Here's the skinny on OO....so just about (but not necessarily) every SSA member


A:
In the United States, the SSA has established the following requirements for a person to act as an Official Observer (OO) for any FAI Badge or Record flight or SSA State Record or Awards flight:

Must hold at least an SSA B Badge or higher SSA Badge (C or Bronze Badge), or a leg of an FAI Badge (e.g., Silver Altitude) or completed FAI Silver, Gold or Diamond Badge.
Must have a working knowledge of the FAI Sporting Code as it pertains to gliders (Section 3) including Annex C which is a guide to the Code.
Must be an SSA Member.
An Airport Manager may also act as an Official Observer





On Saturday, February 21, 2015 at 7:44:53 PM UTC-5, Dan Marotta wrote:
IIRC, unless something has changed, not just any SSA member is qualified
as an observer. I believe the observer has to at least hold a badge
leg. Airport managers also qualify and, perhaps, an FBO. Just be sure
to get it right. It's a bummer to have a good flight disqualified on a
technicality but the technicalities are part of the process. Don't cut
corners.

Good luck!


On 2/21/2015 5:31 PM, Cookie wrote:
Observer: Just ask around! Any SSA member should be qualified, and willing. You do all the "grunt" work and get the forms and fill them out properly...so the observer needs only to "supervise" and sign. Don't become a "pest"

Flight recorder:
1) Just ask! Somebody will probably have something they can lend you.

2)Or... Most pilots join some sort of glider club. Most clubs have such equipment available to members..

3)Some commercial glider operators offer "rental" of flight recorders for a "small fee"

4)If you wish to use a simple old fashioned mechanical baragraph, I bet somebody would give you one for the asking....Back in the day, they were in the range of $400 and up! Nowadays they are used for Christmas tree decorations, door stops, and to start nostalgic conversations. No actual monetary value....My club has 6 of 'em sitting in the closet in the equipment shed!

5) Consider buying your own equipment....this is something you may find useful for years to come. Some used ones come up now and then...The "fly with CE" is a good deal...maybe colibri II....etc?


Cookie


On Saturday, February 21, 2015 at 5:53:54 PM UTC-5, Bob Pasker wrote:
I would like to attempt the duration and altitude silver badge.

how do I go about finding an observer willing to work with me?

how do I borrow/rent an appropriate flight data recorder?

thanks, bob

--
Dan Marotta