Cross Country the main focus of soaring?

$0.02 from the Soaring Club of Houston--
We are in the flat coastal plains and the club doesn't have a history of
promoting XC--our instructor staff and club management attitude are much the
same as you describe.

What might be interesting to you is how we are CHANGING.

A sub-group within the club, led by an instructor w/XC experience and a lot
of energy, has been holding training classes and putting the trailers in
shape. Bronze Badge is the club requirement for XC flight and we're holding
Bronze Badge days to help members clear that hurdle. The training classes
have covered topics like Thermalling and XC decision making. They've taken
field trips driving around identifying the best land-out fields.

In general, club ships are reserved for 1:30 slots. Certificated Airmen
with Bronze Badge can reserve ships for up to a full day for XC flights and
badge work. They must also secure a retrieve crew in advance.
Club fleet is:
2 Blanik L-23's
1 Grob
1 Blanik L-33
1 Schwiezer 2-33
1 Lark (on lease-back to club)

Brent



"mat Redsell" wrote in message
news:0LE6d.36$lf2.15@trnddc09...
I have been very concerned about our club, which discourages cross country
in club gliders. My thought is that purpose of soaring is cross country
and
if one just concentrates on flying above the airport then ones member ship
tends to end when you have your license.

We have many airports withing a 15 miles radius and many flat fields with
always an option of landing in cut hay fields, harvested bean and corn
fields etc. There is no lack of good landing fields or airports.

Our board is composed of pilots who do not go cross country and
surprisingly
none of the instructors have flown cross country ( there may be an
exception.... but none I know of have gone recently). And I am not allowed
to teach since I insist on wearing a parachute for both student and
instructor. ( I have in the past provided a chute for the student).

The thought at our club is that if you want to go cross country you buy
your own ship... a rasther harsh reality for many pilots.

I have found surprisingly ( tonque in cheek here) that if there is lift at
the airport we fly from there is usually lift 10 to 50 miles away but I
have
no way of convincing our board members.

Can anyone give me some ideas.... and do other clubs let their ships for
short cross country runs?

-mat
--
Marske Flying Wings
http://www.continuo.com/marske

"For Example John Smith" wrote
We are in the flat coastal plains and the club doesn't have a history of
promoting XC--our instructor staff and club management attitude are much the
same as you describe.

What might be interesting to you is how we are CHANGING.

And at what speed.

When I joined that club, nobody had gone XC in a club ship in years -
but things were changing. Club ships were going to go XC that season.
There was a program being put in place. I even remember attending
one of the meetings.

Eventually I got tired of waiting for the club to change. I bought my
own ship (an inexpensive metal one) and started teaching myself XC
flying. I flew some XC, got my commercial glider, eventually got my
CFIG, did some teaching, and even trained a CFIG myself. But I also
bought a twin, got heavily involved in instrument flying, got my CFII,
got heavily involved in instrument instruction, and sort of drifted
out of soaring.

As you might imagine, this is a process that took years.

The club is still changing. Club ships will go XC next season.

Michael

Basically you can tell to your clu leader board that anyone in r.a.s thinks
that they are plain idiots and shall step down from club management. Banning
XC does not prevent accidents and glider loss, but it can kill local soaring
activity rather fast.

Regards,
Kaido



"mat Redsell" wrote in message
news:0LE6d.36$lf2.15@trnddc09...
I have been very concerned about our club, which discourages cross country
in club gliders. My thought is that purpose of soaring is cross country
and
if one just concentrates on flying above the airport then ones member ship
tends to end when you have your license.

We have many airports withing a 15 miles radius and many flat fields with
always an option of landing in cut hay fields, harvested bean and corn
fields etc. There is no lack of good landing fields or airports.

Our board is composed of pilots who do not go cross country and
surprisingly
none of the instructors have flown cross country ( there may be an
exception.... but none I know of have gone recently). And I am not allowed
to teach since I insist on wearing a parachute for both student and
instructor. ( I have in the past provided a chute for the student).

The thought at our club is that if you want to go cross country you buy
your own ship... a rasther harsh reality for many pilots.

I have found surprisingly ( tonque in cheek here) that if there is lift at
the airport we fly from there is usually lift 10 to 50 miles away but I
have
no way of convincing our board members.

Can anyone give me some ideas.... and do other clubs let their ships for
short cross country runs?

-mat
--
Marske Flying Wings
http://www.continuo.com/marske

Ah, Politics! It takes patience and lobbying to make a change. First you
need to form a supportive base that will aid in promoting your view of what
the club should be - with reasoned arguments. Try to get like minded
members into officer positions. Most clubs, I believe are run in a fairly
democratic manner, so you need votes. Know your clubs by-laws and rules of
conduct regarding voting and decision making. It can get personal so be
prepared. It is a shame the club does not promote the SSA badge program for
non owners.

Mike

"mat Redsell" wrote in message
news:0LE6d.36$lf2.15@trnddc09...
I have been very concerned about our club, which discourages cross country
in club gliders. My thought is that purpose of soaring is cross country
and
if one just concentrates on flying above the airport then ones member ship
tends to end when you have your license.

We have many airports withing a 15 miles radius and many flat fields with
always an option of landing in cut hay fields, harvested bean and corn
fields etc. There is no lack of good landing fields or airports.

Our board is composed of pilots who do not go cross country and
surprisingly
none of the instructors have flown cross country ( there may be an
exception.... but none I know of have gone recently). And I am not allowed
to teach since I insist on wearing a parachute for both student and
instructor. ( I have in the past provided a chute for the student).

