Growth in soaring

Mike Schumann wrote:
GA isn't growing either. The number of student pilot licenses issued has
dropped over 20% in the last few years. One of the leading flight schools
in the Twin Cities (Wings) has just closed as a result.

Mike Schumann


Of course. People practising such activities tend to be wealthier than
the average, and so sincerely believe that cost is not a problem. They
are completely overlooking the fact that they belong to an extremely
small minority, and that for the vast majority of people, aviation
activities are completely cost forbidden.

--

Michel TALON

Michel Talon wrote:
Mike Schumann wrote:
GA isn't growing either. The number of student pilot licenses issued has
dropped over 20% in the last few years. One of the leading flight schools
in the Twin Cities (Wings) has just closed as a result.

Mike Schumann


Of course. People practising such activities tend to be wealthier than
the average, and so sincerely believe that cost is not a problem. They
are completely overlooking the fact that they belong to an extremely
small minority, and that for the vast majority of people, aviation
activities are completely cost forbidden.


The vast majority of people can't afford second homes either, but that
business has boomed in the US in recent years.


Shawn

The vast majority of people can't afford second homes either, but that
business has boomed in the US in recent years.

Shawn


Ha!!, maybe we need crooked mortgage lenders to run glider schools
It ain't about the money for the boomer crowd...and I hold out hope as
their knees start to creak more they may become a better source of
newbies. Look at the HG crowd, without them wearing out their landing
gears, soaring would really be hurting for new members. I think the
PG crowd also has potential to be the gateway into sailplanes as
well...but a few years off for that group still.

On Apr 10, 9:34 am, (Michel Talon) wrote:
Mike Schumann wrote:
GA isn't growing either. The number of student pilot licenses issued has
dropped over 20% in the last few years. One of the leading flight schools
in the Twin Cities (Wings) has just closed as a result.

Mike Schumann

Of course. People practising such activities tend to be wealthier than
the average, and so sincerely believe that cost is not a problem. They
are completely overlooking the fact that they belong to an extremely
small minority, and that for the vast majority of people, aviation
activities are completely cost forbidden.

There are lots of expensive horses in fields round where I live.
Compared to gliding, riding can be pretty expensive for anyone with
any ambition to compete. Not only are good horses expensive (in the
UK), they eat, need shoing, and so on. There are also plenty of off-
shore boats racing - another expensive hobby.

Michel Talon wrote:
Mike Schumann wrote:
GA isn't growing either. The number of student pilot licenses issued has
dropped over 20% in the last few years. One of the leading flight schools
in the Twin Cities (Wings) has just closed as a result.

Mike Schumann


Of course. People practising such activities tend to be wealthier than
the average, and so sincerely believe that cost is not a problem. They
are completely overlooking the fact that they belong to an extremely
small minority, and that for the vast majority of people, aviation
activities are completely cost forbidden.

A large number of students/pilots (for the full range of ratings)
have also come from foreign countries for training in the USA,
historically. That was reduced greatly after 9/11. This has to have
some effect on the referenced statistics. Some training
establishments have gone out of business as a direct result of the
loss of foreign students.

"The vast majority of people" are not those with whom we are
concerned, nor is it very expensive to get training in a glider up
through the PP-G rating. Familiarity with the opportunity and the
motivation to put aside the other temptations offered by our very
comfortable society are the main factors, IMO. Those who are by no
means "wealthier than average" are today often found to be enjoying
flat screen TV's which cost as much as the training for a private
pilot certificate in a glider.

Get people into a glider and familiarize them with what they can do
as a glider pilot, and you'll recruit them. Watch those commercial
and club operations which continue to thrive and emulate them. This
is not a systemic problem so much as a problem at the local club
grassroots level. People who would otherwise be flying Cessnas, but
think it's too expensive today, should be flying sailplanes.

Show them the pure, eco-friendly freedom of sailplane flight and
you'll hook them in great numbers. Our club needs a couple more
modern two-seaters. I'd bet your does, too. And when you get these
new people, keep them by emphasizing cross-country flying. Don't let
them slip away out of boredom from being tethered to the windsock.


Jack

2 seat gliders are definitely a key issue. Without attractive and available
2 seat gliders, you can't give rides to new blood. There's nothing more
frustrating than inviting some friends to go flying with you on a weekend,
and then having them stand around for 4-5 hours because there are way too
many people trying to share a limited pool of dual gliders.

Mike Schumann

"Jack" wrote in message
...
Michel Talon wrote:
Mike Schumann wrote:
GA isn't growing either. The number of student pilot licenses issued
has dropped over 20% in the last few years. One of the leading flight
schools in the Twin Cities (Wings) has just closed as a result.

Mike Schumann

Of course. People practising such activities tend to be wealthier than
the average, and so sincerely believe that cost is not a problem. They
are completely overlooking the fact that they belong to an extremely
small minority, and that for the vast majority of people, aviation
activities are completely cost forbidden.

A large number of students/pilots (for the full range of ratings) have
also come from foreign countries for training in the USA, historically.
That was reduced greatly after 9/11. This has to have some effect on the
referenced statistics. Some training establishments have gone out of
business as a direct result of the loss of foreign students.

"The vast majority of people" are not those with whom we are concerned,
nor is it very expensive to get training in a glider up through the PP-G
rating. Familiarity with the opportunity and the motivation to put aside
the other temptations offered by our very comfortable society are the main
factors, IMO. Those who are by no means "wealthier than average" are today
often found to be enjoying flat screen TV's which cost as much as the
training for a private pilot certificate in a glider.

Get people into a glider and familiarize them with what they can do as a
glider pilot, and you'll recruit them. Watch those commercial and club
operations which continue to thrive and emulate them. This is not a
systemic problem so much as a problem at the local club grassroots level.
People who would otherwise be flying Cessnas, but think it's too expensive
today, should be flying sailplanes.

Show them the pure, eco-friendly freedom of sailplane flight and you'll
hook them in great numbers. Our club needs a couple more modern
two-seaters. I'd bet your does, too. And when you get these new people,
keep them by emphasizing cross-country flying. Don't let them slip away
out of boredom from being tethered to the windsock.


Jack



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