[JoeF]

People learn in different ways; they participate in different ways. There are hundreds of different ways to have hang gliding activities. People differ in how they manage risks. Hang glider craft may vary over a very wide spectrum from micro to super huge, from rotary to fixed, from conservative to acrobatic. Hang gliding flight also has a very wide spectrum from simulated micro to super huge cold-calm air floating. One perspective or slice of the hang glider universe need not vanillaize the options available to a person. No one private corporation ought to hold monopoly over who can be rated this way or that. No one perspective over what is to be practiced should be thrusted while denying the existence of alternatives. There is no longer just one game in town. Consider how easy it could be to have choices of rating systems.

There have ever been safe risk-managing hang glider pilots fully shunning badge and tiered rating systems wielded by insurance-influenced corporations; some of them know that no exterior rating will make them safe for a particular launch; they may be open to the full knowledge base including soaking in local wisdom about a site; they know that each launch needs their review of pertinent factors--none of which is a rating. Those who will take and live out being ever a student and ever an instructor may opt for the rating "HGP" or "Hang Glider Pilot" to be the sole badge to cover any situation among the thousands of possible situations regarding hang gliding. Such HGP might not fit other pilots; look to the other rating systems and adopt the flow that will bring out one's best for one's purposes. If none of the systems works for a pilot, he or she might create a framework of ratings that will fit.

I am seeing a variegated hang gliding flow in the US where it will be very appropriate for there to be several types of rating systems open to pilots. One pilot might even choose to go for ALL the options; or a pilot might aim for just one system of ratings; or a pilot might create his or her own rating system; a particular KIND of hang gliding activity might form a rating system to fit just that KIND of activity.

There will be in the US four or more rating systems for HGs and sites:
1. HGP (mode of self-regulation for certain pilots who are willing to face the open knowledge base for each immediate launch challenge; they are encouraged to be student and instructor at all points of their hang gliding recreation; if they are not ready for a given launch, they don't launch, one would hope). This rating system will best fit some pilots, but not others.
2. N, I, A. (Novice, Intermediate, Advanced) This system will be adopted by some clubs and associations. N,I, A will serve some situations, pilots, and niche participation keenly.
3. u$hPa system inside and also outside that corporation. This system will be pushed and pushed and pushed until low participation in it occurs.
4. Recognition of non-US rating systems. Clubs and sites will recognize such systems as they might.
5. Commercial instructors will offer public one or more of the several rating systems
or even create their own rating system to respect their perspective of what hang gliding is about for them. Hundreds of perspectives over hang gliding are optional. Rating within particular perspectives is an open adventure.

Sites will have tiered rating depending on wind direction, force, and weather … calm, thermic, etc.
Sites will invite more respect from all rating systems depending on conditions. Recall how river rapids are rated; each person is to make a judgment about readiness to face a certain rapid.