[SamKellner]

Hey Bob,

What's up with this? Reg3 right?

[Bob Kuczewski]

What's up with this? Reg3 right?

Hi Sam,

I assume you're talking about this:

Notice of USHPA Disciplinary Hearing
Attention USHPA Chapters & Members:

USHPA has scheduled a disciplinary hearing before the board of directors on Thursday, October 10th to consider complaints related to pilot behavior at a USHPA-insured site. Based on USHPA's initial review, there are two members facing possible suspension or termination of their USHPA membership. USHPA is working in conjunction with the local chapter responsible for the site to resolve complaints in a way that will enhance site safety and contribute to the long-term viability of the chapter and the site. Following the hearing, USHPA will report on the board's findings with respect to these two individuals as well as other related action USHPA may take.

USHPA serves its membership by providing advocacy, communication, community, flying sites, learning, and safety to ensure the future of free flight. The membership is encouraged to foster a culture of safety, learning, and support for all those engaged including fellow members, chapters, land owners, and spectators. Safety and civility is the cornerstone to our success, maintaining permission to fly where we do, and the insurance to protect our flying activities. While rare, there are times when your national organization must help the local club membership enforce the established bylaws to ensure these principles. Moving forward, may we all learn from these actions to better the future of free flight.

US Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association
Tel : 719-632-8300 / 800-616-6888 (8 a.m. - 5 p.m. MST)

Fax : 719-632-6417 http://www.ushpa.aero
US Mail: PO Box 1330, Colorado Springs, CO 80901-1330
UPS / FEDEX: 1685 W Uintah St, Colorado Springs, CO 80904

The US Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association is a 501 c 3 non-profit dedicated to promoting the aviation sports of hang gliding and paragliding throughout the United States. Learn more on our website at http://www.ushpa.aero or http://www.ushpa.org

I have spoken to Rich Hass about another matter, but I didn't think it was appropriate to probe too much into the details of this case. The last line of the message says:

    "Moving forward, may we all learn from these actions to better the future of free flight."

That sounds like we'll be hearing more about it in the future - otherwise, how can we "learn from these actions"? Again, this is another example where USHPA could follow the US Hawks model with a national forum where members could ask questions and expect answers.

I'm not necessarily opposed to USHPA keeping this quiet leading up to the hearing because publicity could unfairly damage someone's reputation. But I do hope we'll find out more (one way or another) once the facts are known the matter is resolved.

But I would like to point out this fragment:

USHPA is working in conjunction with the local chapter responsible for the site to resolve complaints in a way that will enhance site safety and contribute to the long-term viability of the chapter and the site.

That's great, and that's why we have local chapters responsible for sites. But what will USHPA do in a situation such as Torrey Pines where they've refused to recognize the Torrey Hawks as being such a chapter? Without a chapter, who does USHPA work with to "resolve complaints in a way that will enhance site safety and contribute to the long-term viability of the ... site"?

Robin Marien?

Robin Marien (Torrey Pines Concessionaire) demonstrating his management abilities. USHPA wrote: "Safety and civility is the cornerstone to our success, maintaining permission to fly where we do, and the insurance to protect our flying activities." Does this guy look safe ... or civil?

Finger2sc.jpeg (46.81 KiB) Viewed 3304 times

[Bill Cummings]

Exactly what I would like to see happen at Torrey Pines.
“Civility,” shown by Robin Marien. USHPA should add Robins name to the disciplinary hearing notice if it isn’t there yet. There is evidence of Robin not following local City of San Diego municipal code. This is visibly bad Public Relations that will throw a bad light on our organization when we look like scofflaws. This behavior will work against us maintaining permission to fly at our established flying sites.

It is obvious to me that USHPA is not paying attention to what is going on at Torrey Pines when they talk about behavior at a USHPA insured site. That to me means that Robin Marien is not included on this most recent notice of a disciplinary hearing and he needs to be included. Site insured or not! Robin is making people associated with our sport look bad.

[Bob Kuczewski]

Robin is making people associated with our sport look bad.

There's more truth in that than you may know ...

Almost every paraglider crash at Torrey is somehow initially reported in the local press as a "hang gliding accident". I wonder how that happens? Let me give a hint...

If I were a local San Diego reporter trying to gather information on a crash at Torrey Pines, do you think I might call the Torrey Pines Gliderport? And what do you think they might tell me?