Democratic education is an educational ideal in which democracy is both a goal and a method of instruction. It brings democratic values to education and can include self-determination within a community of equals, as well as such values as justice, respect and trust. Democratic education is often specifically emancipatory, with the students' voices being equal to the teacher's.
The goal of u$hPa / the tandem thrill ride industry kleptocracy is to keep the hang and para gliding cultures as saturated with stupidity and disinformation - and thus as disempowered - as it possibly can.
The good news? We're gonna keep getting better and better videos out of the devolution bloodbath.
Additionally, if you want to really present a convincing argument, you should also: (a) get other experts to co-sign your letter, such as those who have some or most of the aerotowing-related credentials listed above, who have been doing this for many years with many students, and who support your argument; and (b) present reliable data based on valid research showing that there is a significant difference in safety with the changes that you recommend. Supportive comments from aerotow experts along with convincing data can make a difference. Otherwise, it may seem as if your perception of "the sky is falling" may not be shared by most others who have a wealth of experience and who are deeply involved in aerotowing in the US.
No one ever wants to wait for the accident investigation... they want to know "NOW DAMNIT!" and there's always a lot of self-serving arguments surrounding it.
And it's always the same.
The same damn arguments get drug up every time. And they're all just as pointless every time.
We have a system in place.
It works.
Let it work.
Our procedures are well established at this point in time and there are no gaping hidden holes that need to be addressed immediately.
RR asked what the status was.
ND's provided the answer (thank you).
Please take a deep breath. And wait.
Accident investigations involving fatalities take a long time. And by long, I mean they can take years.
(yes, years, I'm not kidding)
Tom Sapienza, an instructor, of Oregon was killed by hooking in to a faulty hang strap that was girth hitched in such a way that it was not looped through itself, but created enough tension to allow him to launch, weight it for a bit, and then drop him as I understand it, so I tend to think that "tugging" with full body weight, doing a hang check gives me better piece of mind.
Bill Bryden - 1999/03
Tom performed a hang check and proceeded to foot-launch his competition glider from the ramp normally. As he cleared the launch area he transitioned to a prone position and shouted a thank you to the launch assistants who turned away, and who thus failed to witness the events that followed. Details are not precisely known, but the conclusion is that Tom's harness detached from the glider.
Rob Kells - 2005/12
Each of us agrees that it is not a particular method, but rather the fear of launching unhooked that makes us diligent to be sure we are hooked in every time before starting the launch run.
I am now an H2 and cleared to go off the mountain tomorrow.
Took 2 tandem flights this evening and flew the approach and final that I'll be using tomorrow.
Still waiting for more details from the other pilots who up there today. We'll be waiting to ensure the next kin has been notified before releasing the name of the incident pilot.
But what we have in excess here on the Org is generally referred to as a mutual masturbation society. That's where pilots get together and sit around and just jack each other off. That's what I see here in spades.
Cone of safety, flying with a fin is better for your weak-link, too many other examples from the last few pages.
What a load of shit.
Who are these people?
