Skyport Easter Sunday

[Dean S]

...lots of drama for your mama on this thread. Glad I'm not in the middle of this one.

Sorry to butt in, but I couldn't believe how many posts were attached to this thread in such a short time. 16 posts, which includes mine, in less than 24 hours. I'm thinkin' that's got to be some kind of discussion board record - yes?

Sorry for the intrusion - continue on...

[Leeside]

chris G- how is Rob commercially involved if the student already paid $1500.00 for their P2 rating. Having a P2 also means they should have the skills appropriate to the rating. BTW all our mountain launches are P2 sites.

[oj]

[Parma Chris]

I think;
If you have only flown here Once or Twice in the last year... you might just be out of touch with the reality of what is happening in this flying community. I see and sense Both Major schools here watching out for each other and not in fear of loosing one student because someone else helped them in a time of need.

I think;
It is more about people helping people to have safe flights.

If you want to keep our sites safe and open.... Then i would think you should be thanking SA and not going after him for helping someone out.

[Ramey]

Speaking as a person with absolutely no information regarding the facts of the situation nor the issues involved with paragliding instruction, I would like to make an observation. I think these discussions are very helpful and productive. The fact that sometimes they veer a little off topic and sometimes they might get somewhat emotional doesn't change that for me. They are very helpful for getting closer to agreement on the facts and for getting closer to agreement regarding what expectations and practices should be. This is well worth the minor unpleasantness related to sorting out these issues. To me, this thread speaks well of our communities desire to make things better, safer, and more fun.

Robert Ramey

[gary begley]

Bo...thats a good one, Gary and his rules...for awhile i made the assumption you had no sense of humor : )
call me if you ever want to share life stories 805 708 3759...maybe you have been making assumptions too that are incorrect :

[gary begley]

:roll: ...lots of drama for your mama on this thread. Glad I'm not in the middle of this one.

Sorry to butt in, but I couldn't believe how many posts were attached to this thread in such a short time. 16 posts, which includes mine, in less than 24 hours. I'm thinkin' that's got to be some kind of discussion board record - yes?

Sorry for the intrusion - continue on...

Dean this may have beaten our debate ; ) but still liked our's better !

[wingnut]

Some concluding thoughts:

1. NOTICE TO LOCAL PARAGLIDING INSTRUCTORS--DON'T CHANGE ANYTHING. How you all deal with new pilots, wherever they come from and whatever school they hail from, just keep on doing what you have been doing. It works. There's no consequential interference, poaching, or hyping ... just judgment calls about helping others. Rob, and Kevin, made the right call on Sunday, given the pilots on launch, the conditions, their experience, and the circumstances. That's no surprise, actually more of a habit for these guys.

Chris G. makes a fair point about interference or poaching, but like Parma Chris says it isn't an issue hereabouts. I've been a student of Chris G., Eagle, and FAA (Vulture too), listen very carefully to Bo's pointers (2 of which I can cite nearly verbatim), Glennie's suggestions, and Parma Chris' MM guidance rings pretty loud in my ears as well. So if all you gray hairs decide to clam up because you think the student is from somewhere else, I'm really screwed, and other students aren't helped as much either because they get slotted into places without even knowing it. One instructor interfering with another instructors' guidance is no more of a problem than only getting one point of view from one instructor is a problem. Give the student some credit for their judgment; they'll ask from those who they think have the most to give. And like most all things in paragliding, the student (P2 or otherwise) is the pilot in command and better get smart right quick about what, why, and who they take "instructions" from.

2. It seems to me whether instructors have or want to have a mountain flight to their P2 curriculum, regardless of what USPHA says, is a fair question too. I'm sure most of us are open to discussion about that. And I'm pretty sure we all have opinions about it as well. Kick that one around some (instead of each other).

3. It seems to me whether Skyport or Alternator is the best local mountain launch for new students is a fair question as well. And I figure a couple of you all have a thought or two about that. Bat that one around (not each other).

Hey I know, let's bag on Gary ... he likes it!

And now for something completely different (yea) ... is Dunlap on instead of Big Sur? Same dates? Should we find a place to stay or do you guys have something worked out with the St Nichols Ranch or something?

[Bo Criss]

A few unresolved questions:

1. Skyport for first flights? Seems like Rob says YES, other instructors say maybe not?
2. Coaching a new pilot on first high flight that wasn't your student? Under right conditions?
3. Issuing a P2 rating without local site flights with your instructor? Bo says NO!
4. P2s finding their way up the mountain on their own? Unfortunate!!!
5. How best to reduce the number of land outs in canyons and trees?
6. Should mountain flights be required for sign offs? Yeah it goes beyond USHPA's BOD, but to protect our sites, it could be a good idea?
7. Should 360 degree circles be required for sign offs? Yeah it goes beyond USHPA's BOD, but to protect our sites, it could be a good idea?
8. Does landing out actually add risk of losing sites or not? Hey Hang Gliders, where are you on this?
9. Would a phone call giving heads up that you will be coaching someone else's student be a good idea?
10. Can we just clone Rob Sporrer?

And a few of my favorite quotes so far:

1. Morgan "Let's face it, once you get that p2 rating you're kind of left to figure it out on your own."
2. Wingnut "I was there and think that Chris, Doug, and Bo would-a been pleased at what they saw and heard."
3. Chris "It is more about people helping people to have safe flights."
4. Ramey "To me, this thread speaks well of our communities desire to make things better, safer, and more fun."
5. Dean "lots of drama for your mama on this thread" Your mama should get out more!!!

[Allison]

just sending out some appreciations to all of the santa barbara instructors! i know you all work hard at doing your best to keep everyone safe and keep our flying sites open. thank you for doing such a good job and keeping everybody stoked on flying!

[glenny]

wow... sounds like the flying was pretty good sunday???

[glenny]

ps... any easter egg burried in the ground syarts to syink after a couple of days....