San Diego Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association
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ABout the club

The San Diego Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, SDHGPA, is a hang gliding and paragliding club dedicated to the promotion and preservation of foot launched soaring (non motorized "free flight") in San Diego County. SDHGPA is a local chapter of the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, USHPA. We work collaboratively with land owners and governing agencies at the local level to keep our primary flying sites open by maintaining, insuring, purchasing, regulating, and monitoring our launch sites and landing zones. Our guiding principle is that all foot launched pilots of hang gliders and paragliders alike share common goals and interests best served by a united effort to promote flying safety, education, and good community relations in San Diego County. We support hang gliding and paragliding at the national level through the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (USHPA) and concurrent membership in that organization is the one and only club membership requirement.

Our Flying Sites: Here in San Diego County, we enjoy year-round flying in varied rural terrain. Do's and don'ts for launch sites and landing zones change frequently. If you have not flown at a site lately, we encourage you to contact one of the site representatives on the site pages and and read the Site Guides to get current information. All of our flying sites are sensitive to abuse and subject to closure at any time. In many tempting areas, we are not permitted to land; please do not endanger our sites by landing in illegal areas, by flying in an unsafe manner or by being rude to other pilots or the public. In general, exercise caution and consideration with regard to the local population and property. Avoid landing near livestock. Do not climb on fences; instead, go under. Stay on roads. Never damage or destroy property. Be unobtrusive and leave quickly if landing out in undesignated areas.


History: The SDHGPA is the Oldest and Longest Running Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club and Organization in San Diego and Southern California originally organized in 1973.

For detailed Club History and History of motor-less Free Flight in San Diego that goes back to the 1930's, See: SDHGPA and San Diego Free Flight History.  
San Diego Free Flight History

Meetings: The club meets monthly to discuss issues related to our mission, discuss topics in general free flight and socialize. The meetings are held a variety of locations and all information can be found on the Club Calendar. For 2019 Default scheduled meeting date is Third Thursday of the month unless stated otherwise on the Calendar. Fly-ins are commonly scheduled in the Fall, Winter, and Spring. 

Radio Information: Members of the SDHGPA use 2-meter ham radios for communication. For safety and convenience, it is strongly recommended that pilots obtain their "Technician Class" amateur radio operator license, and fly with a radio. It is also recommended that pilots join the East County Repeater Association ham radio club, which owns and operates the Laguna repeater. Our New normal frequency is 145.525 Mhz.

SDHGPA Organization: ​
SDHGPA operates as a 100% Volunteer Organization.
The SDHGPA is registered with the State of California as non-profit organization and Federally as a 501 (c) (7) Tax Exempt nonprofit organization.
Club Officers 2020:
President:             Steve Rohrbaugh   760-822-4007
VP:                          Jeff Brown               858-344-3846
Treasurer:             Bill Helliwell            760-500-1265
Secretary:              Nik Hawks               619-246-3868
Safety Officer:       Chris Ottmar          917-886-3565
Co Safety Officer:      Anthony Karnezis  480-287-2695
Our address: 
SDHGPA, P.O. Box 420973, San Diego, CA. 92142-0973
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Appointed Non-Voting Extended Board Positions 2019:
  • Social Committee: Josh Gelb (Lead), Angela Albota, Heather DeCourcy, 
  • Website:  Steve Rohrbaugh, Nik Hawks, Philip Wessinger, 
  • XC Competition:      Bill Helliwell / Jeff Brown / 
Site and Advisery Board SDHGPA Representatives
​Pilots in Command:
If you need/ or have site information,
please contact the following people:

Palomar  (PG)         Jeff Brown              (858) 344-3846
Big Black                  Bill Helliwell           (760) 500-1265
Horse Canyon        Bill Helliwell           (760) 500-1265
Laguna                     Bill Helliwell           (760) 500-1265
Anza-Borrego SP   Bill Helliwell           (760) 500-1265
Little Black              Dave Metzgar        (858) 336-5391
Blossom Valley       Nik Hawks              (619) 246-3868 
Otay                          Bill Helliwell           (760) 500-1265
Tecate Peak            Dave Metzgar        (858) 336-5391
XC Competition      Bill Helliwell            (760) 500-1265
Torrey Pines           Robin Marion         (858) 452-9858
Advisory Board Representatives:
 
​
Black Mt Open Space Citizens Advisory Council:
  • Dave Metzgar
  • Anto Metzgar
  • Jeff Brown 
Torrey Pines Soaring Council:
  • Kim Mccoy

SDHGPA Authorized Representatives: ​
To Issue USHPA 30-Day Affiliate Memberships to International Pilots holding IPPI Rating Cards:
(listed in contact order preference with those in bold being the primary issuers with membership forms readily available)
  1. Jeff Brown               858-344-3846
  2. Bill Helliwell           760-500-1265
  3. Dave Metzgar         858-336-5391
  4. ​Steve Rohrbaugh
For more info on USHPA 30-Day Affiliate Memberships and International Pilot Requirements see topic under Membership FAQ.

SDHGPA logo
SDHGPA is a local chapter of 
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USHPA 
(United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association)
SDHGPA, P.O. Box 420973, San Diego, CA. 92142-0973