The Board met in Indianapolis from 7 AM to 11AM on Feb 10 and from 7 AM to 9:45 AM on Feb 11.

The most important item addressed by the Board is the FAA business plan to delegate within 3 years all services for aircraft under 6,000 lbs max gross weight. (Since privatization and users fees have been political duds, this is the FAA's way of getting rid of small aircraft work.) Delegation means the delegated organization will be responsible for the certification of pilots and sailplanes. Thus, if you import or build a sailplane you would go the organization for licensing. The FAA will not delegate regulatory or enforcement authority. (The manner in which the delegation will occur means that the FAA will maintain liability.)

The SSA Delegation Task Force is Ray Konrath, Jim Short, Frank Reid and Larry Sanderson.
The Board position is that:
1. The SSA must make a proactive decision on delegation rather than react by default.
2. The SSA must remain the visible, effective advocate for member's rights and privileges.
3. The delegated services are not such that they can be effectively managed by volunteers.
4. If the SSA becomes involved, it must take special care to communicate all sides of the issue with members.
5. Any business model must assure that this becomes a self-supporting activity.
6. The decision, if positive, will change the SSA more than any action since our founding in 1932.
7. The SSA must remain the central soaring organization in the USA.

The bottom line for members is that we will no longer be getting services (such as airworthiness certificates) free from the FAA. Some organization such as SSA, AOPA, EAA, Jeppessen, or Acme Aircraft will be the source of service. Whatever the organization, the user will have to pay some professional such as a flight examiner or aircraft inspector for the needed services. The SSA fears that if we let some other organization win the bid, soaring will be second fiddle. If the SSA is the delegate for sailplanes we feel we have the best chance of providing needed service at a reasonable fee.

The other regulatory issue of importance is the NPRM for Sport Pilot/Sport Plane. The SSA will closely review the proposal when it comes out. The pilot proposal is of the most concern because there is a minimum of training needed to be safe. If the standards get lowered we may see an increase in mishaps. The plane proposal could make it easier to built and sell complete sailplanes under 1,232 lbs max gross.

The contest rules changes proposed by the Rules Sub-Committee were adopted as proposed.
GPS flight recorders are mandatory at all Nationals starting this season.
Guy Byars scoring program is mandatory for Nationals and encouraged for Regionals.
"Cybertechnification" (Internet access from the cockpit) is banned.

Tononpah was approved as the 2002 15-Meter Nationals site. The 2001 World Class Nationals will be at Cordele and 2002 will be at Uvalde.

The Board approved the US Team Funding and Selection Policies as proposed by Alan Adams except the Board voted to make previous team members (except Junior and Feminine team members) ineligible for the Club Class team.

The Soaring Safety Foundation is writing web based learning material. So far they have a web based course for tow pilots and wing runners. Check it out at http://www.ssa.org/.

From Arleen's report, in 2000 she processed 51 World and National Record claims (37 National including 10 World, 10 from other countries and 4 withdrawn) with no denials. She processed 588 badge legs, down 16% from 1999. 14 badge legs were denied-- almost all due to not reading and understanding the rules.

Three members of the Crystal Squadron, Philippe Athuil, John Graybill, and Bob Maronde won the Barringer Trophy.

Bob Semans was SSA Distance Award Gold Medallist, Bill Snead second, and Pat Martin third.

The Hatcher Trophy stays in Rosamond with Greg Chaffee winning in 2000.

I reported on John Murray and my research and planning for the 2003 LA to Kitty Hawk Nationals.

Other convention notes:

We had the usual crowd of great speakers and a busy exhibit hall with a large display of sailplanes, hang gliders, and ultra-lights.

Paul Trist, Marty Eiler, Hannes Linke, and I visited the Indy 500 Museum on Sunday afternoon. It was well worth the $3 admission plus $3 for a bus ride around the track.

See you next year in Ontario, California, where it will likely be warm and sunny. Make it a vacation, Disney has a new California Adventure Park.

Think wave,
Jim Payne

© 2001 Jim Payne