One day a perfect 10 in short shorts with 10+ legs turned up on the flight line at my club. Never seen an operation fall apart so quickly. CFI closed it down mid afternoon.
----- Original Message ----- From: "skf1" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.'" <aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net> Sent: Thursday, 24 March 2005 5:29 PM Subject: RE: [Aus-soaring] mining past glider pilots > Nick, > To be totally politically incorrect and ridicules > If we want to attract young guys along we need to employ > young blond lycra suited model types to run the rope and wings. > Then again they (the young men) may not want to do much flying with > all the "action" on the ground. > > My serious question is to the forum members who are members of the "MAD > Committee" What are you guys doing about this question, you were > formed to address it? Or is a case of another committee that keeps > minutes and wastes hours. > > SDF > > PS - Easter - lets forget the club politics and go flying. > Have a happy and safe Easter everyone. > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Nick > Gilbert > Sent: Thursday, 24 March 2005 5:18 PM > To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia. > Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] mining past glider pilots > > >Ian Said : "The comment that OFFITTH's put young people off gliding is > > >crap, look at the other issues first, I'm sure that the young person > >doesn't >give up just because the people are old, there are to many other > >reasons >that need to be addressed." > > I must disagree with you Ian. OFITTH's DO put young people off gliding. And > it is not that "They give up just because the people are old", they dont > start. They turn up for a Joyflight or a flight with a friend, and they > leave. > > The time it takes in between flights will go much faster if you have similar > > people to spend it with. I have taken many friends flying (people around my > age so sub 30), and without repeating the various words used they all ask me > > how I can stand to spend all day surrounded by old men. > > The problem is perfectly displayed in Camden where I grew up. On a weekend, > the young people go to the same 2 or 3 pubs, and the older people go to 1 or > > 2 bowling clubs / RSL's. People like to spend their leisure time with > like-minded people. > > Nick. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Patching" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia." > <aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net> > Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2005 4:50 PM > Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] mining past glider pilots > > > >I think it is interesting to note that people talk about the demise of > >gliding and some even put their finger on the trouble but then get a bit > >confused with the next part, ie coming up with smart ways to address the > >issue. > > I've said it before and I'll say it again... The big factor in not > > retaining people in our sport is TIME not COST or OFITTH. Now you can all > > think of the problems that this comment should cover. For example, sitting > > > around waiting for a flight, being gone all day from the family etc etc. > > > > Some clubs have addressed this problem by instituting new ideas, ie buying > > > a 2 seater for TIF's alone and rostering people for that role, then > > booking people to a time schedule > > > > Increasing the number of days the club operates, the clubs at BCS have > > introduced friday flying and are seriously considering mondays as well. > > Gympie have wednesday and reports are that members are enjoying the > > opportunity to fly mid week. Less stress on family committments. > > > > Introducing packages for training. In this world the issue as I have said > > isn't cost. BUT if you join a club to learn to fly it wears thin when it > > takes over a year to go solo. No wonder people drop out. I have spoken > > with many clubs who see the benefit of running courses BUT getting around > > to it is one of the hardest things to do. I believe that if clubs > > advertised they would fill up to 3 courses per year with say 6 trainees > > who, in a week of flying would get very close to solo. People would be > > happy to pay the cost if they could see quicker results. The off weekends > > could then be used for consolidation and advanced training of the recent > > pilots and give the instructors the opportunity to even do their own > > thing. The opportunity to retain members would rise as people would see a > > better return for their money. They would also gain better credence with > > friends, work mates who invariably ask "hows the gliding going, what Not > > solo yet, how long should it take" > > No wonder we don't retain members. > > > > The comment that OFFITTH's put young people off gliding is crap, look at > > the other issues first, I'm sure that the young person doesn't give up > > just because the people are old, there are to many other reasons that need > > > to be addressed. > > I'm off flying for the next couple of days, I look forward to the > > comments. > > Cheers all > > Ian P > > Happy Easter. > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: " Christopher Mc Donnell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: "Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia." > > <aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net> > > Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2005 2:58 PM > > Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] mining past glider pilots > > > > > >>I agree with what Emilis has said as it matches my own experiences and I > >>may > >> be the 1 in 300 he cited. > >> > >> Peter Creswick said "not up there in the "cool" things to do on a > >> weekend". > >> > >> Historically the "air mindedness" of the community that existed for most > >> of > >> the last century and fed gliding is gone. > >> I still participate because of the airmindedness of my generation and > >> then > >> rarely on weekends because I have another life related to family, friends > > >> & > >> other interests and that is the only free time that they have. > >> > >> Ever been labelled "antisocial" because of the time commitment required > >> by > >> gliding? Ever wonder if the emergence of powered gliders might be driven > >> by > >> this? > >> > >> I am not optimistic as to the future of gliding as I feel it is heading > >> to > >> be a very rich persons sport only, as even dinghy sailing has done, but I > > >> am > >> going to enjoy it while it lasts. > >> > >> Chris McDonnell > >> > >> > >> > >> ----- Original Message ----- > >> From: "Emilis