US Hawks Hang Gliding Association

Some Ideas, We need a parellel, not equal, rateing system, F=Fledgeling, Y=Yearling, H=Hawk, E=Eagle;Hawks and Eagles (all skilled, high time pilots) teaching flight skills,awarding ratings, signing skills(foot launch,turbulent cliff, towing, aerotow, etc.)for Fledges and Yearlings. If we can gain some credibility with FIA as an ongoing working group then we should be able to accure our own Insurence, perhaps in country, and open our sites without recourse to canopy dominated organizations attempting to monopolize the sky, Earth, and Space. We may even need a new magazine, one to address HANGGLIDING issues of interest to PILOTS, not Speeedwiings, basse jumping, etc. The CANOPY People already have an exlent organization in the U.S.Parachute Association, let them participate with others of thier kind and leave us pilots to have an organization undistracted by thier wierd problems. Thanks for the opertunity to express some My new concepts, more later. terryjm

Hi Terry,

Great ideas!! I especially like the use of bird terminology for our ratings.

In the short term, I suspect that our "ratings" will simply honor the ratings of other recognized organizations (USHPA, FAI, etc). That would make it easier to get insurance - since we are meeting the same standards as others who are already covered by insurance. Over time, we may be able to issue our own independent ratings.

Either way, I like the idea of using the terminology of "natural flying" for our ratings. We may make them equivalent to existing ratings, but use the more colorful names.

Now here's the hard part ... who says that an eagle is a superior aviator to a hawk?

Delighted to know you,
Bob Kuczewski

We don't need to worry about insuance, USHGA is good for that, What we need is a little exclusivity,and a seperation of controling interest; Ie. canopy control for canopy floating, and pilot control for glider soaring issues. When negative g-force is no longer an issue, then canopy flight may become safe in turbulence; untill then I'll keep the king post and strong upper rigging to keep the kite together in the likelyhood of an inversion. more later, tjm

Good Points Terry!!

Separation of controlling interest is very important, and I hope that's another thing we can achieve with a separate organization.

Fly Safely!!

Bob Kuczewski

Our club status should qualify as,'an organization' to satisfy part 103, at least local, with out insurance; however, cards reflecting skills would be nice! Moving right along, one idea at a time, some help with this will be nice too! Thanks,tjm

terryJm wrote:cards reflecting skills would be nice!

I agree. I think we can start issuing US Hawks ratings cards right now based on honoring existing ratings from USHPA. That assumes that we use the same ratings structure (H1-H5) that USHGA/USHPA has been issuing.

I propose that we issue each ratings card upon request and that the dates of those ratings will reflect the dates that they were originally issued.

How does that sound?

Great, this is my officeal request, USHGA#31982, H3,Windy Cliff & turbulents;from Buffalo Mtn.Ok, with Dell Harmon & Chuck Hall, Static tow;with Gary Whitman, Kildare, Ok.,he hand towed my first time, Platform;with Donell Hewlett, and asorted exp. with Jack,Nick, and Zack at Hurn,Tx.

Since My first post on this day would not submit, I've got to add; Working with John La'Tore,Tom Price, Larry Newman, Jim Lee, and Irv Alred at Elecra-Flyer in Albq.N.M.also, my first Inst,'Gene Bledsoe' in OKC.1978.and my latest Observer,'Sam Kellner', Leakey,Tx. Thanks to all, without them I'de be lost! and You Bob! later tjm

We should be able to have an instructor certification clinic here at the hawks chapter (S.W. Texas Hang Gliding Assn.) now that Sam is an offical Observer. Just where do we begin to trust our members to be resposable? Is USHPA permission needed to grow the sport localy, or are we ready to step up to the plate and assume responsabilaty for initiating our training/flying/mentoring. Another thought has come to mind, If we split off para-gliding as a seperate sport, with it's organization, and Hang Gliding, with it's own Assn. we would have seperat magazines, and seperat insurance, just as we have separate comps. now. Then we could pay for our risk management, and they could pay for thiers! Seems like I remember a time when this worked better than what we are doing now. Any comments? Later, Terry

terryJm wrote:We don't need to worry about insuance, USHGA is good for that,

Whoah, there. Really, I never expected the ushpa insurance to be under question, either.

And now, renewal difficulties. A real good reason to have more than one US HG assn.

Those are great ideas, Terry. What a pilot profile.