Thank you to all that responded to the Survey!

It helps to direct what we as Club Members want the Club to be and set some direction. If you have any comments, questions, or concerns about the SDHGPA & its direction, please let us know. by talking with one of the Bard Members or come to the meetings. If you offered to help or are willing to help, please reach out and we will try to get you involved.  Help is always appreciated. 

We will try to incorporate the higher requested meeting topics into this calendar year meetings

Quorum of Directors present

Site Brief - Bill Helliwell
Laguna - all new State Park folks, Bill talked to a temporary ranger about existing permit, sent to Heidi, got form letter on how to apply for a permit instead of info on existing permit, tried to clarify. We have heard nothing. Assuming permit is still valid. Chief Ranger position appears to be open.

SDHGPA Calendar & Upcoming Events:
Activities & Calendar was discussed and set for the Next 3 months:
 
SDHGPA New Year Fly-in & Awards @ Palomar - Saturday, February 3: 

1. Annual Windsock Flag Replacements per usual plan and two Masts to be placed on order in the next few weeks for windsocks at Palomar, Little Black and Horse. (motion Passed)

2. Increase Temp Membership Dues to at least cover costs of Fly-ins and keep the no excuses low Annual Membership of $40. Proposed Membership structure: Week $10, Month $20, Annual $40. After review of other clubs in CA and surrounding states. SDHGPA remains one of the least expensive while including the most sites. (Motion Passed) ​ 
Dues adjustment discussion: We’re low for clubs with actively maintained sites. Maintained sites with outhouses, groomed launches, etc, are usually much more. Suggestions to have daily fees for visiting pilots floated, but detractors pointed out that daily fees are unlikely to be paid daily without site monitors to collect. Noted that primary purpose should be compliance rather than income, to decrease risk of uninsured accidents. Steve R proposed week should be $10, month $20, year $40.

​Round-up of other Club Dues for comparison:

• Crestline/ AJ (single site): $100 annual, $10 / day,
• Symar/ Kagle (single site): $75 Annual, $40 month, $10 /Day,
• Saboba (single site): $65 Annual
• Santa Barbara: $30 Flat Annual but is also structured that all need to fly with a site guide/ instructors for + $/day (locals included even at the training hill for kitting there) and the club has very little overhead as they only carry insurance for the training hill. 
• Central Cal Dunlap/Tollhouse: $100 Y, $10 / Day
• Bay Area PA: $30 Annual + $20-40 per site sticker (fly more sites, pay more and some sites have higher overhead costs)
• Marina (one site): 30Y flat  (little to no Maint) + need to pay a State Park fee to use the site.  $195 annual pass
• Rogue Valley HGPA: $60 Annual local, visiting pilot annual $30, visiting pilot 7-day $20
• Arizona: $50 Annual, $25 M, $10 W, $5 D
• Utah HGPA: $50 Annual, $25 week, $5 day

4. Improve Palomar Launch surface to minimize line snags from exposed sharp rocks and weed snags. Motion was modified to put together a proposal looking at several alternatives from Heavy Erosion Control Matting typically used in Road Bed construction, Road Base Aggregate infill, Native GD infill. Anything installed will need to blend in with natural surroundings the majority of the year.  (Motion Passed)

​Discussion Notes: Palomar needs a DG fill on launch, to cover stubs and rocks. AstroTurf from worn football field was suggested (However, would need to be a natural color and blend in with the surroundings so recycled field turf wold likely not meet the pre approved criteria) Or Landscape Fabric (in beige/ light brown color) Or 3/4 in gravel. No carpet. All options have good examples of effective use at launches here or elsewhere, but must be acceptable to the tribe. In our Palomar Use Agreement , Artificial turf is pre-approved in concept, but would need to be in a “natural color.”   James Goodpasture (Pala Tribe Program Manager that worked on the original launch improvement project) might have leftover DG or gravel from a nearby site. Steve R will call to check on cost and delivery options/cost. Seems like using a tribal source and DG/gravel rather than artificial material like AstroTurf, carpet, or landscape fabric would decrease potential rejection by the tribe? Note: Additional Improvement project proposals beyond Site Maintenance need to be cleared through the Tribal Council. 

5. Laguna Site Intro as we have done in years past in conjunction with an XC clinic. (Motion Passed) and added to the Calendar

​7. Chapter Renewal and related application & activities need to be completed by the end of Jan to assure no gap in coverage: Risk Management / Risk Assessment for club insurance renewal. New forms required to streamline USHPA processing. Bill and Phil are going to do it. Giant cut n paste adventure, with some new items to cover. Mar 1st Insurance renewal Date, but there is a potentially long processing time upstream and Chapters are proceed on a 1st in 1st out queue so trying to complete by end of January so that we do not have a laps in coverage.