Prelgauskas" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >> To: "Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia." > >> <aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net> > >> Sent: Wednesday, 23 March 2005 3:07 PM > >> Subject: [Aus-soaring] mining past glider pilots > >> > >> > >>> On Thu, 24 Mar 2005 07:00:25 +1000, Robert Hart wrote: > >>> >I believe that the ex-glider pilot group is one to which we should > >>> >be marketing. > >>> > >>> > >>> >From the work that has been done at some clubs and within one region > >>> in 'exit surveying' glider pilots leaving the sport, the problems > >>> have been to get truthful answers. > >>> The responses were more in the 'nice' form - 'family commitments', > >>> etc. > >>> It was impossible to get a sample that gave valid data on cost or > >>> access or failure to meet expectations and what these might be as > >>> barriers to participation. > >>> > >>> This scatter was overlaid by the 'noise' of consumers seeking best > >>> price - 'that other club is cheaper' where the pilot then didn't > >>> shift to the other club, but exited the sport. > >>> (the other club was further away, the ambit claim was more for the > >>> home club to lower its fees) > >>> > >>> > >>> There is a belief, but without backing evidence, that exiting glider > >>> pilots fit into the following categories - > >>> > >>> - young people moving into career development or family formation > >>> phases of their life; where it is hoped they will return once > >>> established. And some do. > >>> But the ROI is so poor (1 in 300 trainees) that I exited that field > >>> after 15 years in it. > >>> > >>> - And I am still contacted on a regular cycle by a number of > >>> ex-glider pilots (between 30 and 60 in age) with 'let me know when > >>> you're flying next; 'cause I want to come out to get back into > >>> gliding'; but after a dozen offers of mid week and weekend days > >>> declined by them because of 'family commitments' I stop offering. > >>> > >>> - there are ex-glider pilots who found that wearing the flight jacket > >>> just doesn't pull the birds at the party the way it did in past > >>> generations > >>> > >>> - that there are a group of ex-glider pilots who were alienated from > >>> the sport by its archaic structure giving little flying for large > >>> time investment against a background of family quality time demands > >>> on them. > >>> > >>> The last group would need to be reassured that the gliding they want > >>> is available on demand with the sport providing the current > >>> generation fleet, surround social scene, ground facilities and > >>> support, ease of access to equipment which makes the place attractive > >>> both for their own flying and not to be embarrassed to bring their > >>> friends. > >>> > >>> The embarrassment comes in diverse forms: the untidy facilities (no > >>> where to sit out of the heat) and fleet, the access restrictions > >>> which make them look bad in front of their friends (public critique > >>> of their status to type rating, check flight, flight list placing, > >>> aircraft not actually available when booked). > >>> > >>> The practical problems that this raises for the sport are: > >>> - the capital costs and at what the charge levels would have to be > >>> set > >>> - the possibility that we need to accept a higher prang rate in > >>> return for giving people less onerous access to the sport. > >>> (Callers for passenger flights still include sizeable numbers that > >>> assume they will be given a single seater to go off and play in just > >>> as seen on TV) > >>> > >>> In one club structure where all the support was offered if the pilot > >>> came with their own glider (to cover the prang rate issue), the > >>> response was outrage because exiting glider pilots feel the sport > >>> should continue to offer everything at traditional charges as in the > >>> past; just add in the professional ground staff and adequate numbers > >>> of current generation equipment at no extra charge to meet their > >>> expectations. > >>> >From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Wed, 23 Mar 2005 15:15:43 +1030 > >>> From: Emilis Prelgauskas <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >>> To: P & W <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >>> X-Mailer: PocoMail 2.64 (1133) - Licensed Version > >>> X-Account: My Account > >>> Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2005 15:15:43 +1030 > >>> In-Reply-To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >>> Subject: Re: List as requested > >>> Mime-Version: 1.0 > >>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" > >>> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable > >>> Status: RQ > >>> > >>> On Wed, 23 Mar 2005 21:52:26 +1030, P & W wrote: > >>> >Please find attached the list we spoke of > >>> >Regards P&W > >>> > > >>> > >>> With my thanks, a copy of your list will go to Chris bailey, and I'll > >>> use the contacts for the documents issue for the first 4 main trades > >>> (plumbing, site work, concrete, timber frame) > >>> > >>> > >>> _______________________________________________ > >>> Aus-soaring mailing list > >>> Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net > >>> To check or change subscription details, visit: > >>> http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring > >>> > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Aus-soaring mailing list > >> Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net > >> To check or change subscription details, visit: > >> http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring > >> > >> > >> -- > >> No virus found in this incoming message. > >> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > >> Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.8.1 - Release Date: 23/03/2005 > >> > >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Aus-soaring mailing list > > Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net > > To check or change subscription details, visit: > > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring > > > > _______________________________________________ > Aus-soaring mailing list > Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net > To check or change subscription details, visit: > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring > > _______________________________________________ > Aus-soaring mailing list > Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net > To check or change subscription details, visit: > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring > _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list Aus-soaring@lists.internode.on.net To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
