One rating: hang glider pilot: HGP. Accept any other org's rating into that one HGP.
Following one's HGP: Let the pilot have a dedicated topic place where he or she records his or her experiences.
Such a rating opens to ground skimmer specialists, tow-launch masters, masters of everything under the sun, etc. ... hundreds of variations of style, sites, participation, activities, wings, launch methods. Let the HGP post his or her mentor's comments. Examine how former rating systems play to the agenda's of manufacturers, of enthusiasts of a particular style of participation, beer sellers, FAI, ... The vast option space of hang gliding might be better served if exterior sifting screens are not ever funneling participants into a vanilla space of activity. Let the HGP rating be for life unconnected to "membership" dues; that is, let the actual story of a pilot be his or her credentials. Others may comment and discuss each pilot's story.
Avoid letting scaled ratings produce overconfidence. Keep in place .... "Am I ready for this flight today and right now?" Avoid letting a scaled ratings permit a flight session; keep the judgment call in the arena of the pilot.
Challenges: What about competitions by beer companies? What about the energy of manufacturers that want their craft to be flown by a winner? What about bragging rights and other puffery plays? See, my listing of ratings is long and deep! See how I played some exterior game of adding ratings to my portfolio. Many scenarios. Many games to play. Many types of competitions to format. "I want others to recognize that I have a certain skill!" How might events "qualify" entrants; the event may have to limit the number of participants. Maybe the population of current participants have become so accustomed to ratings-driven participation, that other sorts or approaches to participation are even difficult to think about. A partial coverage of niche activity:
http://www.energykitesystems.net/HGAusa/nicheHGA.htmlPerhaps have two HGPs who formerly do not know a person study the aspiring person's story and observes the aspirant as a real live person doing some kind of hang gliding; then declare what was observed and state non-objection to the person adopting the HGP rating. Thus, some tradition verification of a real live person is made from the community; the aspirant member starts his or her story blog in USHawks. And the new HGP advances his or her own niche hang gliding activity with reports and observations, etc. Honor the variety of recreational hang gliding actions that are possible. Let others be inspired by the adventures that may not be the vanilla sort. Perhaps a written/oral exam over physics, aerodynamics, safety, airspace rules, risk management, property respect, etc. could be given from USHawks. Leave flight to the person and his or her mentors/instructors; report stories in one's HGP blog.
Having
"HGP" rating means what? That one takes 100% responsibility for one's actions in a dance of gravity, physics, wind, materials, designs, people, and property.
Rely on a scaled rating and miss one fundamental care could result in injury or death, no matter how many years of participation or dues paying occurs. One fundamental care! Be ready now for what one intends doing. Let the USHawks reach out to a vast variety of hang gliding activity. Avoid selling a rating structure that cannot assure that one is ready right now for a particular action. Honor vigilance appropriate for an action.
Encourage an HGP to consult with others about sites and conditions. A habit of communicating might support the reality that each flight has its immediate peculiarities and one's immediate readiness level to face the action being taken.
Would such an HGP system work to have a richer hang gliding world than what is occurring? Will there be more or less accidents? Will HGPs race into conditions that will loudly bite them? Need such an open system bring chaos or order-through-wisdom?
Scenario: An HGP approaches the Torrey Pines cliffs. Let no "4" tradition stop him or her from launching. If the HGP decides to launch, then let it be; forget the -1,-2, -3, or -4 thing. Could we trust that the HGP had prepared for what could be faced in flights at the site for the present conditions? Hopefully, the involved HGP would have the habit of clearing matters actually, not by an exterior scaled rating system; both patterns have severe challenges; I am wanting a person to take 100% responsibility for his or her launch, flight, and return. Concessionaire: "Sign here. Pay. Are you ready?" HGP: "Here is my signature. Here is my fee. Yes, I am ready."
May the USHawks encourage wise 100% responsibility while supporting a wide variety of hang gliding participation.