This year, 2013, has been one of the most controversial for the Fellow Feathers since I have been flying here starting in 1981 over 32 years ago. I have never seen more animosity and attacks on pilots, both physical and to their right to fly.
I've talked with many pilots, both seasoned veterans and new pilots, about the events that have happened, to try to understand from their perspective what we as a group should do to deal with these issues. I've found a great deal of lack of communication, misunderstanding, intolerance & fear. But the bottom line is we all want to fly Fort Funston.
From these discussions I've heard a lot of good ideas on how to improve our experience as club members and flying at the Fort. Here are some that have been suggested to me:
- Sign off for landing on the wood chips - Anyone wanting to land on the wood chips must get a sign off from a H4 pilot observer. Landing there without a sign off not necessarily an offense, unless pilot demonstrates lack of awareness of spectator and pilot safety.
- Make Fort Funston a National Historic Landmark as one of the first hang gliding sites in the world, with the largest hang gliding club in the world, where any hang glider pilot who follows the safety rules has the right to fly. It doesn't remove our responsibility to operate safely, but the goal would be to grant us the right to fly there without the need to go through use permit renewals every few years.
- No waivers for any reason - eliminate the 3 waivers
- Move the club meetings to Saturday or Sunday mornings at the Fort, so more people can attend. It also won't require the rangers to stay late in the winter to open/close the gate, and we don't have to spend money to meet at off-site locations.
- Ballots instead of hand raising for voting.
- Zac's ideas for vetting hang 2 pilots by taking them on tandem flights, to see how they react and perform in the air, prior to letting them fly Funston.
The club bylaws state: "The purposes of this Corporation are to provide for the pleasure, recreation, comingling and fellowship of it members, hang gliding enthusiasts who fly at Fort Funston." This means ALL members. The EC should be charged with preserving the flying rights of ALL the members of the club. In the past the procedure was first a warning, then a one week suspension, then special hearings set to determine if a longer suspension is warranted. Our bylaws clearly state this process. The EC needs to follow it, and those who wish to have open hearings should be allowed to have others present. I believe ALL the members should be allowed to vote on suspensions over one week. We're all adult enough to know truth and bullshit - our opinions may be colored by bias, but I think as a group we all work best when we are all allowed to share in the making of decisions.
I wholeheartedly endorse Zac Majors as president. I've known Zippy for only a few short years but I believe he has fairness, excellence in piloting skills, great ideas for improving safety, and the charisma to get back to where to all of us can be flying together and having fun at the Fort. I also strongly support Chris Carillo for secretary - I have never in my long years of flying seen someone more dedicated to flying as much as he does, safely, and with the enjoyment of all the other pilots. Also Chuck Kranz for IT Director, who has selflessly kept the clubhouse system working for years. Van Pelham for Treasurer - he's done this for three years, thanks Van!
Finally I humbly request your vote for me, Tom Rust for Vice President. As it was when I was president for two years, I don't want the job, but I feel a duty to my friends and fellow hang glider pilots to push for whatever it takes to keep us ALL flying together safely and enjoying the wonderful resource that is Fort Funston.
One of the moments which will forever be a source of joy for me was at the 2012 Air Races, when we took the following group picture. This is what I hope the Fellow Feathers can once again be.