GA isn't growing either. The number of student pilot licenses issued has
dropped over 20% in the last few years. One of the leading flight schools
in the Twin Cities (Wings) has just closed as a result.

Mike Schumann

wrote in message
ups.com...
On Mar 16, 11:28 am, "fred" wrote:
A question often asked is "Why has the glider activity declined?" In
1975 we would make about 150 flights on a Sat & Sun. Nothing like that
now but we had our best year 2006 in a long time. The decline (I
believe) is the competition for disposable time Vegas is many times
larger, Indian Casinos abound. Water craft, off road vehicles etc all
compete.
A well known ride operator told me that 1800gliderrides expected to
sell FOUR MILLION in rides in 2007. All sold on the internet. They
have no operations of their own, but have about 900 domain names, most
of them the same. USE CAUTION. fred

One often cited reason for the decline is cost. But if cost was so
central it would also impact aviation in general. Yet the number of
people professionally employed in flight traing has increased from
under 11,000 in 1998 to over 14,000 in 2004, an increase of 27%
(http://www.census.gov/epcd/susb/2001/us/US611512.HTM). Consequently,
I don't think that cost is a detriment any more today than it was 10
years ago.

Personally, I think there are simply more recreational opportunities
competing for the same people, and they will chose the option that is
most convenient. GA grows because it is very easy to find a commercial
operator who will train you how to fly. Compare that to gliding (worse
for soaring). People in large metropolitan areas have to spend a full
day, at a minimum, to get glider training (providing that they are
lucky enough to be within a 2-3 hour drive of a glider site with
training).

Tom




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