SAFA Skysailor Magazine

11 July | August 2022 SKY SAILOR day and many individuals from various clubs agreed to champion key projects for the benefit of their fellow current, inactive and future NSW pilots. At a high level four key outcomes included: 1. Universal agreement that securing sites via formal agreements, then improving via infra- structure enhancement was top priority. 2. Training, empowerment and delegating authority to senior pilots/duty officers and safety officers was essential to manage existing sites, support low airtime pilots and as readiness to cater for increased numbers of pilots entering the sport. 3. Safety was key and a focus on developing the majority of our pilot membership who are low hours through late intermediate pilots (PG2-PG4 & HG2-HG4) via funded developmental clinics and co-ordinated events NSW-wide was essential. 4. Growing the sport, in particular hang gliding, was critical, and funding and leadership would continue to be provided to drive ‘Introduction to Free Flight’ days NSW-wide, proactive contact to inactive pilots, incentive vouchers to CFIs for freshly graduated new pilots and short term funding investment in ground tow winch capability and training for interclub use across four geographical locations. The estimate range of high-level projects identified over the weekend supporting these areas equalled an investment of $122,000 to $197,000 and key project owners are currently developing business cases for many of these. Examples include: AstroTurf investment at premium sites, development of emerging and inactive sites, landowner agreement funding to reduce membership fees, marker balls for high voltage lines, multiple ground tow winch pur- chase and roll out, porosity meters acquisition and interclub sharing, Covid recovery support, website development and support for mar- keting, continued weather station investment, pilot development clinics and introduction to flight events. In the final session of the event funding was confirmed in principle as available right now for short term investment, subject to each champion crystallising their business case to investment ready stage. Several of these cases have come in and funds provided in the three weeks since the event concluded. NSWHPA President, John Harriott, applaud- ed club leaders for their energy, contribution and investment of two full days of personal time plus significant travel to the event. “A sincere thank you to the NSWHPA members who volunteered their time for the event,” John said. “If you’re interested in becoming a Project Champion please talk to your club executives, consider joining the NSWHPA Committee in September at the AGM and give back to our awesome sport to help make these projects happen.” Photos: Courtesy John Harriott