The Soaring Society of America, Inc. was formed in 1932 to foster and promote all phases of soaring, both nationally and internationally. Since then, the SSA membership has grown to almost 10,000. It is run by a 17 member Board of Directors, 10 of which are elected by the general membership by region to serve a three-year term, and seven who are elected by the Board of Directors each year to serve one-year terms. The policies and programs implemented by the SSA are decided by the Board of Directors, in meetings held bi-annually in the Summer and Winter. All Board meetings are open to the general membership.
The SSA acts as the ‘umbrella’ organization for soaring in the United States by representing the collective interests of its members – individuals, clubs, chapters, and businesses. The SSA does not conduct flight operations or operate aircraft – these flying activities are left to its members. The organization does provide many services to members including supplying the electronic publication e-News and the monthly printed Soaring magazine.
The SSA actively encourages involvement of youth in the sport, and provides representation to Federal agencies to preserve glider access to airspace, much of it done on a volunteer basis. Through its separate operational entity, The Soaring Safety Foundation, the SSA addresses safety education and training of soaring pilots, while leaving actual flight instruction to its clubs, chapters, and business members.
After 90 years, sailplane flying is nearing a new golden age. With our soaring friends who fly hang-gliders and paragliders, we enjoy an ecological air sport that offers simple and accessible flying to people of all ages – especially our youth. By joining the SSA, you are joining the ranks of men and women, young and old, who want to stretch their wings across the sky, challenge themselves before nature, and embrace the rising columns of air in hopes of going higher and farther. We look to the past at the achievements our members have written and rewritten in the record books with great pride, and to our future with much optimism!