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What does everyone think about the construction of The Human Flight Association? Would this be something that you would be interested in?

The mission of the Human Flight Association is to increase public awareness and establish a user group, share knowledge and inspiration, practice conservation and advancement, and provide logistical support for those in pursuit of human flight.

So if you click the attached file you can get more information about HFA

So is this HFA, organization of Human flight just focusing on BASE jumping or does it enlist/enroll all the other organizations of Canopy flight & other forms of Human Flight ?
Does it take on the role to enlist all the disciplines of ' Human Flight ' ? like Para glide/Hang glide/skydive, threw Ultralite aviation & even experimental aircraft etc. ?
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Great idea at the core but it seems that your proposal and thought process needs alot of work. (Along with some grammar checks.) I am wondering the same thing as the question above. What sports/activities does this association include? There is some overlap in participants between aerial sports but not a whole lot. It seems that each sport has it's own access issues and individual user groups.
Would I be interested? Maybe. But at the same time, I only pay USPA fees to keep my tandem rating current and that's the only association I "belong" to. I imagine that you would have to show some positive action and presence in the community('s) before anyone on this (or other) boards would start shelling out money.

I look forward to seeing what you come up with.

+1

I love the questions!

For sure weather or not this organization would include all forms of canopy flight and human flight or just consist of BASE jumpers is a good concept to consider. From my experience BASE jumpers have a hard time fitting into any particular group. There are not quite foot launch-able soaring aircraft, and they defiantly don't fall into the category of engine powered air craft. They are something unique, something new and uncategorized. It seems they are left out. The outcasts of society.

I was originally thinking that the HFA would be an all inclusive organization. That said, because the Paraglider's and Hang-glider's already have an established organization, I think most would continue to pledge their support to the USHPA. I doubt that many would cross over. There would be no reason too. Especially if they were strictly a Paraglider or Hang-glider. Although, as an organization in the pursuit of human flight the HFA would defiantly include them as well as BASE jumpers, wing-suit pilots, and parachutists. The idea is to expand the pursuit of flight by creating an association(community) that promotes a culture of aerial thinking. If possible I would like to keep the the organization open to all in support of "human flight."

For sure experimental air craft fall into the perimeters of the the HFA's mission. The HFA would support the testing of experimental aircraft in lawful testing area's.

Also, I want to put an enphasis on the conservation aspect of the organization. The HFA would be highly supportive of environmental stewardship and protecting and advancing access to wilderness flight zones. In addition HFA would advocate and adopt the principles of the Tyrol Declaration. (http://www.theuiaa.org/upload_area/files/1/tyrol_declaration(0).pdf)

I am really excited that people have an interest in this idea. I believe this organization could go a long way in establishing the credibility of human flight practitioner's (BASE jumper's included). I have provided a base for the existence of the HFA and am highly motivated to peruse it to its establishment. On the other hand I appreciate(need) help. I agree, my thought process needs a lot of work. Things like grammar, finances, and marketing are going to be important to the HFA's success. I dream of a community (doctors, bankers, marketers, scientists, community workers, lawyers, and law enforcement) all united for the pursuit of human flight. Everyone contributing there strengths to the construction, implementation, and establishment of the HFA.

If anyone has ideas or thoughts about the HFA I encourage you to comment. I have found that even simple questions create a thought process that develops new ideas. Life is all about learning.

Each aerial sport has its own access issues and individual user groups. The HFA will confront those issues that coincide with the mission of the Association and represent user groups that practice human flight. Personally, I don't want the HFA to be only a BASE jumping club because I feel like it leaves out different affiliations of human flight that are worth including (experimental aircraft). Advancement of human flight in the name of exploration is a fundamental aspect of the association. The name "BASE jumper" has a bad connotation attached to it (they jump off objects and die), verses Human Flight Practitioners peruse the art of human flight in the spirit of exploration.

So, there's lots of advocating, supporting, pursuing and establishing going on there... but what are you actually going to do?

speedflying is an infant sport with no governing body. if speedflying were to become part of the HFA's organization, it may help to do several things:

establish organized sites

help different ski resorts understand our sport a little better and realize that by welcoming speedflying in certain flight designated areas, they could make money (i remember being a kid when snowboarding was misunderstood and frowned upon, now its part of the olympics)

provide insurance in the event of damaging someones property just like the uspa does

help design a way that speedflyers can go about safely learning to speedfly by putting together a network of schools, people, and possibly even start putting out a safety manual from the good and bad things that happen to flyers (like the SIM)

dunno man, i could see including speedflying in an organized body as a way to help spread knowledge, to get access to private sites, help people fly safer and establish a more formal training regiment with different safety/experience requirements.........

just my .02, anyone have any opinions on this?

organizations have been formed, solicited money, and then disappeared too many times in the past.

it sounds like you want to create another, while looking for a mission based on the interest level of respondents.

why not find a mission first? start small. have success. build a positive reputation. grow organically.

USPA has grown the SIM dramatically over the last 2 decades. it did not start out as you see it now.

Speed wings definitely fall under the mission of the HFA. Great thought! I just started Speed flying today. My first flight.

Were in the US is the best location for speed flying? Which resort has the most ideal weather patterns, safest terrain, good landing areas, and easy access? Which resort do all speed flyer want to have access to, but don't?

Grow Organically! I like the concept. It seems like the only way. I would like to introduce everyone to the HFA. As of now it is free to join. If you are interested please send your Name, e-mail, and address to walker.mackey@yahoo.com. In your e-mail please include any skills, services or contributions you would like to offer to the HFA and ideas about what you want to see in your association.

