At 01:37 PM 27/04/2009, you wrote:
> Gliding is dying. I know of entire gliding clubs that had to cease
> operations because of GFA rules. Having supervision and a CFI is NOT
> a CASA requirement. One senior CASA person I spoke to about this
> could not understand why GFA would make this a requirement.
Gliding is in decline due to many influences like cost, other
alternatives like RAA and social presures that were not about 20
years ago, to blame it on the GFA's policies and structure is very simplistic.
Mark, I agree that there are other causes for the decline. That
doesn't mean it is smart to have rules that cause clubs to stop
operating. Ask the guys at the former gliding club at Darwin.
> CASA itself offered a way out a few years ago but the proposal was
> terminated with extreme prejudice by the GFA. I've raised this on
> numerous occasions here but nobody has been game to say why. The
> proposal would not have prevented the GFA operating exactly as it
> does today for those who wanted that.
The reasons the GFA resisted the CASA alternative are based on non
publisised arguments that i should not go into, needles to say some
want to have their cake and eat it also.
Maybe suporting the organisation that suports your wants would make
things seem more "fair and democratic"?
I can't follow this. So if there were good arguments why weren't they
published? If you know them why shouldn't you tell us?
I suspect the main argument was that if people had a CASA licence
they couldn't be forced to join the GFA and the GFA would lose
revenue/power/influence.
> Most of the posters here who are happy with the way things are see
> their own club and maybe go to the odd contest. I communicate with
> people from all over the country and internationally re the state of
> the sport. It has been an ugly picture for a long time with Australia
> one of the worst. We'll see how many glider manufacturers are
left in 5 years.
Obviously you dont speak with the same people i do, the only common
thread is that gliding is in some decline in some areas, the why and
how long may change. Keep in mind at all times, change is
inevitable, you can embrace it and also change (learn) or fear it
and throw stones (witch hunting i think they called it).
If you truly disagree with the state of things do something about it
and get involved, working to find solutions is always harder than
sitting at a computer complaining without puting forward benificial options.
I've put forward many different alternatives, many times, Mark. Maybe
you should read them again and try to understand them.
Mike
Borgelt Instruments - manufacturers of quality soaring instruments
phone Int'l + 61 746 355784
fax Int'l + 61 746 358796
cellphone Int'l + 61 428 355784
Int'l + 61 429 355784
email: mborg...@borgeltinstruments.com
website: www.borgeltinstruments.com
_______________________________________________
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
