On 12/12/07 11:14 AM, in article
, "bumper"
wrote:

Sounds like the "We're pilots and you're not" syndrome. People walking into
a power or soaring FBO should be made to feel like they belong and welcome
almost immediately.

bumper
zz
Minden




"Raphael Warshaw" wrote in message
...
On Dec 6, 12:40 pm, " wrote:
Due to high fuel and insurance costs, declining flight scheduals,
and a year of bad weather, Southwest Soaring announced that it cannot
economically continue flight operations beyond 31 December. They plan
to permanently close their glider operations on that date, unless a
buyer or a new operator can be found.
The facility includes 2 modern concrete floored hangars on a
relatively large municipal airport. It is located about 30 miles east
of Dallas, TX. The airport has 2- 4,000 ft long concrete runways with
good clear approaches from all directions.
Southwest Soaring has operated continuously for 34 years, and has
always achieved an excellent safety record. A. C. Williams and his
wife Mary founded the soaring operation during the 1970's at Rockwall
Municipal Airport. Then during 1978 they moved 12 miles east to Caddo
Mills and built the fine modern facility that we have enjoyed for many
years. AC and Mary retired and sold the facility to the present owner,
Mr. Red Smith, sometime during the 1990's. Unfortunately, both AC and
Mary died in an automobile accident about 2 years ago.
We are now looking for someone who might be willing to lease or
purchase SW Soaring, and continue its year-round operation.
Dick Johnson

I've visited Caddo Mills twice over the years, once under the old
regime and once under the new. The first time, the reception was
friendly. I had an enjoyable flight in the two-seater and left with a
good impression. The only serious negative was that the whole place
reeked of cigarette smoke. Watching Dick Johnson climb away in
conditions where we couldn't achieve zero sink was another plus.

Some years later when a flight from Dallas was cancelled and I had
time to kill, I stopped by again, stood at the counter and was
completely ignored, made eye contact and was ignored, floated an
"excuse me" which yielded a curt "just a minute" followed by at least
another five minutes of being ignored after which I gave up and left.
One of the three people behind the counter looked up as I walked
toward the door, but nothing was said. I was the only other person in
the room. Granted, I was wearing a suit and tie but I was otherwise
well behaved. One of the three was typing on the computer, the other
two were watching. Not the best way to run a business. I never
bothered to go back.

Ray Warshaw
1LK






Bumper, Ray, et. al.,

I, too, have observed this at numerous gliderports around the country, and
overseas. Show up just to look around, and talk gliding, and you end up
thoroughly ignored, frustrated and annoyed.

I do not think it is elitism, or anything particularly malevolent. It's
usually not from a desire to keep new people out. I think it is simply
personality type.

I think that soaring attracts a disproportionate number of "introverted
sensing" personality types (according to the Myers-Briggs classification
scheme). These are the careful, thorough planners, who are socially
introverted. The type that likes nothing better than thoroughly analyzing
weather forecasts, and then isolating themselves in a small cockpit for as
long a possible, in order to go as far as possible.

Unfortunately, who we need welcoming new soaring pilots are extroverts:
"hail fellow, well met" types, ready with a handshake, a smile, and tons of
small talk. We do have a few of those in our sport, and they are quick to
tell the rest of us how open and welcoming we should be. That generally
works against the standard soaring personality, however.

You can't change your personality type. Clubs and commercial operations
should consider this when talking about how they are going to welcome casual
visitors and potential members/customers.

Further research on Myers-Briggs and how it applies to gliding, I will leave
as an exercise for the reader.

Respectfully,
Bullwinkle