Getting new members

At 03:55 08 May 2011, Alan wrote:

One thing that time management classes suggest is using money to
"buy" time -- rather than spend more time working on things that
can be dealt with by spending money. (Probably why many pay the
gardener to mow the lawn.)

Of course, once I pay somebody else to mow my lawn, I can no longer afford
to buy a tow at the glider field. My approach is to do my own yard work,
thus saving the expense of a gardner, *and* getting some exercise, thus
avoiding the expense of a gym membership. Then I take that money to the
glider field.

Soaring with a club is still an affordable way to go, at least it *can* be
if that's what the club wants to offer.

Jim Beckman

On May 7, 9:55*pm, (Alan) wrote:
Snip---
* You neglected one of the meaningful costs of winch launching ---
real estate. *You need a long enough runway to lay out enough cable for
a useful height of launch, and that runway needs to not be at a busy
general aviation airport, unless you like Cessna's running into the
cable, and the resulting pictures in the evening news.

US winch operations use public airports very successfully - and
safely. That shifts the 'real estate' cost to the taxpayer. When it
costs $500 to fill the tanks, there are a lot fewer of those Cessna's
flying. Those that do fly like the early morning for the smooth air.
Once the thermals start popping, the Cessna's get tied down.

* That said, winch launching does sound like fun. *What are various
views on how long it takes to learn it and qualify for the signoff to
be able to do it in the U.S.? *(Just in case a winch launch operation
ever does set up within practical single-engine power plane range of
here.)

I like to see a transition course of at least 30 launches. Not only
is there a lot to learn, much of it has to become instinctive before
you are safe.

* Yes, that refers to the basic issue that in some places, the good
gliding locations are at distances that are impractical for a day trip
by car. *Once the trip exceeds a day trip, it becomes impractical to
do frequently if there are any family responsibilities. *(For safety,
one probably wants to fly more than a couple times per year...)
The golf course, and the power airport, are both a lot closer for
most of us.


Again, the typical US pilot will drive alone 100 miles in his SUV to a
glider operation without giving a thought to ride sharing. Camping
at the gliderport isn't considered either. There are ways to deal
with this.

European clubs also expect their members to work on club equipment.
This "sweat equity" greatly reduces costs.

* Without an A&P mechanic supervising and signing off the work, the
options for the U.S. club members is more limited.

A club member can do any work on a glider an AI will sign off.
Besides, if you look carefully at what maintenance an owner is legally
allowed to do on his own, it covers almost everything a glider is
likely to need in the way of routine maintenance. I can't believe I
once saw a glider owner paying an A&P to put air in the tires.

Well, I think we need to take off our blinders and face reality.
Flying is no longer an exciting adventure; it's going through TSA
searches and being crammed into a tubular extrusion for hours without
food or entertainment. Or it's UAVs whacking bad guys, controlled
from an Air Base in Nevada.

There will always be a small group of people of all ages who will
gravitate to gliding, either because they can't afford power flying,
or like to try something different, or are attracted to the
competitive aspects.

But to expect people to rush to gliding because we can make it less
expensive? Won't happen. It's already about as inexpensive as flying
can get!

And forget homebuilding - the numbers will never be very big. The SSA
isn't the EAA, unfortunately (or perhaps, fortunately!).

The European model would appear to work better, judging by where all
the new gliders come from - more social aspects, bigger clubs with
better equipment (NO 2-33s!!!!), much greater emphasis on gliding as a
sport (XC, badges, OLC, racing, records) than as just twirlybirding on
a nice Saturday afternoon.

But even the euros are losing membership! So as much as I prefer their
approach to the typical US glider operation, they still have the same
problem - flying just isn't sexy any more.

So what is the answer? Quit worrying about it, go out and fly, try to
introduce someone to gliding who might actually be interested.

Kirk
66

A month or so ago, I towed a young man up on his 14th birthday. He shags
ropes, sweeps floors, runs wings, etc., to help pay the freight. It
wouldn't surprise me if Rick (Sundance Aviation) isn't helping a bit, too.
Used to see a lot more of that...

"Frank Whiteley" wrote in message
...
On May 6, 12:59 am, " wrote:
I tried to do this at the high school located on Edwards AFB (of all
places) with the physics class (of all things) that I taught/teach
using the flight school that the USAF Test Pilot School contracts with
and whom I have worked with for more than 25 years. School management
and their lawyers went completely apoplectic. The students, their
parent, and I had to sign all sorts of documents that we would never
do such a thing nor speak of flying ever again in class. I recall
that we were also forbidden to even think about it, at least in
school.

Educational institutions have become risk averse, including at the
collegiate level. Twenty five years ago you could find white water
kayaking, glider clubs, and hang glider clubs on campus that owned
equipment. Nearly non-existent now and most clubs for that type of
activity must engage external organizations and keep involvement at
arm's length. Campus clubs are largely social welfare oriented
today.

We had a member's daughter seek to have her Junior ROTC unit take
orientation flights, but the school district balked.

Boy Scouts can participate under their aviation tour permit. Girl
Scouts no. Aviation Venture Crews can be so organized, but there are
still limits.

Some soaring clubs and a few commercial operators have found
interesting ways to engage youth. We can do better.

Currently, there are 441 SSA Youth Members in 134 flying chapters. 10
chapters have 10 or more youth members. 50 Chapters have no youth
members. 22 have one youth member. The average 45 member chapter has
3.25 youth members. To date we've received four Bultman applications
(4/30 deadline). I suspect many more of the 441 were eligible to
apply.

Frank Whiteley