Using the scooter tow training system as a safe method for hang
gliding instruction

Jay Scovill <>
writes in a letter to Wills Wing:

I am a motorcycle safety instructor for the state of Georgia. In
the US every state walks in lock step regarding training and motorcycle safety.
They all use the course developed and paid for by the Motorcycle Safety
Foundation, a foundation invented by, funded, and carefully maintained by 99.9%
of the motorcycle producers. They began their studies and instructional research
in the 70's and update the training nearly every quarter to keep up with the the
most cutting edge methods of safe driving and motorcycle safety.



They are doing it primarily for financial reasons. The sport was in a real slump
in the 70's and the culprit was often described as the murdercycle. The industry
knew it was guy twisting the throttle because disk brakes and creature comforts
for riders were coming on strong. Motorcycles were much safer than they had ever
been. Training was the biggest hurdle they had to solve to change the perception
of the sport as a whole, but the only way they could turn that image around was
by educating riders diligently and making them learn the physics and problems
surrounding that mode of transportation.



I wish for your sake and the hang gliding industry that the instructional banner
Wills Wing has taken up would become an industry wide amalgamation of
manufacturers. Hang gliding is not being taught well or with consistency at all.
The industry's only choice, if it is to grow, is to show a skeptical public a
safe and fun sporting activity. Right now its image is tarnished in anyone's
eyes who cares to look the accidents that "never should have happened" and could
be trained out of individuals at an early stage in their development.



If the programs for training were studied, honed and put forth in a positive
step-by-step-building-skill-upon-skill way.



What Wills Wing has done with Steve Wendt and the development of the Condor has
begun to open the door that probably only the hang gliding manufacturers will
ever care enough to open up and solve.



I called USHPA for Marc Fink, the instructor who has been kind enough to mentor
me in my quest to become an instructor. I asked for the beginning book they
recommend for hang gliding pilots to study for the H1, H2 written test/knowledge
base. It took them a half hour just to figure out which one they recommended.
They also emailed me two PDF's with Hang Gliding Magazine articles listed that
they said would be helpful in passing the H1 H2 test/learning curve. The seven
articles they referenced from Hang Gliding Magazine were all over 17 years old
and 4 of the articles they referenced were not on the month or date that they
said they were supposed to be found in the ancient magazines in their PDF.



If you, meaning the manufacturers, don't do it I'm afraid no one else will. I do
not want to become part of the problem however by being apathetic myself. I do
not want to become part of a bad "status quo" as an instructor. I am in no way
saying here that instructors today do not care. From my view they care more than
nearly any instructors in other fields I have ever met. It's the system of
development of hang gliding pilots that needs looking at. So many guys have been
in this sport since back in "the day". There are safer ways to instruct. Ways
that are much more appealing to a public that can afford his and her 20 thousand
dollar motorcycles (it's not about the price).



While I am barely a cog in the wheel, if there is ever anything I can do to help
in an endeavor like you and Steve have just begun with the scooter tow system
please let me know.