Thanks, Macca.
Streifeneder is an excellent example. They are a "can do" sort of company.
Since EASA started demanding money each time a new Tech Note is issued,
Glasfaser has had to charge for new TNs. This is from their website.
Information for our customers:
As type certificate holder for all Glasflügel gliders here we will release the
Technical Notes (TNs) and Airworthiness Directives (ADs).
Until the end of 2007 the access to all TNs was free of charge.
Because of the increasing officialism of EASA, however, we are charged
enormously. Much to our regret we are not able to pay those costs by ourselves
anymore and have to pass those costs partly to our customers. ·
* Three times we are charged regularly for our business license as
manufacturing enterprise, as development enterprise and as service enterprise.
·
* For every Glasflügel glider type which we serve, we have to pay an
annual fee. · For every Technical Note which we release, we are charged again
by EASA. ·
* Furthermore, the costs of issuing the Technical Notes become more and
more extensive. For example, to issue the TNs for transponder installation we
had to provide comprehensive evidences. For meeting the EASA requirements it
needed more then 100 hours work alone to write all documents and to phone to
the authorities.
And all for gliders, which are not produced anymore for decades.
However, we feel committed to the brand "Glasflügel" as well as to our
customers and want to hold on the type certificate; because without a type
certificate holder these gliders would lose the permit.
We appreciate your understanding that finally we have chosen the following
approach: In the future all newly issued TNs will not be free of charge
anymore. The TNs will come into force only in connection with a release note.
If you want to order this release note from us, please let us know the type of
glider, the license number and depending on the TN some more details. All data
will be entered into the release note.
The tone of the announcement is much better than that on the DG website. The
parts are priced so they can make money on them and Glasfaser customers will
gladly pay without a strange contractual obligation. I have not ordered parts
from Hanko in ages, but it was always a pleasure.
DG bought Glaser-Dirks as a complete company with new gliders already on
order, and of course got all the excess baggage. They bought Rolladen-Schneider
for the LS-8 and LS-10 and knew they had the LS-1 to 7 to contend with. Besides
support, that includes the reputation of the line and customer loyalty to the
line. It also got them into the top finishers on the racing circuit.
Having owned 2 very nice LS gliders, I hope DG comes up with an equitable
solution. It looked grim in December, when posts on the segelflug.de forum were
quite hostile. The SSA Convention in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA is this
weekend. It'll be the first show since Hr. Weber's announcement. The LS/DG
representatives will have their hands full.
Perhaps some good news will come out of Little Rock.
Jim
________________________________
From: Ian Mc Phee <[email protected]>
To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.
<[email protected]>
Cc: info <[email protected]>
Sent: Wed, January 27, 2010 4:13:09 AM
Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] DG Flugzeugbau strategy
It makes you realise what a wonderful job Hanko Streifender did back about 40
years ago when Glassflugel went under. I can still remember sending a telegram
from post office back early80s ordering a spring trim for a Libelle and 6 days
later it was in PO box.with a bill to pay.
Barbara S would never go home from work without sending out every single order.
Must have spoken to her 50 times on phone over the years but it is not quite
the same now that she las left us (died from dreaded breast cancer maybe 5
years ago)
More recently I have had wonderful service from Katja who with her husband have
taken over Scheibe service.
Germans at their best!!!.
Ian McPhee
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