Stephan Mentler <<stephmet>>
writes:

When I worked in law enforcement, our agency emphasized positive
contacts. The concept was fairly straightforward. Any interaction with a member
or members of the community should leave a positive impression of law
enforcement. This approach had significance on many different levels but most
importantly, it served to garner rapport within communities that often needed us
most but who were the least inclined to trust us. As some may imagine, this is
easier said than done. It is with this emphasis that I approach my touch points
with the community, particularly when flying competitions. I have two examples
to that I would like to relay.

The first was my landing out quite short of goal during one of the GSSK tasks. I
had chosen a large pasture close to a road and landed without incident. I moved
glider to a fence that abutted the property boundary. I began the all too
familiar process of breaking down my glider while looking skyward at the
beautifully obvious cumulous clouds wondering why I ended up on the ground. A
large pickup truck approached. The driver, a man with a baseball cap and dark
sunglasses, exited the truck and walked over. I stopped what I was doing,
smiled, waived, and said hello. The man, clearly unhappy, asked – “do you know
that you are trespassing?”. Now this conversation could have taken many
different paths with a variety of negative outcomes, based entirely on how I
responded in my use of language, my demeanor, and tone.

My response was simple and sincere. I apologized for landing on his property,
let him know that it was completely unintentional (after all I wanted to get to
goal), and that I would “fold” my glider as quickly as possible and get off of
his land. This had the nearly immediate effect of diffusing a situation that
could have escalated. It should be noted that an escalation, regardless of the
outcome would have had a negative impact on the entire soaring community - as
was quickly revealed. The gentleman explained that a glider (I assumed a
full-scale glider from the Seminole Glider Port) had a crash landing on his
property several years ago. He went on to explain that the individuals involved
where quite rude, damaged some of his property after landing, and then tried to
sue him. I told him that I was really sorry to hear that happened to him, was
able to point him to the USHPA website (which he looked up on his phone), and
explain that we had liability insurance that’s designed to protect third
parties, such as land owners, where we fly. I talked about where we fly from
(Paradise Air Sports in Groveland, FL), the competition and the R2G format, how
we get in the air without any mountains (a common question), how our gliders
performed, and added that a World Championships was coming here next year. We
talked a little further. He pointed out that I was “nothing like those guys”,
referring to the aforementioned glider pilots, thanked me, and said “take as
long as you need”. He got in his truck and drove off.

The second example, that I would like to share, occurred during week one of the
QANS (Pre Worlds) and is more reflective of my experience landing out. Same
scenario; I landed short of goal. This time, in an oasis of large fields
surrounded by trees, homes, and a small town. The ground was completely shaded,
and the lift had dried up, so there was no question in my mind as to why I
landed. A gentleman in a SUV drove up, rolled down his window, and handed me a
beer. He, Rich, pointed to his home on the other side of the field and told me
that he saw me fly over and land. I explained that the large U.S. Flag he was
flying helped me correctly gauge the wind direction and have a great landing – I
thanked him. A conversation quickly developed and moved from how we land hang
gliders to how we take off without any mountains, to myriad other topics (we
both had military experience and had done similar work, etc.). I invited him to
come down to Paradise Air Sports sometime and take tandem flight to see how it’s
done – something he plans on doing. I mentioned the competition and the upcoming
World Championship. He explained that the surrounding land belonged to his
grandfather, then his father, and now him. He liked seeing hang gliders land
there. He explained that some had landed several years back and that he met a
friendly Australian (I am assuming Johnny D) and a Frenchman. He let me know
that we can land there anytime, and he would be happy if we made his fields one
of our goals. After an about 45-minute conversation, he drove off and I began to
pack up my glider.

Positive contacts go a long way to building rapport with the non-flying
community. I believe that as competition pilots, we have a greater
responsibility and opportunity to be ambassadors of our sport. This means a
willingness to engage and be conversant about our sport, which just about all
competition pilots do and are. It is important to note that in each of the
aforementioned examples, I gave my undivided attention to the land owners - for
our younger pilots (e.g. millennials) out there - that means no phone in my
hand, checking texts, no earbuds, etc. Anyone paying attention to law
enforcement in the news can see how just one negative contact with one agency
can tarnish all of law enforcement. Similarly, for all of our pilots, remember
that courtesy goes a long way to building rapport with the non-flying community,
but a little discourtesy goes even further to ruining it for everyone.