About that Harness...

Bill Behrens wrote:

hello Chad, Greetings from frozen Maine..........

I am interested in taking pg pilot training at your school, in early April. I will be in the SB area between April 1-10.

I have experience since last summer, flying with Pete Williams and Chris Kroot among others, have had classroom and training hill instruction time with Jeff Nicolay at Morningside, but mostly also with Michael Fuller at Pegasus in Nova Scotia. I've logged 3 hrs flying time, 40 flights, high flights from +1000' agl, mostly sledders, no thermaling. My goal is to get some top-notch instruction and, skills and conditions willing, take my P2.

I own a Flight Design Boxtair with just a couple hours on. A friend in New Mexico has offered to get me a SupAir, reserve installed, at dealer cost, which I will do before coming out, unless you have a better plan. Otherwise I have an old Edel, no reserve.

Thanks for considering me as a student. If you can email me back with some ideas of how to proceed, whether early April is a good time, and what the cost might be, I'd be much obliged.

Sincerely, Bill Behrens

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Bill,

We'd be happy to take you 'under our wing' for some lessons! What I'd suggest is let's book a day where we can get out on the training hill with you and see where you are - kiting, launching, flying, approach, spot landing, as well as have some conversations about your attitude about flying. We can admister the test, and let you know if there will be any additional days needed to complete your P2 certification.

The day lesson will cost $200/day, and you will get a lot out of it. If you can complete your P2, we can then do some advanced clinics with you such as ridge soaring, thermal clinic, Santa Barbara site introduction, or any other clinic you are interested in.

Let us know in advance which day you would like to come out, and we will reserve it for you. Thanks for writing, and we look forward to meeting you!

Chad Bastian
Fly Above All, Inc.
http://www.flyaboveall.com
mailto:info@flyaboveall.com
Phone: (805) 965-3733
PO Box 3588
Santa Barbara, CA 93130

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Hey Chad, That sounds great to me. I'd love to be in a small group, if that's possible in any way, and i'm not looking for a price break, I just learn better by watching and imitating -- good and bad! Any chance? Did you have any reaction to my harness issue?

My plan is to be in SB starting mon 3/31, then on thurs 4/3 or perhaps fri 4/4 i'll be going up to sacramento for a solar certification course -- my work is solar installations -- then back to SB area on that sunday and staying in the area the entire following week, really looking forward to some flying time with no home/family/work distractions.

Thanks very much.........Bill

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Bill,

Those dates work fine for us. Just let us know when you are firm with a credit card reservation.

You asked about my reaction to the harness issue. This is a loaded question, and one we get from time to time. Anyone selling equipment at dealer cost is undermining the business of paragliding which is what we do for a living. It threatens our ability to be there for the students and seasoned pilots with the resources and information that might make the difference between life and death. I'm sorry that I am so intense about this, but one small thing can make a huge difference. When the pilots go somewhere else to buy it cheaper, they cast their vote as to what kind of support they want. You asked, didn't you? Here is what Chris Santacroce wrote about it, and I think he hits the nail right on the head:

http://www.flyaboveall.com/buyglider.htm

Don't get me wrong, we will still give you the best training we can offer. Just be aware that it ALL matters!

Thanks,

Chad Bastian

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Hi Chad,

Thank you for your honest and passionate reply. You are absolutely right. I can totally relate to it. It's great to get clear about this, ahead of time, and learn a little bit, before ever even coming out there. I want to learn from someone who takes it passionately! I'll be coming out with what gear I have, and I look forward to your input as to how to upgrade, what would be best for me, and I'll be happy to get my gear from you. Here's a cc#, put what deposit you need on it. (removed).

Best regards, I look forward to meeting you in a few weeks. Bill