Terry wrote:
I'll say it again: ...any attempts to offer aid or direction are
ignored.

To answer your question, I did not run for director, but I did offer
after Mr. Wright's 2004 request for volunteers. As I recall, there was
not an election for director in my region but an appointment.

The familiar plea that no one offers does not wash when the circle is
closed. Here in PHX, we are about to get a major change to our class
B. AOPA is currently more active than SSA in this. AOPA even had a
spokesman in today's paper. Nothing from SSA although the current
planned changes will severely impact operations at both Turf and
Estrella. I offered, asked, pleaded and got zilch in return--only a
reference that Cindy Bricker "takes care of airspace for us."

It only takes a little encouragement. The OSH group was very nearly
shutdown by the directorate until it was discovered that they may
actually pull it off. Good for them. If more of us bypass the SSA,
maybe more will get done.


Cindy Brickner is aware of the Phoenix Class B redesign and has spoken
directly with the Phoenix TRACON manager regarding the LOA that is about
to be put into place for Soaring operations in the area. Both the ASA
(Arizona Soaring Association) and the SSA have been involved in this
redesign as well as the last one. Jim Burch must be given credit for
leading the effort.

As for Terry’s statement, “planned changes will severely impact
operations at both Turf and Estrella.” No additional restrictions
have been imposed that didn’t already exist. In fact, this is really
a realignment to more accurately reflect the actual traffic patterns.
They are lowering the ceiling from 10,000 ft to 9,000 feet. When was
the last time you remember the Feds giving airspace back?

I have had numerous direct discussions via phone and E-mail with Cindy
on this subject. She isn’t hard to get a hold of. Her contact
information is published on the SSA web site as well as her own
commercial Soaring web site. She is involved and her involvement is
important to keep the National Airspace perspective as it pertains to
Soaring in mind.


Paul Cordell
ASA President
SSA Life Member