Soaring does need and warrant the right kind of promotion. The
promotion should be done by the SSA, clubs and commercial operators
who actually provide the services.
Third party promoters rely on selling certificates and vouchers that
will never be used. This is not good for the sport. None of that
money is invested in soaring equipment, and infrastructure for
creating jobs for aspiring professional pilots.

A big issue with third party marketers is that they are not
interested in giving the customer the important information regarding
scheduling, weight and size limitations or hours of operation, just to
name a few. They sell the ride with a bunch of hype and the operator
is left with a disappointed (at best) customer for whom he will not be
paid enough to do the ride anyway.

I love America. We enjoy so many civil liberties and freedoms. This
is one of a few countries that people like me can enjoy making a
living with a great sport like soaring. With these liberties come
SCUM BAGS that just want to skim off the top. We see it in third party
marketing as well as internet based supply busnesses who do not have
any real skin in the game with tow or training operations.

We do not need government regulation to thwart this activity. We need
operators and glider pilots to evaluate where the value is. Is there
value in the quick sale that someone else goes out and gets? Is there
value in buying equipment from someone who is not otherwise keeping
the sport alive by providing your tows, training for new students,
advanced training for aspiring soaring pilots and recurrency training
for the rest, or providing repairs, inspections and instalation of the
equipment purchased?

My point is that we as a whole community allow for this kind of
activity and we can control it. The SSA can help with educating
operators and pilots about marketing and purchasing. People need to
know that where all the money goes, MATTERS!

Consider it.

Rex