people get dissillusioned or lose interest for any number of reasons (which
we need to try and identify and address) but why would anyone go to the time
and effort and expense to join a club intending just to go solo then walk
away?
Allan Armistead
ph (02) 6249 6470, fax (02) 6249 6555, mobile 0413 013 911
PO Box 908, Dickson ACT 2602, Australia
"When once you have tasted flight, you will always walk with your eyes
turned skyward, for there you have been and there you always will be."
Leonardo da Vinci, 1452-1519
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