Re: [Aus-soaring] Aus-soaring Digest, Vol 37, Issue 6

[Laurie Simpkins]

Hi Rob, didn't know you where still gliding
Agree with your comment however,
shouldn't just be a concern for Nationals or others comps, should be a daily 
issues at all clubs.
Same as whether  your aircraft is airworthy and you are current and financial.
I suspect all these are checked more closely at this level than club level.
One would hope they are flying legally at there own clubs beforehand?
Cheers
Laurie

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Sent: Thursday, December 6, 2018 8:17:03 PM
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Subject: Aus-soaring Digest, Vol 37, Issue 6

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Re: [Aus-soaring] Aus-soaring Digest, Vol 20, Issue 7

[Laurie Simpkins]

I tried to get on and thanks the earlier posts for the links to knobs but was 
too busy having a laugh over what we argue about on this forum. Knobs and 
handles. There may be a pun in there

Priceless
Thsnks to the earlier posts.



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Re: [Aus-soaring] MEMBERSHIP AND A WORLD REVIEW

[Laurie Simpkins]

Hi,

 While some PPL holders may be active pilots a lot aren't in my experience and 
keep current flying the tug. I had instances of pilots not being able to find 
the strip I landed on 30 klms away and another on a ferry flight having to ask 
me which way to head as he was lost.

 Possibly not their fault entirely as mostly go up and down at club, not 
current xc pilots and bi-annuals are often nothing more than a circuit in a 
familiar aerodrome. Usually doing all the tug pilots that day to keep the cost 
down.

Maybe PPL need a currency rating ie no cross country in last 2 years (power or 
glider) you need to do a nav. I know the price of maintaining my PPL is one of 
the reasons I let it lapse.

I don't know if just having the piece of paper makes you a great pilot. I've 
seen some notable exceptions.


cheers

Laurie





From: Future Aviation Pty.Ltd. 
Sent: Sunday, 5 February 2017 11:26 PM
To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.
Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] MEMBERSHIP AND A WORLD REVIEW

Hi Richard

Please count me in!
I have held a L2 independent operator endorsement for the last 25 years and can 
operate without any restrictions or interference by others.
The same should apply for other suitably qualified pilots who often even hold a 
PPL. After all, they have been examined on such issues as
airspace, weather assessment, radio procedures, handling of emergencies, air 
law etc.

Obviously CASA saw fit to allow them independent and unsupervised operations. 
Why can't we do the same???

Bernard


On 5 Feb 2017, at 4:06 pm, Richard Frawley 
> wrote:

i put my hand up to take this to the exec. who else (must be GFA member) i can 
count on for support?

step 1: anyone cleared to fly a Self Launcher automatically has L2 OPS 
annotated on GPC (will that work?)









On 5 Feb 2017, at 4:10 pm, James McDowall 
> wrote:

Elsewhere in this discussion it was noted that the majority of GFA new 
registrations last year were powered. The interests of these people need to be 
accommodated NOW, not when the powerless gliders can't be launched because it 
is too expensive or I just cant move my zimmer frame fast enough to run a wing. 
This will encourage investment. Also GFA needs to develop a system of 
permitting retrofits of power systems (by using the experimental certificates 
provisions) to add value to un-powered gliders. Cutting loose independent 
operators (from clubs) will remove the liability that CFI's and RTO's fear. 
That is operators hold a GPL or GPC issued by GFA and simply agree to fly 
according to the operational arrangements approved by CASA under CAO 95.4.
I am reminded of a couple of quotes attributed to Edmund Burke:
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do 
nothing." and "All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good 
conscience to remain silent."
but most all a common saying:
“Some people make things happen. Some people watch things happen. And then 
there are those who wonder, 'What the hell just happened?”

I think most of the gliding fraternity will wake up one day and "what the hell 
happened"?

On Sun, Feb 5, 2017 at 3:05 PM, Richard Frawley 
> wrote:
It is well know that the biggest resistance by far to the current GPC change 
(which was a good step forward) was by instructors and especially CFI’S and 
RTO’s

I would be more than happy to help champion the issuance of GPC as equivalent 
to Level 2 Independent ops, but I can tell you now it will the CFI’s and Panels 
that will resist the most

Given however the small number of self launchers, this requirements is still 
moot.

As long as you still need others (tugs, wing runners, ropes) there is no true 
independence and their in lies the root cause.

Bring on the world of electric self launchers and true independence, the sooner 
the better and even then it only really comes if its private owner or small 
syndicate.

Club aircraft will always be over protected. This is the nature of a shared 
asset. Shared asserts by human nature are never as well looked after as those 
owned. (rental cars + public transport vs the private car)











On 5 Feb 2017, at 2:28 pm, Future Aviation Pty. Ltd. 
> wrote:

Hi James, hello all

I have argued along exactly the same lines when I was on the panel as the head 
coach for SA.

