Simmer
Key Veteran
Location: Massachusetts
My Posts This: Topic Forum | Wow from someone who has been there, I feel for you. But our clubb turned around after about 3 years and now we have enough heli guys on the board to prevent this I think. You really need to work wiyth a club and foster common courtesy to make a mixed club work, but you cant blame the plankers if the heli guys are not being reasonable as well. Now before you jump all over me, while I fly both, for the past ten years its been 99% helis. I see the concerns at our club and this year I am stepping up to become president (if they vote me in next week)
There are three things they complain about
1. noise
2. smoke
3, they feel uncomfortable flying with helis in the air.
You HAVE to address all of these regardless of how you think it really is because this is their perception, and doesn't mean is not an issue.
The Board CAN in fact ban helicopters (at least at our club) and the membership cannot change what's been done. If you go to the board and they are reasonable people maybe they could give you a chance IF you can convince them your on probation and your going to address these things.
As an example, our heli guys show at 5PM often during the week. There is a pin pole but mostly folks just jump up and fly. Some of the plane guys feel like they are getting jumped in line as they don't wish to fly with us in the air. Until last night I didn't even realize that this is really at the heart of the issue. Hey we don't mind waiting 10 minutes, but now I see why it caused such an issue.
I do not know what the outcome will be, but my goal is to have a club where we all can for the most part get along. Its not just about those that fly, its also about the socialization and you have to take this into account. If you get the second chance, get all the heli guys together and agree to certain rules you all will follow to prove to the board you can self regulate.
It may be a long shot, but if your club is like mine, there are a lot of plane guys who aren't happy the helis got banned, they just don't speak up.
So in the end, you HAVE to get involved on the BoD if you want to stem this ban thing, before it happens. Just stop thinking its them against us because in reality, its not. Its perception and understanding. There will always be folks who make trouble, heli haters., and you wont turn them around, but most of the guys really are open if you can demonstrate a way to all get along.
Good luck in your search, looks like you may have found a new place, but my advice goes where ever you fly. Common sense and courtesy are the two things you need and you just cannot regulate that with some rules. You have to be pro-active, and it helps of course to do this before they ban you. |
