Prez-Sez

Joe Brauch

Good flying was to be had this month and I hope most of you had the time to take advantage of some of the varied conditions out there. I have heard of 80-mile flights and first mountain flights. Congratulations to all of you who are really experiencing what this sport is all about.

I hope everyone had time to comment on the Sport Pilot NPRM. Many thanks again to Joe Gregor for his work with this and his efforts to make the High Rock Fly-In a "Flying" success. We are all keeping our fingers crossed. Do not cross the line and think you can get away with aviation at "the rock". There are people that see everything that we do, and we can't afford to be seen as reckless in this matter.

I would like to take a moment to "Remember Ed". We are all sorry for the loss of a fellow pilot. He loved this sport like us all. He will be missed. I hope that his death will not deter someone new to the sport from experiencing all that hang gliding has to offer. We must all remember that this is not a risk-free sport and that the weather has no emotions. Which brings me to my thought of the month:

Decision Making

As pilots without engines we rely on the weather conditions to allow us to fly and stay aloft for many hours. Just as easily the conditions can change and literally bring us fluttering down like a leaf. These are the conditions that we accept as part of our sport. There are many other judgments to be made, before we say "clear". I take a moment and reflect upon my mental condition while setting up or waiting for conditions to improve. I have arrived at launch and felt like I was dragging and chosen to wait for another day. There is always time to take while setting up to review in your head the big picture. I have taken a sled because I was just in the mood to get into the air but I have not done the same because I felt that something was not quite right. We evaluate our equipment very thoroughly each time we fly and I hope that we evaluate the weather and ourselves just as thoroughly.

Like I have said in the past, the one question that seems to come clearest is: "Will I be having fun?" I have had this thought while waiting for winds to calm down, while contemplating a sled, or watching the wind come in cross. The three things needed to fly are the wind the wing and the windividual ready to commit aviation.

Be careful out there.