Soar Oshkosh 2006

I'll say it again: ...any attempts to offer aid or direction are
ignored.

To answer your question, I did not run for director, but I did offer
after Mr. Wright's 2004 request for volunteers. As I recall, there was
not an election for director in my region but an appointment.

The familiar plea that no one offers does not wash when the circle is
closed. Here in PHX, we are about to get a major change to our class
B. AOPA is currently more active than SSA in this. AOPA even had a
spokesman in today's paper. Nothing from SSA although the current
planned changes will severely impact operations at both Turf and
Estrella. I offered, asked, pleaded and got zilch in return--only a
reference that Cindy Bricker "takes care of airspace for us."

It only takes a little encouragement. The OSH group was very nearly
shutdown by the directorate until it was discovered that they may
actually pull it off. Good for them. If more of us bypass the SSA,
maybe more will get done.

Terry wrote:
I'll say it again: ...any attempts to offer aid or direction are
ignored.

I'm not trying to pick on you, but I hear that all of the time, too.

For instance, you mentioned that you feared SSA inaction on ADS-B is
endangering the sport. Have you discussed this with other pilots and
come up with a coherent argument? Put together a presentation which
your SSA Director could present to the Executive Committee? Done a
posting here in an effort to do some grass roots organizing? These
things don't happen by magic, and yes, sometimes the bureaucracy will
try to shut you down. But, if you are persuasive and persistent enough,
someone will listen...

Marc

Terry wrote:


The familiar plea that no one offers does not wash when the circle is
closed. Here in PHX, we are about to get a major change to our class
B. AOPA is currently more active than SSA in this.

As I would expect it be, since it's a much larger organization. As a
member of both groups, I don't think it's criticism of the SSA that they
aren't as active (I'm taking your word for this, since I am not familiar
with the situation), but a consequence of the size and priorities of the
two groups.

AOPA even had a
spokesman in today's paper. Nothing from SSA although the current
planned changes will severely impact operations at both Turf and
Estrella. I offered, asked, pleaded and got zilch in return--only a
reference that Cindy Bricker "takes care of airspace for us."


Did you contact Cindy? If you haven't, give it a try: she is very
approachable and working hard on SSA business. She isn't the only one
involved in airspace, either, because this is too important for that. A
call to her will likely be informative and useful.

--
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA

www.motorglider.org - Download "A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane
Operation"

Terry wrote:
I'll say it again: ...any attempts to offer aid or direction are
ignored.

To answer your question, I did not run for director, but I did offer
after Mr. Wright's 2004 request for volunteers. As I recall, there was
not an election for director in my region but an appointment.

The familiar plea that no one offers does not wash when the circle is
closed. Here in PHX, we are about to get a major change to our class
B. AOPA is currently more active than SSA in this. AOPA even had a
spokesman in today's paper. Nothing from SSA although the current
planned changes will severely impact operations at both Turf and
Estrella. I offered, asked, pleaded and got zilch in return--only a
reference that Cindy Bricker "takes care of airspace for us."

It only takes a little encouragement. The OSH group was very nearly
shutdown by the directorate until it was discovered that they may
actually pull it off. Good for them. If more of us bypass the SSA,
maybe more will get done.


Cindy Brickner is aware of the Phoenix Class B redesign and has spoken
directly with the Phoenix TRACON manager regarding the LOA that is about
to be put into place for Soaring operations in the area. Both the ASA
(Arizona Soaring Association) and the SSA have been involved in this
redesign as well as the last one. Jim Burch must be given credit for
leading the effort.

As for Terry’s statement, “planned changes will severely impact
operations at both Turf and Estrella.” No additional restrictions
have been imposed that didn’t already exist. In fact, this is really
a realignment to more accurately reflect the actual traffic patterns.
They are lowering the ceiling from 10,000 ft to 9,000 feet. When was
the last time you remember the Feds giving airspace back?

I have had numerous direct discussions via phone and E-mail with Cindy
on this subject. She isn’t hard to get a hold of. Her contact
information is published on the SSA web site as well as her own
commercial Soaring web site. She is involved and her involvement is
important to keep the National Airspace perspective as it pertains to
Soaring in mind.


Paul Cordell
ASA President
SSA Life Member

Paul,

Can you explain the changes at Phoenix that will affect soaring for the
rest of us? My understanding from flying at SLC and MSP is that we can
still fly in the Mode C veil but clear of Class B. I have not looked
at recent changes to see if I can fly over the top of the B, but at SLC
we don't go that direction anyway.

Tim

TTaylor at cc.usu.edu wrote:
Paul,

Can you explain the changes at Phoenix that will affect soaring for the
rest of us? My understanding from flying at SLC and MSP is that we can
still fly in the Mode C veil but clear of Class B. I have not looked
at recent changes to see if I can fly over the top of the B, but at SLC
we don't go that direction anyway.

Tim


My point is that without a National perspective, Changes anywhere in the
National system may have effect on the rest of the country. I think
that it is important to have some coordination and a focal point such as
Cindy.

Specifically, the proposed Phoenix redesign would have prevented
operation within the Mode C veil from the ceiling of Class B or Class C
airspace up to 10,000ft MSL. This would have effectively put a cap on
operations both at Estrella and Turf of 9,000. The LOA that is
being worked out will allow unlimited VFR Glider operations (without
Transponders) within the Veil. Refer to FAR 91.215(b)(3)(ii)

A review of FAR91.215 does exempt gliders from transponder requirements
within the 30nm Mode C veil, but they have to operate clear of Class B
airspace AND BELOW the top of Class B airspace to 10,000ft MSL which ever is
LOWER.

So if the Class B stops at 9,000MSL, then without a transponder, ANY
AIRCRAFT, not just gliders, that are approved for operations within the Mode
C veil without a transponder are capped at 9,000MSL and cannot continue
climb to 10,000MSL which will get them out of the Mode C veil limitation and
into the standard "above 10,000MSL" transponder or no transponder
requirements.

We face that same issue with the Las Vegas Class B, the glider club has a
waiver with the FAA and local Tracon for specific climb windows to climb
above 9,000MSL. It is only usable by members of the glider club who receive
specific training in it's operation of the climb waiver. It is the same as
going to Minden and operating in the Wave Windows, you need the
training/approval of the signature to the waiver to be able to use the
waiver.

BT

"TTaylor at cc.usu.edu" wrote in message
oups.com...
Paul,

Can you explain the changes at Phoenix that will affect soaring for the
rest of us? My understanding from flying at SLC and MSP is that we can
still fly in the Mode C veil but clear of Class B. I have not looked
at recent changes to see if I can fly over the top of the B, but at SLC
we don't go that direction anyway.

Tim