Tracy Tillman <<Cloud9SA>>
writes:

I have asked that the issue of solo-only hang gliding aerotow
instruction be placed on the Towing Committee agenda at the upcoming USHPA Board
of Directors meeting, being held on March 4-5. To help the committee and board
have a better understanding of the issue, I am asking for practical and logical
feedback from the towing community that I can present at the meeting. Ideally,
it would be better for anyone with expertise regarding this issue to attend the
meeting in person--otherwise, I will try to collect and present this information
to the Towing Committee for you.

I am asking qualified individuals who teach hang gliding aerotowing skills by
solo-only hang glider flights to contact me and give me some specific
information that the committee can use to make a logical decision and proposal
to the board regarding solo-only aerotow hang gliding instruction. The committee
needs to look at curriculum, teaching techniques, and skills taught by solo-only
aerotow hang gliding instruction as well as the minimum rating and experience
that an aerotow student must/should have before beginning instructional
solo-only aerotow hang gliding flight, such as whether the student already has a
surface tow rating. I have already received a proposal from an instructor who
requires a Surface Tow rating and significant experience before beginning solo
aerotow hang gliding instruction. I hope to get more information and proposals
from other solo-only aerotow instructors before our upcoming meeting. To help
make the information that I am collecting more organized and effective, and more
understandable by the Towing Committee and the Board, I have developed a simple
Solo-Only Aerotow Hang Gliding Instruction proposal form that you can fill out
and send back to me. Alternatively, you are most welcome to send it to someone
else who will be attending the Towing Committee meeting.

To review, the SOP's were changed last year to require two tandem hang gliding
flights as part of the AT special skill sign-off, followed by three solo hang
gliding flights. The old regs just required five solo fights. The fundamental
reason for this change is because we now tow hang gliders under FAA Part 91
towing regs, which require FAA registered tugs with FAA airworthiness
certificates flown by FAA licensed pilots who must have FAA tow pilot
endorsements. Aerotowing of hang gliders and sailplanes are both governed by
these regs, and the instructional approaches used for teaching aerotowing of
sailplanes and hang gliders are very similar. The committee simply proposed a
change last year that would more align the aerotowing elements required for
demonstration of proficiency for getting the AT-rating to that of getting a
sailplane (glider) license, as a way to protect aerotowing operators, aerotow
students, and our ability to aerotow hang gliders, in general. There is now much
more likelihood that an aerotow hang gliding accident will be investigated by
the FAA and NTSB, and more likelihood that those governmental agencies--as well
as prosecutors of a lawsuit--may now press for evidence of a similar quality of
aerotow-skills instruction between that of sailplanes and hang gliders.

The Towing Committee was of the opinion that virtually all aerotowing
instruction in the US was done via tandem hang gliding flights, and was not
well-aware of solo-only aerotow operations who would be adversely affected by
this change. One fault in the organizational structure and decision-making
process of USHPA is that there is and has not been a formal means of feedback
before changes to USHPA regs are enacted. The mechanism has been such that
committees discuss issues, make proposals to the board, and the board approves,
changes, or denies those proposed changes. There has not been a mechanism for
presentation of proposed changes to the membership before enactment of those
changes. Thus, when the changes to the towing regs were made last year, the
Towing Committee had to rely on the expertise and knowledge of the Regional
Directors on the Board to provide feedback and let the Towing Committee and
Board know if there were problems with the change or if anyone in there Region
would be negatively affected. That is the basic process on how all changes have
been made in the past by the USHPA Board, through representation of specialties
on committees followed by representation of regional membership by Directors.
That is why it is important for both committee members and Directors to be
knowledgeable and caring. I believe that Rich Hass (our new Fearless Leader) is
working on creating a mechanism for members to provide feedback before proposed
changes to regs become effective.

If you are concerned about this issue, have expertise, and want to provide
usable information to the Towing Committee on this issue, please call me at
248.921.0092 for further information about how to submit a proposal for
solo-only aerotow instruction.