Greg Arnold wrote:
wrote:
Greg Arnold wrote:
The recent history of the SSA suggests that neither its Directors nor
its employees have done a very good job of handling the SSA's business
aspects. However, the SSA apparently has done quite well handling the
soaring aspects, which includes badges, records, contests, talking to
the FAA, etc.

This suggests that the ideal model for the SSA might be an affiliation
with a larger organization that could handle the business aspects, while
the SSA (or it successor) handled the soaring aspects. Basically, the
SSA could "contract out" its financial and management matters, while a
few employees at the SSA could put out the magazine, process badge
requests, etc.

I have looked at the EAA webpage, and am unclear about the
relationship between the EAA and its Divisions and Affiliates
(Aerobatics, Vintage, Warbirds, and National Association of Flight
Instructors). Are these basically autonomous organizations that are
listed on the EAA webpage, or are they solely run by the EAA, or are
they somewhere in between?

There have been some opinions on this forum that affiliation with the
EAA or AOPA would not be in the best interests of the SSA. That may be
true, if affiliation is compared to an independent and well run SSA.
However, in the real world, soaring pilots don't seen to do a very good
job of running the SSA. Therefore, the real choice may be between a
dysfunctional but independent SSA, and a functional SSA that has given
up some of its autonomy to the EAA or AOPA. Looked at in that way,
affiliation may be something that should be considered.

The problem I have with this is the "E" in EAA, which stands for
"experimental". I own and fly an experimental category glider, but many
in the SSA do not, including ALL of the commercial operators. The EAA
has no interest in this segment of the soaring community.

Tom Seim
Richland, WA


I doubt if the EAA would distinguish between a glider with and without
an "experimental" placard. The EAA already is affiliated with the
National Association of Flight Instructors, and there is nothing
especially "experimental" about that organization. There also is the
EAA Young Eagles program, which encourages young people to fly, with no
emphasis upon experimental aircraft.

Actually, the SSA's affiliation is/was here http://www.naa.aero,
including reciprocal board members. The NAA is the national aero club
and recognized by the FAI. The NAA had long ago delegated soaring
competition and badges to the SSA. Due to some concern with some of
the fees being imposed by the NAA, I believe the SSA was taking steps
to become the FAI recognized US national body for soaring. If you
review the SSA Board and Excomm minutes, I think you'll find that the
SSA is/was working in that direction and the NAA web site points back
to the SSA as a air sports group.

I've wondered why something like the USSA, United States Soaring
Association, hasn't been suggested long ago, with organizational
divisions and publications; sailplane division, hang glider division,
parasail division, etc. EAA has specialty magazines for subgroups, and
most are quite good. However, there was recently a merging of HG and
PG types under the USHGA amid much apparent derision, especially
concerning powered paragliders invading foot launch sites.

Frank Whiteley



Frank Whiteley