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Pros and Cons of Extant Rating Systems
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This topic thread invites putting up for view pros and cons of extant rating systems that form options for hang gliding pilots.
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There are more than one rating system extant in the US for recreational hang glider pilots.
1. Self-Soar Association has a rating system: HGP which is good at any site in the USA or any nation in the world, perhaps constrained by some local gatekeepers. Otto Members all have HGP upon wish. Be 100% responsible for all one's actions. Decide whether or not it is prudent to launch right now or not. Otto Members are free to add to their wallet ratings from other organizations or persons (even self). An Otto Member might declare: "I have the equivalent of H4, sans inked confirmation from US Hawks or USHPA; so, I confirm that I have H4 equivalency."
2. US Hawks has a rating system being grown: HGP and reflective ratings honoring the ratings of other organizations, domestic or non-domestic, if I understand it rightly.
3. USHPA rating system.
4. ?
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Want to use land that is a controlled site that requires a rating from a private corporation org? Several ways: 1. Get the rating. Then launch. 2. Don't get the rating. Then launch. 3. Skip the use of the launch land point and fly the airspace anyway by launching from some other piece of land.
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What are the pros and cons of USHPA rating system?
Cons:
1. Con game.
2. Ever fees going to support PDMC culture.
3. Takes fee impacts away from HG focus.
4. Creates a peer pressure culture that gets abused by pilots that are not taking 100% responsibility for their actions.
5. Creates an unsafe culture dumbing and numbing pilots. Gradually important parameters for decisions are replaced by status, rating number, respect, grades, ratings ..
6. Herding.
7. Takes away energy and synergy that might otherwise be spent on honing depth in a pilot's prudence, wisdom, judgment, knowledge, sharpness, awareness. self-renewal, review, immediate clarifying, ...
Pros:
For org continuation
____ 1. Fees.
____ 2. Authority
____ 3. Renewal fees
____ 4. Mimic privatization of public airspace (keep using the word "fly" rather than use the word "land use")
____ 5. BobK mentioned in another topic thread something that bring "economy" to my paraphrase. Saves decision time for gatekeepers ...
____ 6. Control. Power. Importance
For pilot continuation
(Cannot think of any redeeming value here. Maybe if one wants a rating instead of hang gliding, then a person might like to stay around badged with a rating. Or one might get emotionally high having a rating.)
