2014 LSF/AMA NATS
First, a hearty THANK You to all who attended and helped make the 2013 LSF/AMA NATS another successful "glider camp".
In 2014, we'll be back in our traditional time slot ( 7/26 - 8/2) so it's not too early to start planning to attend. Here's a brief schedule of events:
7/26 - 7/27: F3K(DLG), 2 Meter, and XC(offsite)
7/28 - 7/29: RES & NOS
7/30 - 7/31: UNL
8/01 - 8/02: F3J & ALES
ESAP Proposal
If you're reading this, you will receive a ballot by email soon after January 1st which will allow you to vote your conscience on accepting or rejecting the proposal. Please study the following carefully:
Final draft of ESAP Proposal
Introduction
The Executive Board of the LSF is proposing the creation of a parallel soaring accomplishment program for electric powered sailplanes. This program will allow pilots of properly equipped electric powered sailplanes to participate in their own soaring accomplishment program and become full members of the League of Silent Flight. To accomplish this task, certain bylaws of the League of Silent Flight will need to be amended. None of these bylaws are under the special bylaws pertaining to the existing soaring accomplishment program and their amendment, if passed by a vote of the LSF membership will not impact the existing soaring accomplishment program.
The LSF Executive Board is asking all LSF members to study the proposed electric soaring accomplishment program and the amendments to the LSF bylaws necessary to move forward with its creation and implementation then vote their conscience on the proposal. In deference to the holidays, shortly after January 1, 2014, active LSF members will receive, via email, a ballot upon which a vote for or against the amendment of the bylaws can be cast . Ballots will be sent, electronically to a committee that will count the ballots and report the results to the Executive BoardAs a majority of the LSF Board is for the amendments, only a simple majority of the votes cast is needed amend or not amend the bylaws .
The LSF Board extends its thanks to those who participated in the discussion concerning the proposal on the LSF Forum or made comments to Board members over the past sixty days. Your inputs were a help in creating this proposal.
The proposed parallel SAP
The proposed parallel SAP, hereafter referred to as the ESAP, will use exactly the same tasks ,contest requirements, and rules as the existing SAP. The only change will be the following which replaces the 1st paragraph of Section 7 – THERMAL DURATION FLIGHT .
The current version:
A thermal duration flight commences at the time of release from the end of a towline. The distance from the extreme end of towline, at the winch, hi-start hold-down, towman, vehicle, or towline return device to the attach point at the model shall be no more than 300 meters (984.3 feet). Tow men and vehicles shall be limited to a maximum of sixty (60) seconds from launch to towline release. Towing by means of aircraft or other airborne devices is expressly forbidden.
The ESAP version:
All thermal duration tasks will be attempted with an electric sailplane equipped with an altitude limiting device set to a maximum launch height of 200 meters (656.17 feet) and a maximum motor run time of 30 seconds. The flight commences when the sailplane leaves the pilot or a helper’s hand or when the sailplane leaves the ground if a rise-off-ground takeoff is used. A motor restart will void the flight even if the task target is achieved.
As in the current SAP, ESAP participants may elect to do the slope duration tasks or substitute a second thermal task (Levels I – IV) when working on a Level. Initially, the forms used to record ESAP progress will be the same forms used in the current SAP but with a distinctive watermark.
As in the current SAP, progress will be recorded in the LSF database and reported periodically on the LSF web site. The processing fee for each ESAP Level will be the same as the current SAP ($2.00)
Changes to LSF ByLaws to accommodate the ESAP
In order to establish and accommodate the ESAP, the following changes to some LSF By Laws are necessary. Note that these changes in no way impact the current SAP.
Article VI – MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 b. – Current Version
Aspirants to membership who have made written declaration of their intent to associate with the LSF and to actively pursue the Soaring Accomplishment Program.
Section 1 b. – Amended Version
Aspirants to membership who have made written declaration of their intent to associate with the LSF and to actively pursue the Soaring Accomplishment Program(SAP) or the Electric Soaring Accomplishment Program (ESAP)
Section 1c. – Current Version
Membership in the LSF, once Level 1 is attained, is for life. Deceased members’ numbers are retained.
Section 1c. – Amended Version
Membership in the LSF, once Level 1 in either the SAP or ESAP is attained, is for life. Deceased members’ numbers are retained.
Section 1d. – Amended version
LSF members wishing to vote on changes to an accomplishment program may only do so if they are actively involved in that program and meet the achievement levels specific to that program. (Some members may choose to actively pursue both the SAP and ESAP).
Section 2d. – Current version
Attainment of Level 1 in the LSF Soaring Accomplishment Program.
Section 2d. – Amended version
Attainment of Level 1 in the LSF Soaring Accomplishment Program or the LSF Electric Soaring Accomplishment Program.
Section 3a. – Current Version
Name
Postal address
Email and/or other communication address which becomes available.
FAI organization affiliate and FAI membership number
A statement similar to the following:
“I,(the undersigned) support the philosophies, concepts, and criteria set forth in the Bylaws of THE LEAGUE OF SILENT FLIGHT and give notice, herewith, to attain Level I of the LSF Soaring Accomplishments Program, and by doing so, earn full recognition and privilege of membership”
Section 3a. – Amended Version
Name
Postal address
Email and/or other communication address which becomes available.
