Dav and others
I do see a problem existing with some club instructors and CFIs not feeling
competent to check motorglider pilots as they have little or no experience
of same. This may be fare enough but there must be somewhere these
motorglider people go to get sorted out for Level 2 or even level 1
independent operator. Years ago I got my PPL at I seem to remember 40 hours
I was free to fly anywhere and any time. I do get a number of motorglider
people visiting me for a check and among otherthing I expect them tofly
around the countryside without being an embarrasement to the gliding
movement. Ideally I like to take them into C class airpots just incase they
ever get caught sometime - if weather is bad ATC can be extremely helpful I
find. There are others I see (usually come from gliding background) who
really need a little extra training on navigating without a GPS and their
radio proceedures could be improved
Ian McPhee
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dav" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "'Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.'"
<[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, July 13, 2006 2:47 PM
Subject: RE: [Aus-soaring] The GFA and the RPPL
Hi All,
Ken Dawber's post is very interesting, it has changed my view on this
matter, I was once against the licence concept, but I now support it.
The GFA can to some degree circumvent the government's requirement in
their setting of the minimum requirements to be allowed to fly a glider
outside of the control of a club. The GFA set the requirements of a
minimum 200 hours experience plus the requirement that you need to be
approved by a meeting of your clubs instructor panel before you can fly
outside the club.
As an example of how this works, over xmas I was talking to a pilot who
will
remain nameless who has 2000hrs + and is a very competent and safety
conscious, who was refused his independent ops level 2 by his club, and
dare
not get it from another club (Which was offered) as he might loose an
important facility he enjoys at his club's pleasure right now (regrettably
a
quite justified fear in this case). Whilst I have some doubts about a CASA
involvement, this sort of scenario tends to back up Kens comments.
I see no justification for an instructor panel having this authority
without
a strict set of guidelines, at least specifying the grounds which are
acceptable for refusal, and having to tell the applicant why their L2 Ind
ops Is not granted, and to refuse they MUST have a valid reason from the
guidelines. This only seems fair.
Personally I have no interest in or ability to operate outside the
GFA/club
system, however the current system seems deliberate monopolistic behaviour
on the part of the GFA.
Club fees and GFA at my current club are $450/yr before you even get to
fly,
that's nearly $10/wk. The GFA includes a magazine (Well a pale imitation
of
the magazine we once had) and some personal injury insurance.
Even with $250/yr my club still has a $1500 hull insurance excess, so all
one gets for $250 is the totally non guaranteed right to fly the gliders
(at
ones own cost) and use of facilities(at a cost in the good season).
By non guaranteed I mean the club reserves the right to NOT allow you to
fly
at any time, without giving any reason or refunding any fees. I recently
considered joining a second club and they had this same inequitable clause
on the membership form!
I find this kind of thing particularly offensive, especially as my club
once
had a clause in its constitution specifically banning this kind of
draconian
condition. This frankly stinks. Why is this necessary, at least the no
reason/no refund part? To be a fair system it should be either: refund
fees
and/or give a reason. No wonder some people operate outside the GFA/club
structure and go to RAA etc. Some even operate outside all of it!
I suspect that as Ken says, in the light of the oil situation if we don't
fix this we will end up losing (monopoly) control to CASA of gliding
training.
I am appalled the GFA moved against such licences without consulting the
membership in general.
Regards All
Dave L
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