Glider Safety, etc.

Comments about the instructor pool are misleading in part. At one
point we were so desperate for instructors that we considered hiring
outsiders for our club. We searched the FAA directory and came up
with 52 rated CFI-Gs here in Indiana. I went through the list,
recognized the names of many of them and was amazed to learn they had
the certificate. That list included people who were ratings
collectors, got the certificate years and years ago - many of them
grandfathered in, and had not been near a glider since. They are not
interested and would not entertain a discussion about it. My point is
that the FAA list is not an appropriate group about which to make
judgments-- either of activity or quality. Maybe there should be a
weeding process to eliminate those who have been inactive for ten
years or more. Of course, those inactive ones have not been re-
validated but they are still on the list; it is this list that should
be weeded.