The thought at our club is that if you want to go cross country you buy
your own ship... a rasther harsh reality for many pilots.

I have found surprisingly ( tonque in cheek here) that if there is lift at
the airport we fly from there is usually lift 10 to 50 miles away but I
have
no way of convincing our board members.

Can anyone give me some ideas.... and do other clubs let their ships for
short cross country runs?

-mat
--
Marske Flying Wings
http://www.continuo.com/marske

"MK" wrote in message ...
Ah, Politics! It takes patience and lobbying to make a change. First you
need to form a supportive base that will aid in promoting your view of what
the club should be - with reasoned arguments. Try to get like minded
members into officer positions. Most clubs, I believe are run in a fairly
democratic manner, so you need votes. Know your clubs by-laws and rules of
conduct regarding voting and decision making. It can get personal so be
prepared. It is a shame the club does not promote the SSA badge program for
non owners.

Mike

"mat Redsell" wrote in message
news:0LE6d.36$lf2.15@trnddc09...
I have been very concerned about our club, which discourages cross country
in club gliders. My thought is that purpose of soaring is cross country
and
if one just concentrates on flying above the airport then ones member ship
tends to end when you have your license.

We have many airports withing a 15 miles radius and many flat fields with
always an option of landing in cut hay fields, harvested bean and corn
fields etc. There is no lack of good landing fields or airports.

Our board is composed of pilots who do not go cross country and
surprisingly
none of the instructors have flown cross country ( there may be an
exception.... but none I know of have gone recently). And I am not allowed
to teach since I insist on wearing a parachute for both student and
instructor. ( I have in the past provided a chute for the student).

The thought at our club is that if you want to go cross country you buy
your own ship... a rasther harsh reality for many pilots.

I have found surprisingly ( tonque in cheek here) that if there is lift at
the airport we fly from there is usually lift 10 to 50 miles away but I
have
no way of convincing our board members.

Can anyone give me some ideas.... and do other clubs let their ships for
short cross country runs?

-mat
--
Marske Flying Wings
http://www.continuo.com/marske




Parachutes- don't fly without them. They seem to be just an expensive
piece of fabric to sit on, but when you need it....is there for you.
And only for you.
And if someone calls you "sissy", well...I'd rather be a "sissy" then
dead. Plain and simple. In addition, if you fly with parachute on your
back, you are more comfortable in flight. And that opens whole
different perspective for you as a pilot of a sailplane....
Now, if your club board members are not permitting XC, get rid of
them...if you can't, change clubs. Not permitting XC is the most
stupid thing...it teaches the pilot art of navigation, decision
making, much better weather analysis and interpretation, your skills
are becoming sharper, etc. When you fly around your airport don't you
know where the lift is? So, if you going low you fly to known to
everybody spot, you go up and wander around the neighborhood....sounds
familiar? All power to you for trying to change the club (stupid)
rules. Promote XC, it is good for every pilot...and then comes the
contest.

"MK" wrote in message ...
Ah, Politics! It takes patience and lobbying to make a change. First you
need to form a supportive base that will aid in promoting your view of what
the club should be - with reasoned arguments. Try to get like minded
members into officer positions. Most clubs, I believe are run in a fairly
democratic manner, so you need votes. Know your clubs by-laws and rules of
conduct regarding voting and decision making. It can get personal so be
prepared. It is a shame the club does not promote the SSA badge program for
non owners.

Mike

"mat Redsell" wrote in message
news:0LE6d.36$lf2.15@trnddc09...
I have been very concerned about our club, which discourages cross country
in club gliders. My thought is that purpose of soaring is cross country
and
if one just concentrates on flying above the airport then ones member ship
tends to end when you have your license.

We have many airports withing a 15 miles radius and many flat fields with
always an option of landing in cut hay fields, harvested bean and corn
fields etc. There is no lack of good landing fields or airports.

Our board is composed of pilots who do not go cross country and
surprisingly
none of the instructors have flown cross country ( there may be an
exception.... but none I know of have gone recently). And I am not allowed
to teach since I insist on wearing a parachute for both student and
instructor. ( I have in the past provided a chute for the student).

The thought at our club is that if you want to go cross country you buy
your own ship... a rasther harsh reality for many pilots.

I have found surprisingly ( tonque in cheek here) that if there is lift at
the airport we fly from there is usually lift 10 to 50 miles away but I
have
no way of convincing our board members.

Can anyone give me some ideas.... and do other clubs let their ships for
short cross country runs?

-mat
--
Marske Flying Wings
http://www.continuo.com/marske




Parachutes- don't fly without them. They seem to be just an expensive
piece of fabric to sit on, but when you need it....is there for you.
And only for you.
And if someone calls you "sissy", well...I'd rather be a "sissy" then
dead. Plain and simple. In addition, if you fly with parachute on your
back, you are more comfortable in flight. And that opens whole
different perspective for you as a pilot of a sailplane....
Now, if your club board members are not permitting XC, get rid of
them...if you can't, change clubs. Not permitting XC is the most
stupid thing...it teaches the pilot art of navigation, decision
making, much better weather analysis and interpretation, your skills
are becoming sharper, etc. When you fly around your airport don't you
know where the lift is? So, if you going low you fly to known to
everybody spot, you go up and wander around the neighborhood....sounds
familiar? All power to you for trying to change the club (stupid)
rules. Promote XC, it is good for every pilot...and then comes the
contest.