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Bob Kuczewski |
Bob Kuczewski's 2008 Region 3 Candidate Statement (August 4th, 2008):
Flying should be fun. I believe USHPA should focus on the fair part. That leaves the fun up to you. It's no secret that my candidacy is founded on restoring fairness at the Torrey Pines Gliderport. We've seen too many pilots (both hang gliding and paragliding) be mistreated there in the past 10 years. I believe USHPA should take a more active role in resolving whatever problems exist to ensure that all qualified pilots can have fair access to that site. I will work toward that goal. Of course a Regional Director must serve more than one site. We deserve a Regional Director who visits Kagel, Crestline, Elsinore, Soboba, Horse, Little Black, and many others. Is that what we have now? I will work to protect all of our fragile sites. But most of all, we need a Regional Director who cares about pilots and pilot issues. We have many Regional Directors who run businesses, and I think running a hang gliding or paragliding business is very good for our sports. But we are an association of pilots not businesses. Fortunately, most business operators who are also Regional Directors can separate the two and do a good job representing pilots while running their business. Several great examples come to mind, and I applaud them. But I do not believe this is true of the incumbent. If I am elected, I will be a voice for you. I will work to represent your views. You can be sure that Mr. Jebb will continue to have influence at USHPA whether he is Regional Director or not. But who will speak for the pilots in our region? I will. There's a lot more to say about many topics (site preservation, growth of our sports, mediation, HG/PG balance, etc.), and there's so little space here. So let me offer a few resources. Please read my statements and endorsements at torreyhawks.org/R3. Please write to me at bobkuczewski@gmail.com. Most importantly, please call me at 858-204-7499 anytime. I want to be YOUR Regional Director, and I will work for YOU. Finally, the obligatory flying resume... I began flying steerable canopies at Fort Benning in 1976 (US Army Jump School). I began flying airplanes in 1978, earned a private pilot's license in 1979, and a sea plane rating in 1980. I flew my first hang glider flights in 1978, first paraglider flights in 1990, and I currently hold an H4/P4 rating. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering in 1983, and my senior project was a wind tunnel test of a model hang glider. In 2007, I began flying sailplanes and became the first pilot to fly a hang glider, paraglider, sailplane, and RC in one day at the Torrey Pines Gliderport (see "Pilot Profile" in August 2007 magazine). Thanks for reading this, but please take just a few more minutes to make it count. Please mail in your ballot!! |
I can sum up my platform in two sentences: