Monthly Soaring Magazine Articles for 2025

January - Glider Accident Rates - What's the real number? by Richard Carlson - SSF Chairman

For the past decade the Soaring Safety Foundation trustees have been trying, with some success, to capture glider utilization data. During this time the SSF has looked at the FAA survey data that is posted on-line to get flight time and launch data. It has never been clear how statistically significant this data is as the number of respondents is not given. The SSF has also looked for proxies, On-Line Contest (OLC) data and U.S. contest data, to compare with the FAA data. For the past 7 years the SSF has been sending stamped/self-addresses postcards to all clubs and commercial operators asking for some basic flight data. About 30% of these cards are returned. Read the full article.

February - The Off-season by Tom Johnson

One of my fond memories of watching Chicago baseball as a child was the announcers talking about what the players did in their off-season. For example, Rich Hebner worked as a grave digger with his father in the off-season. Other players had odd and unusual jobs as well. I found it was fascinating these professionals did activities and jobs besides baseball in the off-season. Read the full article.

March - FAA regulatory changes - Part 2 by Richard Carlson - SSF Chairman

Last December, this column described several recent changes that impact Certificated Flight Instructors (CFI's). In summary, CFI certificates no longer have a printed expiration date, meaning that certificate no longer expires. Instead the FAA has moved to a "Recency of Experience" method where CFI's will document having completed one of the "Recency of Experience" training methods specified in 14 CFR § 61.195(b)(2) by submitting a form 8710-1, or 8710-11 for a Sport Pilot Instructor, to a FAA representative (FSDO ASI, DPE, ACR) for processing. Also new is 14 CFR § 197(a)(1) which provides a 3 calendar month 'grace' period to reinstate a CFI certificate by attending a Flight Instructor Refresher Course (FIRC) during this grace period. More details can be found in our December 2024 article. Read the full article.

April - 2024 Soaring Accident Summary by Soaring Safety Foundation Trustees

For the twelve-month period ending October 31, 2024, twelve (12) gliders, seven (7) motor-gliders, one (1) light sport glider, and one (1) towplane were involved in twenty-one (21) separate accidents that met the reporting requirements of NTSB, 49 CFR 830. One mid-air accident accounts for the 22 aircraft being involved in 21 accidents. This represents a 91% increase in the number of accidents reported during the previous 12 month reporting period. The five-year average for the FY20 - FY24 reporting period is 21 accidents per year, representing a 1% decrease in the average number of accidents from the previous five-year period. Read the full article.

May - Measuring Success by Richard Carlson - SSF Chairman

In most parts of the country, spring is the time when Soaring begins again. Most clubs and commercial operations will host some kind of safety seminar. These seminars remind members what happened last year and what to look out for this coming season. Read the full article.

June - That's the Way We've Always Done It by Tom Johnson

As an airline pilot, we had the privilege of riding on the jump-seat in cockpits of other airliners from other companies. It was always interesting to see how another group of professional aviators solved the same problems we saw on the same aircraft. Read the full article.

July - Four out of Five isn't bad By Richard Carlson - SSF Chairman

For the past few years the Soaring Safety Foundation (SSF) has been working with our international peers and soaring friends to introduce the Safety II concept to the global soaring community. Most of these efforts have focused on introducing this concept to a wide variety of pilots and organizations. This includes the OSTIV Training and Safety Panel members, the Canadian General Aviation Joint Safety Committee, and Flight Instructors in North America, Europe, and Scandinavia. Read the full article.

August - How to Avoid Being Run Over by Bill Palmer

I don't believe I know anyone who has had a stall spin accident (though they remain a prominent factor in the NTSB database), but I personally know three or four other glider pilots that were almost run over by jets. Read the full article.

September - Risky Business by By Tom Johnson - SSF Trustee

The movie "Risky Business" was an entertaining look at what can happen when you get involved in something you really do not understand. The lead character kept getting deeper and deeper into a quagmire of his own making. All while trying to get accepted into Princeton University, an Ivy League school. And the hijinks ensued. Read the full article.

October - How the MOSAIC Rule Impacts the Soaring Community by Richard Carlson - SSF Chairman

The long-awaited Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification (MOSAIC) rule has finally been published in the Federal Register. As of July 24, 2025 new rules regarding the definition and operation of Light Sport Aircraft, certification and endorsements needed by Sport Pilots, and certification and privileges of Repairman Certificates (Light Sport) have all changed. This article focuses on how some of those changes affect our soaring community. For a complete description of how these changes affect other aviation communities please read the 717 page document. Read the full article.