In the UK we are suffering the same problem. Distance
to a club is seldom a factor for us, our country is
much smaller. Getting to fly is not a problem as no
licence is required to fly a glider in the UK and even
the instructors do not have to hold power type categories.
I would have to say that these are not the cause of
the decline, not in the UK anyway.

I think it has more to do with the perceptions of the
new generations. They are able to access 'fun' on tap.
Go somewhere where their fun is provided, have it,
and then go on to something else. The concept of going
somewhere all day to help others have fun is alien
to them, why would the need to do that. My generation
needed to do it, the current generation don't and I
think it is as simple as that, coupled with the choice
of adventurous sports now available giving much more
opportunity. The 'access fun provided by someone else'
as opposed to 'make your own fun' ethos is here. Gliding
is one of the sports that needs people other than those
actually flying to take place at all.



At 07:00 28 January 2005, Btiz wrote:
Peter - that may explain why there are fewer gliderports,
but not fewer
pilots.

I live in Phoenix, which has for 30ish years now has
enjoyed the presence
of Turf Soaring on the northwest side and Estrella
on the south. If
anything they should be enjoying more business, not
less, especially
considering the order of magnitude growth in the area
since those
operations began. I've previously stated on this newsgroup
my opinions on
why participation in the sport is declining and won't
repeat them here,
but I believe it has little to do with urban expansion.
Much more to do
with numbers of military trained pilots since WWII
and competition from
other sports. It ain't as easy to become a pilot as
it used to be, either.

We do not advertise.. we are a weekend club, we accept
members every
'training season'.. and as we approach this time of
year, we have to turn
some away.. we are 'full'. Our instructors and equipment
is max'd out.. as a
weekend club there are only so many training hours
in a day. We have a
waiting list.. Our 'training season' begins in September.
I'll agree that we
have one primary trainer, one advanced trainer and
one tow plane, and two
other gliders for those already solo'd or checked out.
We are looking at
whether to buy another training glider, and maybe have
to pick up a second
tow plane... but the other short fall... we need tow
pilots.. tail wheel,
high performance qualified.

We run into the 'expand or stay the same'.... need
$$ to expand.. and need
members to support the expansion.. which came first
the chicken or the egg.
For a weekend club it is a tough call.. for a full
time club.. full time
employees.. it would be doable.

Now there are two additional commercial 'tourist ride'
and 'glider training'
glider companies on the same field... let's see if
they can survive. For
those of you who come up to Jean every spring from
AZ... drop me a line..
we'll get you the information for 'mid week tows'..

BT