I think when it comes to retention, areas like the Air Training Corps are sorely overlooked.
They (NSW) run approximately 4-6 courses a year, with about 15-25 students per course. I'm not sure about other states. Here we have a large amount of flying-crazy youngsters, and barely any of them join clubs after that. I learnt to fly with the AIRTC, and I think the amount of people I know still gliding from from the last 8 years of AIRTC camps, you could count them on your hands. Mind you, I'm not sure where kink in the chain comes from there. I'm sure efforts have been made to engage the AIRTC to encourage their students to join clubs after they leave the cadets. What I'd like to know is why this is falling down. Does anyone know? The junior gliding movement in Australia is slowly gathering momentum, however we can see this huge group of flying-obsessed youngsters but can't figure out why we don't hear from them! If anyone from the AIRTC group reads this and wants to contact me offline, please do! If there's anything we youngin's can do to get more interested in the sport, let us know! Gus On Thu, Oct 16, 2008 at 6:51 PM, Texler, Michael < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >In my experience, long-term members are people who always wanted to learn > how to fly, but never knew they could do it as accessibly as gliding. Kids, > sailors and motorcycle riders tend to be disproportionately represented. > > I think it has been mentioned before, that posters for the local gliding > club could be put up at sailing clubs or other represented group. > > The other group of people to target are those who have been more active in > gliding or other aviation related activity in the past. The task would be > then to reignite their passion and interest. > > It would be interesting to know the retention rates of Air Training Corp > Cadets. > > My own experience: > I was fascinated with flight ever since I hopped on a TAA T-jet in 1974 > (Adelaide to Melbourne flight). > As a kid, I built planes out of lego, made a balsa wood and doped paper > throw glider, even considered getting into radio controlled stuff. > (i.e. I always wanted to learn how to fly) > > Just before I started Uni, my Dad had told me that he thought there was a > Uni Glining Club. A work colleague of my Dad was a tow pilot at Waikerie and > had told my Dad about the Adelaide Uni Gliding Club (i.e. lucky word of > mouth) > > So when I started Uni, at O'week, I actively sought the Uni Gliding Club > and signed up. At that time (prior to joining up), I thought that gliding > was a poor cousin to power flying (just glorified paper darts), but any > flying was better than no flying. > > My first day on field comprised 3 circuits off a winch launch in a Bergy > (GZM) at the end of the day. > I was hooked. > > So either fortunately or unfortunately (depending upon your opinion of > me..;-) ), I am still keen on gliding some 21 years later. > > Mind you raising a young family and having chronic illness in the family > has tempered my participation over the last couple of years (my priority is > to my family), but I anticipate that my activity in the sport will increase > as my kids become interested (they are only 4.5 and almost 3 years old) and > health problems settle. > > The challenge for the gliding movement in Australia is seeking out those > who wish to fly for pleasure, versus those who want to do it and move on as > they they tick the "been there and done that" box. > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Aus-soaring mailing list > Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net > To check or change subscription details, visit: > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring >
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