XC Camp

I've recklessly embarked on a campaign to organize an XC Camp and would
greatly appreciate any pointers from those who have done this. "What
works/doesn't work" info would be particularly welcome.

The target date is July 2-10. The location is the Soaring Club of Houston.
The club has recently done a lot of work in training pilots for XC and is
making fleet changes to reflect the membership's desire for the club to
support XC skills development. We expect by July to have 3 single place
ships for members to fly XC. A Grob and Blanik will be available for dual
XC flights. This camp is intended to keep the XC momentum going. We want
to really encourage & support new XC pilots and make the camp fun for more
experienced XC pilots too.

The current thinking is that the camp would offer an OO for badge & record
flights, suggest tasks for beginner, intermediate and advanced pilots, and a
provide leader for "follow-the-leader" flights (could be combined
w/suggested tasks).

The current straw man for the daily schedule is:
Morning Briefing (10:00 am)
*Weather
*Safety Talk - one topic per day
*XC Skill Talk - one topic per day
*Tech Talk - one topic per day (handheld GPS's, flight computers, etc)
*Suggested tasks - beginner, intermediate, advanced

Launch & start when ready

Crew activities - historic sites, antique shopping, landout site scouting,
visit winery, visit drop zone, other?

Turn in Loggers & GPSs when you land

Debrief (6:00 pm)
*What the weather really did
*Safety concerns
*Task Discussion - use PC to show flights and different decision making
(why pilot X went north around the blue hole past the first turnpoint, why
pilot Y went south, why pilot Z went straight across? who started early, who
started later, why? etc.) Flights could also be scored to familiarize
pilots with contest scoring.

Cookout

Thanks in advance. Reply to group or to brentDOTsullivanATgmailDOTcom

Good for you!!

I observe camps and will contribute these comments...based
on experience.

1.) Plan B if the primary towplane(s) do not show
up, or suck a valve.

2.) Who is in charge of running the launch..if no
one in charge...double or triple the time between tows.

3.) Who establishes the order of launch? Guys go
for their badges can get a *little* concerned about
being pushed to the back of the line.

4.) How do you keep guys from bailing out at the last
minute?...with such reasons as 'My cat had kittens',
etc.

5.) Who establishes what work duties will be required
in order to fly...to keep guys from being absent unless
they are flying?

These are all very solvable....but best to think a
little about this ahead of time IMVHO.

PS-Make sure glider assembly and trailer towing is
factored in!!




At 20:30 05 January 2005, For Example John Smith wrote:
I've recklessly embarked on a campaign to organize
an XC Camp and would
greatly appreciate any pointers from those who have
done this. 'What
works/doesn't work' info would be particularly welcome.

The target date is July 2-10. The location is the
Soaring Club of Houston.
The club has recently done a lot of work in training
pilots for XC and is
making fleet changes to reflect the membership's desire
for the club to
support XC skills development. We expect by July to
have 3 single place
ships for members to fly XC. A Grob and Blanik will
be available for dual
XC flights. This camp is intended to keep the XC momentum
going. We want
to really encourage & support new XC pilots and make
the camp fun for more
experienced XC pilots too.

The current thinking is that the camp would offer an
OO for badge & record
flights, suggest tasks for beginner, intermediate and
advanced pilots, and a
provide leader for 'follow-the-leader' flights (could
be combined
w/suggested tasks).

The current straw man for the daily schedule is:
Morning Briefing (10:00 am)
*Weather
*Safety Talk - one topic per day
*XC Skill Talk - one topic per day
*Tech Talk - one topic per day (handheld GPS's,
flight computers, etc)
*Suggested tasks - beginner, intermediate, advanced

Launch & start when ready

Crew activities - historic sites, antique shopping,
landout site scouting,
visit winery, visit drop zone, other?

Turn in Loggers & GPSs when you land

Debrief (6:00 pm)
*What the weather really did
*Safety concerns
*Task Discussion - use PC to show flights and different
decision making
(why pilot X went north around the blue hole past the
first turnpoint, why
pilot Y went south, why pilot Z went straight across?
who started early, who
started later, why? etc.) Flights could also be scored
to familiarize
pilots with contest scoring.

Cookout

Thanks in advance. Reply to group or to brentDOTsullivanATgmailDO
Tcom

Take a look here for ideas
http://www.ssa.org/UsTeam/ust_camps.htm

Air Sailing has been holding cross country camps every summer for about
20 years. The syllabus can be accessed at:
http://www.airsailing.org/downloads/...p/syllabus.pdf
MG

For Example John Smith wrote:
I've recklessly embarked on a campaign to organize an XC Camp and would
greatly appreciate any pointers from those who have done this. "What
works/doesn't work" info would be particularly welcome.

The target date is July 2-10. The location is the Soaring Club of Houston.
The club has recently done a lot of work in training pilots for XC and is
making fleet changes to reflect the membership's desire for the club to
support XC skills development. We expect by July to have 3 single place
ships for members to fly XC. A Grob and Blanik will be available for dual
XC flights. This camp is intended to keep the XC momentum going. We want
to really encourage & support new XC pilots and make the camp fun for more
experienced XC pilots too.

The current thinking is that the camp would offer an OO for badge & record
flights, suggest tasks for beginner, intermediate and advanced pilots, and a
provide leader for "follow-the-leader" flights (could be combined
w/suggested tasks).

The current straw man for the daily schedule is:
Morning Briefing (10:00 am)
*Weather
*Safety Talk - one topic per day
*XC Skill Talk - one topic per day
*Tech Talk - one topic per day (handheld GPS's, flight computers, etc)
*Suggested tasks - beginner, intermediate, advanced

Launch & start when ready

Crew activities - historic sites, antique shopping, landout site scouting,
visit winery, visit drop zone, other?

Turn in Loggers & GPSs when you land

Debrief (6:00 pm)
*What the weather really did
*Safety concerns
*Task Discussion - use PC to show flights and different decision making
(why pilot X went north around the blue hole past the first turnpoint, why
pilot Y went south, why pilot Z went straight across? who started early, who
started later, why? etc.) Flights could also be scored to familiarize
pilots with contest scoring.

Cookout

Thanks in advance. Reply to group or to brentDOTsullivanATgmailDOTcom