FAI organization affiliate and FAI membership number
A statement similar to the following:
“I,(the undersigned) support the philosophies, concepts, and criteria set forth in the Bylaws of THE LEAGUE OF SILENT FLIGHT and give notice, herewith, to attain Level I of the LSF Soaring Accomplishments Program or the LSF Electric Soaring Accomplishments Program, and by doing so, earn full recognition and privilege of membership”
Section 4 – Current Version
Upon receipt of a written declaration of intent, the Executive Board will record the individual’s name on the LSF Aspirant roll, and will forward to the Aspirant the information and forms necessary to document the attainment of Level 1 in the LSF Soaring Accomplishment Program. An individual will be carried on the Aspirant roll for a maximum of two years from the date of enrollment… If the individual has not achieved Level 1 status by that time, his/her name will dropped from the Aspirant roll without notification. Resubmission of a declaration of intent will be accepted bt the executive Board.
Section 4 – Amended Version
Upon receipt of a written declaration of intent, the Executive Board will record the individual’s name on the LSF Aspirant roll, and will forward to the Aspirant the information and forms necessary to document the attainment of Level 1 in the LSF Soaring Accomplishment Program or the LSF Electric Soaring Accomplishment Program. An individual will be carried on the Aspirant roll for a maximum of two years from the date of enrollment… If the individual has not achieved Level 1 status by that time, his/her name will dropped from the Aspirant roll without notification. Resubmission of a declaration of intent will be accepted by the executive Board.
Section 5 – Current Version
Membership can be attained only by Aspirants who submit, to
the Executive Board, proper documentation of their fulfillment of all the
performance requirements necessary for Level 1 of the LSF Soaring
Accomplishments Program on the voucher provided... Upon acceptance of
the submitted voucher, the Executive Board will transfer the individual's
name from the Aspirant roll to the next consecutive membership number on
the membership roll, and will issue to the member a new membership card
and a voucher for Level 2 tasks.
Section 5 – Amended Version
Membership can be attained only by Aspirants who submit, to
the Executive Board, proper documentation of their fulfillment of all the
performance requirements necessary for Level 1 of the LSF Soaring
Accomplishments Program or the LSF Electric Soaring Accomplishment Program on the voucher provided... Upon acceptance of
the submitted voucher, the Executive Board will transfer the individual's
name from the Aspirant roll to the next consecutive membership number on
the membership roll, and will issue to the member a new membership card
and a voucher for Level 2 tasks.
Section 6 - Current Version
Members are privileged to identify such status by display of the
LSF name, official emblem or insignia, symbols or other paraphernalia, as
well as earned badges and awards from the Soaring Accomplishment
Program. Members are entitled to participate in all organizational activities,
subject to such regulations as may be imposed by these Bylaws, are
privileged to vote in the election of officers and on matters of business as set
forth herein, may seek and hold office and may serve on committees. Only
Active Members will receive LSF mailings, calls for nominations and election
ballots. An active member is defined as one of the following;
A member who has achieved Level II, III, IV, or V.
A member who has achieved Level I within the last twenty-four months,
or has contacted LSF in writing (including LSF’s administration of
contest) within the last twenty-four months.
Section 6 - Amended Version
Members are privileged to identify such status by display of the
LSF name, official emblem or insignia, symbols or other paraphernalia, as
well as earned badges and awards from either the LSF Soaring Accomplishment
Program or the LSF Electric Soaring Accomplishment
Program. Members are entitled to participate in all organizational activities,
subject to such regulations as may be imposed by these Bylaws, are
privileged to vote in the election of officers and on matters of business as set
forth herein, may seek and hold office and may serve on committees. Only
Active Members will receive LSF mailings, calls for nominations and election
ballots. An active member is defined as one of the following;
A member who has achieved Level II, III, IV, or V in either the SAP or ESAP.
A member who has achieved Level I in either the SAP or ESAP within the last twenty-four months, or has contacted LSF in writing (including LSF’s administration of a contest) within the last twenty-four months.
Section 7 - Current Version
Aspirants may not display any LSF insignia, but may participate in all organizational activities, subject to such rules and regulations as may
be imposed by these Bylaws, except that they may not vote or hold office.
Section 7 - Amended Version
Aspirants may not display any LSF insignia, but may participate in all organizational activities, subject to such rules and regulations as may
be imposed by these Bylaws, except that they may not vote or hold office.
Members may indentify their LSF status by their LSF number followed by a Roman numeral indicating their highest LSF Level achieved. Members participating in the ESAP may add a capital “E” if they so desire.
A Final Thought
This is the season of giving. These words, written in 1958 still ring true for those of us in the hobby today:
"All of the pleasures and joys that we experience while we build and fly model airplanes are being handed to us by those who were here before us."
"Pity the man who will take and use the knowledge gathered by others and does not contribute his own. He will miss one of the finest feelings in life, the glow that comes from bringing light into a corner that has been dark since time began.... And that which he holds so tight to himself will eventually be rediscovered by someone else."
