This post should come across as inspirational to all of us interested in
the subject it addresses. Strangely after two days there have been
no responses. I guess we could all be on vacation or flying contests, or even
buried in work but I considered we may not be able to understand the post because it is in Polish:-).

Considering this is a success story I thought a translation might enhance our understanding and spark some enthusiasm.





On Monday, August 18, 2014 5:15:57 AM UTC-4, wrote:

Hi, I am writing on behalf of Polish KSS (Karkonosze Soaring Society), a non-profit
organization of seasoned pilots, who believe, that teaching less experienced in
an orderly way brings more fruits that letting them alone to discover rules of
soaring the way, Lilienthal did. Time consuming, frustrating and at the end, non-efficient.
Karkonosze is the chain of mountains on Polish-Czech border, where unique thermal
and wave conditions permit for nearly year-round soaring activity.
We have been watching this thread as it contains many elements
relevant to all national soaring communities.

TRANSLATION:
Leadership characterized by organized training to a national standard is far superior to students going it alone at their own pace. We think you are experiencing the same problems we and others are attempting to overcome.





In short, the Polish soaring community believes that the model of our
(KSS) activity had substantially invigorated gliding scene in Poland,
with all subsequent benefits (increased participation, publicity,
training, increased flight hours within community etc). All this had
been done without interference with the existing structures and
without substantial monetary investment, basically by using existing
potential and underutilized resources. This is why we post in this
thread.



TRANSLATION:
The strategy we have pursued has been successful. The results include increased participation, publicity, training, increased flight hours for participants. You may wish to try it yourself.



Gliding in Poland is (roughly) based on local Aero Clubs
(self-financing) associated in central Polish Aero Club (minimal state
donations, majority financing by associate clubs) and two nationwide
gliding schools (plains and mountain) financed from within that
community. Financial situation is probably similar to what is in the
US, with differences in income levels in Poland vs US at one side and
legacy of cheap, usually exclusive leases on big grass airfields at
the other side.


TRANSLATION:
Apart from two national soaring sites our situation is not that different from yours.





First two stages of training are standardized nationwide (in the
main). Training is still based on old wooden ships (SZD-9, SZD-30)
with some glass whenever possible or necessary (aerobatics). Much
depends on how financially savvy a given club is. Some clubs gather
large fleets of cheap ($3k) SZD-30, some clubs go for more expensive
and less numerous glass. Clubs have usually several SZD-48s, which go
for "high performance" here. Ships build after 1990 are rare (unless
privately owned by club members or at national center school).



TRANSLATION:
You don't need fancy aeroplanes and infrastructure it will work with your current resources.



Training works well locally at the basic level (till first 10 solos).
It is usually organized in groups (10 is typical, but 40 may happen)
and for short intense periods - about 6 flying days whole, contiguous
if possible. This can be done as weather impact is moderate (training
is circuit patterns around sunset and sunrise, short small showers and/or
low - 1200' - cloudbase are tolerated). Clubs mostly have cheap local
accommodations (campsites and showers, dormitories, diner type bars).



TRANSLATION:
Organized group ab-initio training that takes place over a short intense contiguous period works best. Weather and soaring conditions do not have to be perfect and high altitude launches are not necessary for ab-initio training. Contiguous training does not necessarily mean contiguous days, contiguous weekends accomplishes the same as long as the training is organized in a
course type format where students and instructors commit to be present for
the duration of the training course regardless of weather and soaring conditions.




The problems start after solo for reasons discussed in this thread. At
any given time, at each airfield there are few people for further
training. Due to naturally smaller group being interested, weather
uncertainties (thermals needed!) etc. This leads to inefficiencies and
for some, disillusions. This is even more problem at XC training
level. In reality, people after license are left to themselves.

TRANSLATION:
We experience the same problem of providing advanced training as you do.



Here is where the concept introduced by KSS seem to change things. KSS
is just an animator group, with minimal resources (couple of gliders).
What we do is we organize, throughout the year, a week or 2 weeks long
training camps based at various airfields, in Poland and abroad. Camps
are usually targeted at XC training level, but many are accessible for
student-pilots (after solo, before license). The elements a
- use the infrastructure of some local club, augmented for the event (towplanes)
- use local club gliders but ask all participants to bring ships from
their clubs if possible
- invite (volunteer) instructors from all over the country, in
addition to local folks.
- make sure several people with considerable competition experience
are present and participate very actively

Typical attendance is 30-40 plus about 5 instructors. Usually there is
someone with world level competition experience, multiple people with
national level competition experience. The day is organized in a way
typical for competition (task setting, debriefings, meteo, log
analysis etc). Every day there is some gliding-related lecture,
usually very interactive and centered on XC performance.
Because of instructors and doubleseaters available, there is much of
intensive training, and students may fly tasks they could otherwise
only hear about (e.g. wave).

Because of the group character of the event, there is no problem with
retrieves (well, some pretty long and late night if 70% of pilots land
out :-) )



TRANSLATION:
We pool our resources and avoid wasteful one on one training and organize
group training using the resources of multiple locations. The larger group
dynamic overcomes the traditional problems associated with small groups or
one on one training in multiple locations. We have been able to accomplish
as a group what individual clubs were unable to do.



The fascinating thing is that this worked out with no changes to
existing organisation and no substantial money expenditure.



TRANSLATION:
We have been successful despite no new equipment or infrastructure.



Admittedly, there is a lot of "sweat equity" put in by the whole FI
community (vacation time etc). It turned out that there is MUCH unused
capacity in many clubs (even at national gliding schools), much good
will and volunteer time at all the local clubs we work with, and much
pent-up demand nationwide (we have people come from as far as
Australia as well). Somehow at most local clubs there were at any
given time 1-2 people who wanted to participate in some form of group
training, and could not have this locally. The lists for the camps
close within hours or days, there is always a waiting list. The
benefits of large regular gatherings are obvious in many aspects.



TRANSLATION:
Nothing is for free but you can probably access the same type of volunteers
we have been successful in engaging.



Each camp is open (and aimed at) to people who would before not
participate in regular competition events, for various reasons. This
really brings down some barriers. But in practice, maybe quarter of
pilots are quite hard-core.


TRANSLATION:
We have been able to engage a group that individual clubs had difficulty
reaching.



What is important is that local clubs support this idea (ship rental
to their members for the event for example). There is even a feedback
- some clubs organize similar things locally - people who participated
in KSS events got enthusiastic enough to mimic them, on a smaller
scale perhaps.



TRANSLATION:
Clubs that embrace this strategy often enhance the benefits by
adding further programs.



We would invite you to talk with us about details, and/or come to our
camps (in 2015 we can accept more participants)
to get the feel if this type of activity could be some element
of the US scene as well. For those who would want to come please
contact us early so the details (e.g. license validation) can be taken
care of at reasonable pace.



TRANSLATION:
We are willing to share our experiences with you and help you out.



KSS was involved also in some high-profile things (Sebastian Kawa flew in
Himalaya in the ship a KSS member provided, we broke through into national TV
coverage, some Worlds competitors from outside Poland are training
with us), but the real impact is for the community.


TRANSLATION:
Success could bring you publicity and further benefits.