2 seat gliders are definitely a key issue. Without attractive and available
2 seat gliders, you can't give rides to new blood. There's nothing more
frustrating than inviting some friends to go flying with you on a weekend,
and then having them stand around for 4-5 hours because there are way too
many people trying to share a limited pool of dual gliders.

Mike Schumann

"Jack" wrote in message
...
Michel Talon wrote:
Mike Schumann wrote:
GA isn't growing either. The number of student pilot licenses issued
has dropped over 20% in the last few years. One of the leading flight
schools in the Twin Cities (Wings) has just closed as a result.

Mike Schumann

Of course. People practising such activities tend to be wealthier than
the average, and so sincerely believe that cost is not a problem. They
are completely overlooking the fact that they belong to an extremely
small minority, and that for the vast majority of people, aviation
activities are completely cost forbidden.

A large number of students/pilots (for the full range of ratings) have
also come from foreign countries for training in the USA, historically.
That was reduced greatly after 9/11. This has to have some effect on the
referenced statistics. Some training establishments have gone out of
business as a direct result of the loss of foreign students.

"The vast majority of people" are not those with whom we are concerned,
nor is it very expensive to get training in a glider up through the PP-G
rating. Familiarity with the opportunity and the motivation to put aside
the other temptations offered by our very comfortable society are the main
factors, IMO. Those who are by no means "wealthier than average" are today
often found to be enjoying flat screen TV's which cost as much as the
training for a private pilot certificate in a glider.

Get people into a glider and familiarize them with what they can do as a
glider pilot, and you'll recruit them. Watch those commercial and club
operations which continue to thrive and emulate them. This is not a
systemic problem so much as a problem at the local club grassroots level.
People who would otherwise be flying Cessnas, but think it's too expensive
today, should be flying sailplanes.

Show them the pure, eco-friendly freedom of sailplane flight and you'll
hook them in great numbers. Our club needs a couple more modern
two-seaters. I'd bet your does, too. And when you get these new people,
keep them by emphasizing cross-country flying. Don't let them slip away
out of boredom from being tethered to the windsock.


Jack



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