$5 million dollar questions????

A discussion restricted to the topic of hang gliding.
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Col.r
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Joined: Sun, Jul 20 2008, 06:53:19 am
Location: Australia

Re: $5 million dollar questions????

Post by Col.r »

"Here in Vegas ; BLM has posted ,(No automobiles, or bicycles allowed)
on most every dirt road, within 40-miles of the city."

What are you insinuating..? :o
We are all in the gutter,but some of us are looking at the stars. MT.

Youtube videos- Col Rushton
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CloudHopper
Posts: 1881
Joined: Sun, Mar 09 2003, 08:35:41 pm
Location: North Carolina

Re: $5 million dollar questions????

Post by CloudHopper »

"What are you insinuating?"
Perhaps it's taxation without access to recreation, for starters. That would be my guess.
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Col.r
Posts: 254
Joined: Sun, Jul 20 2008, 06:53:19 am
Location: Australia

Re: $5 million dollar questions????

Post by Col.r »

I can certainly understand the frustration when access to public/crown land is closed off. In times of high fire danger is a good move but we have permanently locked barriers and these old "logging trails" eventually become impassable because of no use.With our crazy summers now, the local bushfire brigades cannot access many fires because these "fire-trails" are overgrown...

Here is a snapshot of our free flight association in Australia and an email the members received yesterday- I guess an increase in fees is coming.Currently, with the mandatory region fee we pay $Aust 370.00...

The Sports Aviation Federation of Australia (SAFA) is the sporting body that administrates Hang Gliding, Paragliding and Weight Shift Microlights in Australia under regulations laid down by Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).It represents over 3500 members and their clubs providing a framework for all pure flight aviation enthusiasts to take part in the sport they love, in a safe, fun way.Recognised by CASA and the FAI as the voice of members nationally and internationally, the SAFA supports and promotes members and their clubs.


LEGALITIES of FLYING in AUSTRALIA

Australia is an independent country with its own aviation laws.

They are laws which help to protect the interests of its citizens, their safety and their property from those that would disregard them. Australian Law requires all visiting and local pilots to have a current SAFA membership and the 3rd party insurance it includes, to legally fly in Australia. The inclusive insurance is compulsory and not optional.

This insurance is required to keep Australia’s existing flying sites open to our pilots.
City and State Governments require this insurance to be in place to protect their interest, otherwise they would shut down the flight sites.

The SAFA has to ensure Visiting Pilots have insurance coverage that can be accessed for claims in respect of accidents in Australia and in legal proceedings in Australia. The only feasible means of ensuring appropriate and accessible insurance is in place is for the SAFA to contract for such coverage throughout Australia.

Hi Colin,

Yesterday the SAFA board met and considered the suite of insurance policies that make our sport possible. The bottom line is that the insurance policies that are essential will be continued despite costs growing significantly.

We have previously described the challenging insurance environment we face; costs are increasing, insurance companies are less inclined to take on some of the risks, and the administrative arrangements are more complex. Some of this was highlighted in the recent email concerning our budget. The suite of policies which must continue so we can keep flying, include insurance for Aviation Legal Liability, Public and Products Legal Liability and Associations Liability. Together these insurances make up more than 1/3 of the total costs of SAFA and over the last year the premium increase is over 50%. After investigating every option that might be possible, the only practical decision is to accept the increase and renew the policies.
As always, we hope that all of our pilots safely enjoy our sport and there is no need to call on our insurance policies.

Thank you.
SAFA Board & Operations Team.
We are all in the gutter,but some of us are looking at the stars. MT.

Youtube videos- Col Rushton
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Martin
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Joined: Tue, Nov 04 2003, 07:39:11 pm
Location: West Coast, Canada

Re: $5 million dollar questions????

Post by Martin »

insurance companies are less inclined to take on some of the risks
As "they say", an almost laughable statement.

Insurance companies will underwrite anything for a profit, it is the statistical bases of their business model. Market wide collusion artificially tightens the markets, after which they suddenly discover a mathematical financial/risk ratio that satisfies the shareholders..., "oh we discovered a underwriter for your risk" and we willingly line up and pay these parasites. A good parasite knows how to milk the host and still keep the source alive!

As I see it, there will be two types of "free flight" aviation in the future. Uber rich with wonderful ultra exotic high tech gear, insured to the hilt and regulated to death (with practically no legal place to fly) .... and "bandito's"... risk takers, irreverent, wild and free, no insurance, junk gear, '"screw the regs", fence climbers, airspace busters, heading for jail if the man can catch them! Sky Pirates...hero's and dreamers (just like the kid in 72 jumping off a cliff with bamboo and plastic....).

Martin
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CloudHopper
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Joined: Sun, Mar 09 2003, 08:35:41 pm
Location: North Carolina

Re: $5 million dollar questions????

Post by CloudHopper »

From what I'm observing here in the USA, hang gliding is being pushed into an ever-shrinking box of fringe survivors. Private agreements are in place between land owners and pilot groups, and flying may continue provided the terms of the agreements are upheld. The shell walls of these shrinking boxes of opportunity are brittle, and all it takes is one rogue pilot to shatter the site agreement, sending all pilots home, or into the next box which might be too far away or not as desirable.
To insulate the shell, pilot groups are tight-knit and generally closed-off to outsiders. A traveling pilot has to be well-vetted and know the right people who can vouch for his/her skills and character. Just a USHPA card isn't good enough. This situation is not good for long-term survival of the sport, but it's our current reality. The old gray birds are aging out and not being replaced by fledglings. Most hatchlings are uninterested in flight, and quickly develop addictions to virtual activities, leaving no time for real-world adventures such as flight. Hopefully this will somehow change.