Am I to understand that the glider port remains closed for the duration
of the contest flights (until all gliders return)? Why wouldn't they
reopen for business once the gliders are all launched?


On 4/7/2017 7:49 AM, Sean Fidler wrote:
Paul,

Even if they were able to "squeak in" a few flights each AM (before the grid march begins and the single runway becomes unsafe) and also squeak in a few more flights in the evening after the last few seniors land and get off the runway, the fact remains that the annual seniors event results in a significant disruption to their core business and schedule and therefore results in a significant loss of normal operational revenue (which therefore must be subtracted from any 'net profit' realized by the seniors event to accurately represent the financial benifit of the seniors event to the commercial operation). They have to clear their schedule in order to not irritate customers, etc. This was stated openly and in no uncertain terms. It's no secret.

My point is that very large soaring contests are not always as efficient as we would like to believe, especially when they impact normal commercial operations (or nearly shut them down entirely). In the case of the seniors event, it's not just the contest dates that are disruptive. Normal operations are impacted for many weeks before and perhaps a week after the contest itself. Tows are not as profitable as instruction and commercial rides, especially when they disrupt the normal schedule and likely reduce them for a long period of time.

Again, small efficient soaring contests (such as the FAI SGP USA 🇺🇸 Orlando) seem to have very minor normal operation impacts (if any) are highly efficient. They allow for reasonably increased revenue for the operation without subverting their normal operations and disrupting their schedule (stress). This was very refreshing for them. This was their feedback, not mine.

Sean

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Dan, 5J