Human Flight Association Goals

Immediate Goals
1) Initiate campaign program to spread public awareness and establish the user group. Build coalitions and outreach new members.
-Build a board of members to organize the HFA.
-Organize weekly meetings to discuss progress and agenda for the future.
-Design a budget
-Prioritize HFA agenda
-Design a logo
-Build and distribute information brochures
-Build a website for HFA

2) Join the Access Fund and Outdoor Alliance.
-Implement HFA fixed rope replacement project in Yosemite National Park.
-The fixed lines on El Capitan are often in bad shape. The HFA will raise money for new fixed ropes to be placed on the East Ledge Decent (400M) and install the ropes with the assistance of the Search and Rescue team. Upon installation the HFA in alliance with SAR will work together to make sure the ropes are properly maintained.

Long Term Goals
3) Lobby and campaign for change in current no flying policies starting with Yosemite National Park, CA and Telluride, CO.
-Contact Federal executive departments and administrative agencies
-Petition of change in regulations

4) Fund projects in the development of human flight through the installation of a grant program (specifically new wing designs.)

like nunchuck skills, bowhunting skills, computer hacking skills...

couldn't resist

Kerkko
BASE1184

Am I the only one who thinks we've walked into a Dilbert cartoon?


So the first (and so far only) solidly defined plan of the Human Flight Association is aimed at helping climbers?

in other words, you offer no services. you have done nothing. you seem more interested in running an organization than doing something.

people do a better job of following leadership with a history of success.

the paranoid BASE jumpers will wonder if you are simply a LEO building a jumper database!

Walker is a BASE jumper, skydiver, and mountain climber. If you ever have a chance to meet him, you would laugh at the idea that he's a LEO.

I have skydived with him in Lodi, and BASE jumped with him also.

One of the most common ways to access the top of El Cap is by ascending the fixed lines on the east ledge decent. Making sure these lines are safe helps those who want to go up or down. It helps climbers, BASE jumpers, park rangers, porters, guides, search and rescue, hikers, ext..

It would be an act of civility on behalf of the HFA. An act that would establish the credibility of the HFA in the community and help spread public awareness.

Another thought would be to make some improvements on the trail down from the fixed lines. There are a few places were the erosion is really bad and could use some touching up. (trail maintenance)

Definitely an interesting idea of a parachute 'lobby' group instead beginning with the slow, long game- starting off with what can only be seen as positive gestures straight off. And it would lead to positive press snippets mentioning trail maintenance paid for by "Human Flight Association".
Would be interesting to see how Park authorities decide to respond. Would they accept the assistance or might there be a way to decline it- (which would only lead to negative press stories/opinions of all park users for them..... )
Intriguing! :)

since your first solid plan involves yosemite, why dont you start an organization that lobbies for flight in yosemite valley. You could do the projects you talked about + cite data from valleys such as lauterbrunnen where human flight is allowed and conducted in a legal manner. Try to open a dialogue/forum between LE, park rangers, climbers, wingsuit/base jumpers. Develop the idea for a revenue collecting service to allow base jumping (I would gladly pay 20 dollars for every jump off el cap or half dome and I'm sure other base jumpers would too). Everywhere is hurting for money, talk to them about what allowing base jumping could do financially for the parks! Involve the press with the discussions/forums, invite them to witness/report the back/forth.

then with success your organization could morph into the bigger picture you see now. Imagine how many members would join you if you could be the one to say you brought human flight to yosemite valley!

So it turns out that a Association is already in existence. I was looking through a skydiving book my brother had and stumbled upon a phone number for the US BASE Association. I thought why not and gave it a call. To my surprise Jean Boenish answered the phone. We ended up talking for like two hours. It was great. She is a really nice woman and totally knowledgeable about the association.
Anyway, all the work she has done to establish the association is still in existence although most of it hand written. She even shared with me that a web site was in the process of being launched, she just needed a little help because she isn't super computer savvy.
Before next summer i hope to see an association web page established and published as well as the initiation of the HFA fixed rope replacement project. If anyone wants to be a part of the effort let me know.

help us jump from el cap/yosemite and some colorado cliffs!@!!!!!!! it would be the most phenomenal thing an association could do for base jumpers

I would love to look forward to a legal base career within the USA involving terminal cliffs.

This is a group effort. We have to make this goal happen as a team. The Association can only exist as a group of people making an effort.

I like the idea of volunteering in yosemite to help the image of base jumpers, and I'm definitely willing to help out with any such projects.

My main concern would be that replacing the fixed ropes on the E ledges is first of all not very high-profile. Climbers might notice, but they aren't the ones we need to convince. It also seems a little self-serving, and I'm afraid it will look like we are trying to help people to bandit jump in yosemite.

What about putting together a group of base jumpers to help out with Facelift? That is high profile, and would involve working directly with park staff. I think that would be a lot more valuable.

Really good Idea! The Facelift is lots of fun. I love hang'n in the valley every year during this event. It is a great opportunity to show some presents and hang with the community. Its the one time each year when everyone comes together to help clean up the beautiful park and enjoy fun entertainment. From my experience it is an event that provides a great foundation for open communication. There is something about the event that brings everyone together for a single cause. When it comes down to it we all love our home, the earth.

I still think the replacement project could send a clear message that we are friends of the community. Keeping the fixed line rappel in the best of shape possible is really important for safety. It is definitely an act of civil disobedience.