Overview
The League of Silent Flight (LSF) soaring accomplishment program (SAP) is a key element and one of the foundations of the LSF. It has stood the test of time for over 40 years, yet there comes a time when new technology and the evolution of soaring demands that the SAP be reexamined and modified if/as needed.

The program outlined below is designed to address the issue of availability of suitable contest opportunities to use for levels 2-5 of the SAP. When the program was founded, competitions were readily available in most areas where soaring was active. This has changed, and has driven the requests from interested members for a program that does not include competition requirements.

The essence of the current proposal is that LSF will establish a parallel program (Sportsman Soaring Accomplishment Program (SSAP) that does not include competition requirements. It will require that an aspirant attain LSF level 1 (no competition is required at this level), thus becoming a recognized member of LSF. At this point the person may elect to pursue the Traditional track (existing SAP) or to move to the Sportsman track. There will be opportunity to move from one track to the other with certain restrictions, as will be detailed below.

Declaration
The first opportunity to declare that an aspirant will follow the Sportsman track occurs when the aspirant submits the completed LSF level 1 voucher to the LSF secretary. The secretary will then record the track selected and send the appropriate Sportsman level 2 voucher for the person to use for his task work. When the person completes Sportsman level 2 and submits his completed voucher to the LSF secretary, the secretary will return a voucher for Sportsman level 3. This will continue through Sportsman level 5.

Switching Tracks
Switching from the Traditional to Sportsman track may also be done at the completion of any Traditional LSF level. This is done by requesting the switch to Sportsman track when submitting a completed voucher to the LSF secretary. The switch from Traditional to Sportsman may only be done once, and may only be done by a person that has declared the Traditional track for LSF level 2 and continued on the Traditional track until the desire to switch to Sportsman occurs.

Switching from Sportsman to Traditional is also possible, and may be done at the completion of any Sportsman level. In this case the person retains credit for all non-competition task work that has been completed to date on the Sportsman track. However, once the switch to the Traditional track is made the person must go back and complete the competition requirements of all Traditional levels not completed before any work on a new Traditional level is completed. This must be done according to the competition requirements of the Traditional program, including number of contestants, points, win requirements for each successive level, etc. The contest-only requirements continue until the person has “caught up” to the same level as the non-contest task work that has been completed. At that point the person will receive a voucher for the next Traditional level and continues on the Traditional track, and may not switch back to Sportsman for any reason.

Recognition
Recognition of the completion of SSAP levels and attainment of Sportsman level 5 will occur solely on a dedicated page of the LSF website.

Incorporation of Electric-Assist Launch into the SAP
This proposal is separate from the Sportsman Soaring Accomplishment Program proposal outlined above. The intent of this proposal is to add an option for electric-assist launching to perform tasks required by the SAP and (if/when adopted) the SSAP.

The LSF board proposes to include electric-assist launch as a legal method to launch a sailplane for completion of SAP/SSAP tasks with the following conditions:

1. An electric-assist launch must be to an altitude no higher than 600 feet above ground level.
   
   
2. The electric-assist launch must be documented by the use of a commercially available recording altimeter, with a printout of the launch phase of the flight accompanying the submission of a completed voucher to the LSF secretary for any SAP/SSAP flight tasks that used electric-assist launch.
   
   
3. The electric-assist may not be activated at any time following the launch phase as outlined in item 1 above. If it must be activated during a flight after launch for any reason, the flight is declared ineligible for submission as part of the SAP/SSAP.
   
   
4. The witness(es) to the task must confirm in writing that electric-assist was only used in the launch phase of the flight and at no time thereafter.
   
   
5. For any contest requirements where electric-assist launch is to be used, it must be the only launch mechanism in use at the contest and must follow all of the requirements for electric-assist launch outlined above. Contest tasks that allow multiple engine runs or unrestricted launch altitude may not be used for the purpose of electric-assist launch contest requirements for the SAP/SSAP.

An invitation to comment on the SSAP and/or Electric-Assist Launch
The Board seeks comments by LSF members on the proposals and/or suggestions for alternates. Please submit your comments/alternates to info@silentflight.org . Submissions will be accepted until May 11, 2009. The comments/alternates will be evaluated by the board and incorporated as appropriate. The resulting final proposals will be submitted to a vote of the LSF level 4 and 5 members per the bylaws. If approved by the vote, the proposal(s) will be incorporated into the LSF bylaws and communicated to the LSF membership.