General

By-laws

 Ground Operations

Ground Handling

Signals & Launch Procedures

 Flight Training

 Cross Country

Mini Triangle

 Junior Training Program

Entry Requirements

• Be between the ages of 13 -18. If under 18, have a membership waiver form completed and signed by a parent/guardian
• Agree to become a member of Soaring Society of America
• Meet the following suitability requirements
• have minimum weight of 100 lbs
• have minimum height of 60 inches
• have strength to safely operate the airbrakes
• weight restriction of not being over 220lbs

Membership

• Junior members (JR) shall pay dues & initiation fees as fixed from time to time by the Junior Organization. (Currently $50 per year)
• JR members shall pay reduced rates for flying activity as set forth by the board. (To qualify for reduced rates Jr members must serve a four hour duty shift in service to club operations for each flight.)
• Members in good standing are allowed to purchase extra training flights at the normal club rate
• A JR member may fulfill their work obligation in a number of ways, but the most common is to be scheduled to work with the SFO of the day and to perform the duties of "Line Worker".
• JR members will receive flight training from designated JR instructors during special off peak training periods. Once solo a JR may fly solo gliders anytime during normal club operation, with instructor approval.
• At present the JR membership has a limit of 15 members (10 active). This limit may be changed at anytime by the JR adult organizers. It is based on the availability of designated JR instructors. Children of senior members will be allowed to join regardless of the limit.
• Any JR missing a scheduled duty time or receiving any disciplinary action will receive two warnings. On the third incident s/he will be removed from the membership.

Voting Privileges

JR members may vote only within the Junior Organization for its Officers and for questions which concern its activities. They are not eligible to vote for Directors of the Corporation (GBSC) or upon other issues concerning the Corporation.

Line Worker

The purpose of the job of Line Worker is to assist the SFO in managing the flight line, and to help the glider pilots in readying the aircraft for flight, correctly connecting the tow rope, and assisting in launching the glider.

Responsibilities

1. Helping with moving aircraft - in and out of the tie down area, on and off the runways, and elsewhere as needed.
2. Connecting the tow rope to the glider.
3. Running the wing during the start of the take-off run.
4. Helping out with crowd control.
5. Direct support to the Ground Supervisor - help out where needed.
6. Know and use the SSA Standard American Soaring Signals as used by GBSC.

All of the above tasks are critical to our operation, and some can be dangerous if you don't know what you are doing. Don't try to do this job without training, and don't be shy about telling the SFO that you are new on the job. Ask for help and you will get it.

Note: All new members to the JR organization must complete an orientation class and receive a sign off from a JR designated instructor before being allowed access to flight operations.

A Guide For Line Workers

Never try to move an airplane by yourself.

Take care of the tow ropes. Examine each one for frayed places and other damage when you take it off the reel. If you find any damage tell the Ground Supervisor and/or the Tow Pilot, and take the rope out of service. Roll the good ropes back up on the reel when not in use.

If there is any wind, or if there may be some later, do not leave the aircraft unattended, even for a short time. Keep the canopies closed and latched. Keep the air brakes open while parked. Wind or prop wash from the tow planes can blow the aircraft into each other or actually overturn them. They are your aircraft, and repairs cost you real money.

Be ready to help get gliders off the runway after landing. If there is other traffic needing the runway, you may have to move quickly. But always look for other aircraft on final approach before walking on a runway. Look in all directions!

Help the pilots and passengers into the aircraft and strapped in if requested.

Hook up the tow ring as directed by the glider pilot, and never before. Do not use a Tost ring on a Schweizer hook. Know the difference.

Your major job during hookup, taking up slack, and the start of the take-off run is to support and help the glider pilot. Do what he/she tells you to do, and only what he/she tells you to do. Your field of view is wider than their's, so scan the pattern for other traffic and point it out to them.

You are an important representative of the GBSC to the public. Make sure that all your contacts with sailplane demonstration flight passengers are friendly, helpful, and informative.

Work closely with the SFO and try to keep him advised of your whereabouts. If you have to leave the area, let him know.