On Friday, October 25, 2013 10:10:22 PM UTC-7, Martin Eiler wrote:
Soarist



It is thanks to the many hundreds of hours of research, investigation and

dedication by the California City Glider Pilots Action Group and the

soaring community in general. That we at least temporarily have some hope

of Caltrans re-permitting Cal City Airport to return to the safe, sane and

functional operations of the past three plus decades. So that viable

operations can continue while we wait for the major runway glider

staging/launch apron project to be completed. One of the most

disheartening aspects of this fight, was when we found out that AOPA and

Calpilots were not interested in offering any support whatsoever in keeping

70% of the operations and 50% of the aircraft based at Calif City Airport..

For the time being we encourage those interested to go to Walt Rogers Blog

and get some idea of the history of what has been going on, and you can

scroll down to the bottom of the page and post comments.



http://scriptogr.am/wrogerswx/post/c...der-operations



We are asking that you hold off sending any comments to the politicians

because that will be our last line of defense if needed.



Marty and the Calif City Glider Pilots Action Group

I like to disagree with Marty on the issues with AOPA.
They offer discount on glider insurance which more or less equates the cost of membership. In addition one gets a pretty good publication and I think some insurance as well.
They are a first rate organization when it comes to GA however the soaring community being on the fringes; must be a pimple on their butt. Still I'm sure they could be persuaded to jump in to the rescue but of course that needs to happen at a higher level.
The organization I have a heartburn with however is the SSA. Outside of a third rate magazine that is hardly worth reading anymore (far more information on RAS) I'm not sure of the benefits if any of the SSA.
When this thing at Cal City blew up local glider pilot John Shmoldas volunteered to champion contacting the SSA (and turns out he did far more than any, documenting and presenting all the facts available to the many bureucrats.)
He first contacted Steve Northcraft in early September, the higher up at the SSA who simply passed the buck and suggested getting help at the "local level".
The "local level" basically offered some suggestions and helped with facts, an SSA letterhead with the "local level" John Henry signature but basically John Shmoldas facts, research and circumstances.
This than went to the SSA, AOPA,CalTrans, FAA etc. and now we are all waiting without much clue as to the faith to Cal City glider operations .
California City is one of the few premier and historic glider operations in existence and one would think that if one of these sights is in jeopardy (especially in this case as the reasons are not clear and even may be bogus) the SSA would drop all the b/s and jump all over it, utilizing all it's clout; legal and otherwise. And than perhaps the higher ups might have enough clout with AOPA and their legal staff to get involved but I guess it's easier to kick the can down the road to the "local level".
My 5 C worth
6PK