Caddo Mills SW Soaring Closing 31 Dec

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

This is sad news.

However, there might be a silver lining. This may be the time to look
into establishing winch launches as the primary means of launching.

I would be cheaper for the operator and the pilots to operate.

I don't know the math, but the fixed costs of a tow plane, even if
idle, must be much higher than that of an idle winch.

The per launch costs are also a fraction of the aero tow.

What I am saying is that perhaps the way to revive more soaring
activity and at the same time provide better operating economics for
the operator, is to get a winch and ditch the tow plane.

With the ever popular self launching capable and sustainer engined
sailplanes, these will not need a tow plane anyway.

However, as I see in Europe, the sheer cheapness and fun of a winch
launch is taken advantage of even by the self launchers.

With the new modern cables, launch height should be about 45% of the
cable length in a no wind launch. So if Caddo Mills has 4,000 feet
runways and an equal length cable, 1,800 foot release heights should
routinely be achieved with no wind. One manufacturer calculates the
per launch costs including amortization of all equipment, cables and
all, at less than $3 per launch.

So even if the operator charged $15 per launch or $10 for early am and
late pm launches and higher price for peak times, it would still be
massively cheaper for all and more profitable for the operator than
with a tow plane, due to the reduced costs and increased launches.

There is a reason why Soaring in Europe is vibrant with many young
people and mostly winch launches. Here in the U.S. the opposite seems
to be the case. Perhaps we should follow a model that is successful,
as painful as change may be. Rather than sticking to one that is
inferior. Primarily offering only tow planes for launches is hampering
soaring here.

There are used double drum winches for sale in Europe for about 15-20k
USD.

This is my 2cents. Though not an offer to buy, maybe it can be helpful
anyway.
Tom

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

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

On Dec 12, 7:39 am, Raphael Warshaw wrote:

Granted, I was wearing a suit and tie but I was otherwise
well behaved.
Ray Warshaw
1LK

There are two sayings in aviation that come to mind

"The medical profession is the natural enemy of the aviation
profession."

"Ditto the legal profession."

Did you by chance look like a doctor or lawyer on that day?

Cheers (and sadness),

-Pete

On Dec 12, 11:22 pm, 309 wrote:
On Dec 12, 7:39 am, Raphael Warshaw wrote:

Granted, I was wearing a suit and tie but I was otherwise
well behaved.
Ray Warshaw
1LK

There are two sayings in aviation that come to mind

"The medical profession is the natural enemy of the aviation
profession."

"Ditto the legal profession."

Did you by chance look like a doctor or lawyer on that day?

Cheers (and sadness),

-Pete

Yes.

Ray Warshaw
1LK

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

On Dec 12, 10:22 pm, 309 wrote:
On Dec 12, 7:39 am, Raphael Warshaw wrote:

Granted, I was wearing a suit and tie but I was otherwise
well behaved.
Ray Warshaw
1LK

There are two sayings in aviation that come to mind

"The medical profession is the natural enemy of the aviation
profession."

"Ditto the legal profession."

Did you by chance look like a doctor or lawyer on that day?

Cheers (and sadness),

-Pete

You don't have to look like a doc or a lawyer to get The Treament
there. The people at Caddo were (in my limited experience) equally
snotty to all, regardless of appearance. I arrived in my usual attire,
looking like either a glider pilot or a homeless person, introduced
myself as a glider pilot, spoke in pilot dialect, asked questions that
indicated I knew the difference between the towplane and glider, and
was generally treated like a ******* at a family reunion. I'm sorry to
see a soaring business go under, but I can't say I'll miss this
particular outfit. I live fairly near Caddo Mills but drive 70 miles
to Texas Soaring Association instead.

p.

On Dec 13, 8:18 am, Paul wrote:
...... I live fairly near Caddo Mills but drive 70 miles
to Texas Soaring Association instead.

p.

Let me soften my previous harsh comment in one regard. It's very sad
that Dick Johnson, one of the finest people in our sport, got hurt in
this. He was not part of the problem at Caddo Mills.

p.

On Dec 13, 8:45 am, Bullwinkle wrote:
On 12/12/07 11:14 AM, in article
, "bumper"

Hi Bullwinkle,

I suspect that I have a different take on so-called "personality
inventories" than you, but that's not a subject for a RAS discussion.

As part of a previous life, I visited every state in the union and
flew at FBO's in many of them. Interestingly, Caddo Mills is the only
one at which I was completely ignored.

I have no numbers to back this next statement, but I've sensed an
inverse relationship between the skill and reputation of the operators
as pilots and the likelihood of being talked down to and/or ignored.
Caracole, Tehachapi, Estrella, Julian, Boulder, Minden, Marfa, Hemet,
Crystal, Williams, Eagleville, Chilhowie and other FBOs never left me
un-greeted at the counter (figuratively, since a few of them don't
have counters), nor have any of the better know clubs.

On an initial visit to a new gliderport, I expect to spend at least $
150.00 for a field check and, if I don't have my own ship, much more
for rentals and tows thereafter, none of which I can spend if I don't
get as far as a "Hi, can I help you?".

Perhaps in this instance, we're just watching natural selection at
work.

Ray Warshaw
1LK