Coming from a different country I was bewildered that there is no formal 
qualification for glider pilots in Australia. I argued
for a Glider Pilot Licence (GPL) instead of a Glider Pilot Certificate (GPC) 
but I was told that only CASA has the authority
to issue licences. The GFA wanted to retain control and for mainly this reason 
we are now stuck with a certificate rather
than a licence. A 

Re: [Aus-soaring] MEMBERSHIP AND A WORLD REVIEW

[Laurie Simpkins]

I have a problem with ever converting to GA or RA-Aus as they don't fly 
gliders. I'm in a gliding club for that reason. I had a PPL but only used it 
for towing ( one of those dumb volunteers I know) but don't have the time or 
money to maintain it.

I enjoyed your post Erich and was suitable insulted as a current GFA 
volunteer[].

I do wonder who we are trying to attract and how these ideas of spending vast 
amount in marketing are going to keep the price down.


Unless we are planning to become a bunch of elitist pilots IMHO we need to 
encourage the average person in to the sport and that in my eyes meaning 
keeping the price down so possibly some one with a wife ,husband, girlfriend, 
boyfriend, cat , dog, family and mortgage can still afford it. (politically 
correct I hope). The wealthier end of market will probably just buy their own 
self launcher anyway, but can still be great club members.

The people I have introduced that where keen only had one issue and that was 
the amount of spare income they had to play with.

 All loved it and couldn't tell the difference between a flying a 40 grand twin 
or a much more expensive duo. Even flew some in the T53 and a Blanik and all 
had a great time so maybe you don't need to learn to drive in the Ferrari as 
some people I have dealt with would have you believe.


The club environment/structure  is set up for looking after members as opposed 
to turning the whole sport commercial.

Nothing against commercial operations and I wish them all the best but many 
have tried before and unless you can afford to be a private owner/ motorglider 
where do you go after learning to fly. A club I assume.


I don't see anybody  addressing the non owner club population or the more 
remote clubs in these solutions.

I doubt the guys in my state at Townsville, Bundy,  Central Qld, Gympie will 
want to travel to some commercial /super club to do their gliding so I wont be 
surprised if the smaller clubs are more resilient than some think. Maybe spend 
some marketing money there except I think a some of the punters hope they die 
out.

As for the ex members who have left the sport ( and still trying to run it or 
criticize it) maybe you need to find a club that suits you and try it again. 
The GFA may not be perfect but has a lot of average members trying their best 
in their spare time as well.

But then my love of gliding prevents me from leaving so maybe im blind to the 
imperfections.


Looking forward to gliding this weekend, and for the others I hope you enjoy 
what ever form of aviation you have chosen.


Laurie









From: Stuart Wolf 
Sent: Friday, 3 February 2017 5:42 AM
To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.
Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] MEMBERSHIP AND A WORLD REVIEW

It would be interesting to get a survey to that effect. I have found that with 
the people I have tried to recruit. Those who show an interest see it as a high 
performance sport.

Aside from the sporting aspect, what does gliding hope to offer a new member?
Cheap flying? Prices are compatible to RA-Aus.
Convenient flying? No matter about procedural changes at the club level powered 
will always have the upper hand.
Professional opportunities? Again, RA aus can be converted to GA and commercial 
much easier
Cost of ownership? I have much more options in Ra Australia, especially at the 
lower end of the market.

Instead of trying to copy RA aus's attraction (on which gliding will always be 
on the back foot) we should be chasing the people who want what Ra Aus doesnt 
offer.

I've found that sharing tasks and talking about performance of people at comps 
has attracted more follow up and continuing engagement on the topic than the 
flying aspect.

The people who I have got interested in the flying have moved on to RA Aus for 
the exact reasons I've stated



On Friday, February 3, 2017, Matthew Scutter 
> wrote:
Regarding the competition pilot vs. non-competition pilot debate, I don't think 
I've met a junior that hasn't been, or doesn't want to go to Joeyglide. Perhaps 
in the broader population competition pilots are under represented, but amongst 
younger pilots (fresh blood) it seems to swing the other way.

On 3 Feb 2017 2:56 PM, "Greg Wilson"  wrote:
In an attempt to get a worthwhile discussion get back on track. Not my ideas 
but a brief summary of this conversation so far.

Perceived problems:

GFA administration
Overly focused on competition carried out by a tiny minority of pilots
Resistant to change
Minimum required to deal with CASA

Clubs
Membership declining

Training
Volunteer based - not providing scheduled and efficient training expected by 
younger people
Instructors need to be paid

Pilots
Very few given L2 independent ops so vast majority permanently operating under 
supervision of instructors
Gliding responsibility needs to be