On Mar 22, 2:06*am, CindyASK wrote:
Contest Towing

Who can tow at contests?
SSA contest rules don’t specify anything but a liability
insurance requirement for each tug, and FAR compliance.
SSA contest rules do set the maximum entry fees, and the
maximum value calculated for tow fees, adjusted annually
to reflect current costs. *If the fees didn’t meet tug expenses,
contests wouldn’t get launched.

The SSA Group Program was recently modified to include
club tugs towing at SANCTIONED contests, provided they were
using Commercial tow pilots, and the tugs and pilots could be
paid at any exorbitant rate they could negotiate
(my tongue is firmly in-cheek here, folks.)

Contest staff is charged with being certain their contracted tugs
are operated within their coverage. *Could a tug owner have
liability coverage, and the insurance include a Private pilot towing?
Sure. *But that isn’t a very likely scenario.

Apparently the insurance company IS ruling on this--and forcing
contest hosts to consider canceling their contests. Because the
requirements for contest towing is now elevated--as per some
information that's come my way: Costello insurance requires a contest
tow pilot to be not only Commercial-rated, but also be the holder of a
Class II Medical. Even if they don't receive any compensation.

Wow-- for us that kind towpilot simply doesn't grow on trees. Oh yes,
they're around. But being a non-profit club, and hosting a sanctioned
contest for an entry fee that's on par with most of the 2009
Regionals, we're not budgeted to pay a commercial for-hire guy to come
and tow. We're dependent on volunteer club tugs and pilots to help
(which has been the successful and safe case for years and years). The
vast majority of them are Private (with the proper towpilot
endorsements), and the Commercial-rated ones we have don't hold Class
II's and are not about to get them just to tow for expenses at a
contest.

And the other thing that's making this difficult to accept: there's no
history of violations or accidents that makes this change a necessity.
The FAA is not in receipt of any scenarios that has them wanting the
contest world in the U.S. to change. It's all about money; not about
making things safer.

I see this decision as simply hurting soaring, which has, by and
large, kept up a very good record of safety and due-diligence in
running sanctioned contests. And contests have been a very good
conduit for showcasing the sport to the public, thus encouraging
people to join the sport.

I know--"just go out and spend more money to get your Commercial and
Class II and comply"--even though it doesn't make you a better and
safer towpilot at a contest. So If we cave in to this, what's next? We
have to become TSA-certified and file our operations reports to them
24-hours before we tow?

It's all about the money.