Regardless of everyone’s opinions on USHPA requirements for P2s, certifications, our site ratings, or instructional protocols, I have to ask here that everyone respect the rules that are in place right now. Going rogue and choosing to put beginner pilots in the air, especially if you have no instructor rating, PASA certification, or insurance, puts pilots’ lives at risk, and jeopardizes our site, regardless if you tell them to land outside of AJX. It’s also incredibly disrespectful to the other local instructors that have jumped through all of the appropriate hoops (and I hear there are a LOT) and taken the time to follow procedure and do things properly.

If the gang here thinks there’s value in getting USHPA to re-rate some of our launches – have the discussion and try your luck (I think it’s a waste of time, but I won’t stand in anyone’s way), but please DO NOT go breaking the rules in the meantime.

I’m all for mentoring, but mentoring should be to help pilots that can already fly here on their own to improve their skills, not as a loophole to get around seeking proper instruction and USHPA ratings.