Data from the Laguna station is live and is working well

About the SDHGPA Laguna Weather Station

The Weather Station data can be viewed in several ways:

• On our SDHGPA Weather Station page under Whats Happening menu.  
• On the Laguna Site Guide Page
• On Several Holfuy.com Station interface pages : SDHGPA Laguna Station Data Page, Map Page . . .
  
• Using the Holfuy App that is available for iOS & Android 

Both the Palomar and Horse Weather Stations withstood the strong sustained winds all week Dec 4th through the 9th. This is the 1st time the stations have displayed magenta, beyond red, wind speed shadings.

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Here are some data snapshots from the Week. The above Palomar graph represents 1 hour average base wind with peak gust. You know the wind was strong from the reported 47.7 mph 1hr averaged base wind on the 7th at 10:30am.

The Palomar Station reported 50.8 mph Base Wind (15 min average) ​ with gusts to 69.4 mph at 10:18 am on 12-7-17. 

The Horse Station reported 39.7 mph Base Wind (15 min average) ​then gusts to 60.8 mph 15 min later at 8:26 am on 12-7-17. 

Note that some of the variation between the two stations is due to placement locations and less than ideal locations for reading NE winds due to being in the lee and rotor conditions. Although the sensors are different, the wind speeds were well within the operating specifications for the sensors.

Data Sheet for the Palomar LCJ CV7 Ultrasonic Wind Sensor
Data Sheet for the Horse Davis 6410 Anemometer Wind Sensor

The 2nd SDHGPA weather station of three that we have have planned this year was installed today at Horse Launch and is up and running!  

A big thank you to the efforts of Jeff Brown, David Whitehall, & Bob Barry for the Station installation!

​They fortified the old windsock mast foundation out on the front cliff line in front of launch. Then tied in the weather station mast and grounding rods to protect the station from lightning strikes.

Data from the Palomar Launch station is live and is working well!

About the SDHGPA Horse Weather Station

The Weather Station data can be viewed in several ways:

• On our SDHGPA Weather Station page under Whats Happening menu.  
• On the Horse Site Guide Page
• On Several Holfuy.com Station interface pages : SDHGPA Horse Station Data Page, Map Page . . .
• Using the Holfuy App that is available for iOS & Android 

The next weather station to be installed this year is planed for a Laguna install mid November.

On multiple occasions with this past Sunday being the most recent, pilots flying into rotor and possible venturi locations have been observed. All should be reminded that Palomar is a complex mountain site and all should review the Soaring notes of the Palomar Site Guide and also Review the Flying Effective Faces article pulled from our XC clinic talks.

​Palomar is a complex mountain site

Thanks to the efforts of many, the Palomar WX station mast has been rebuilt out of metal and planted deeper.

Due to record setting high heat and strong NE wings this past few weeks, The Palomar Weather Station mast was bent and up rooted.

The mast is sitting at a 45 degree angle and wind values are under reporting as a result reading due to the station mast being at a  from strong NE winds and high heat. Repairs will be made in the next few weeks. Wind direction is representative of true direction.

Learning along the way. . . Will be planting the mast deeper and going to a metal mast as we were planning for the next installations. Big thank you to Chris Cote and Wild Bill Davis for volunteering to do the pre work-party mast metal work.

The Great White Saguaro Cactus on Palomar Launch

Over the next several months we will be fine tuning this prototype installation design and raising the station mast to get cleaner air flow.  Once we are comfortable with the overall System, we will be using our lessons learned to install one to two additional stations at other sites this year.

Data from the Palomar Launch station is live and is working well sofar.

About the Palomar Launch Station

​Some features of this installation include: Ultrasonic wind sensor (offering higher accuracy with no moving parts calling less attention to it along with requiring less service); Lightning Strike Grounding protection; low impact & semi portable installation for relocation if required; easy serviceability without ladders or mast climbing; Ability to lower mast and have mast break away if a glider gets tangled up in it.

June 15th 2017 Meeting Agenda & Notes:

Was a small meeting mostly attended by Board Members.

Site Information and Updates - Reminder for all on Site Protocols:

• Bill Helliwell noted that essentially the entire San Felipe Valley, including the usual Banner landing area, is closed for the summer to all use, including foot traffic, and is being actively monitored.  ​The Laguna Site Guide was updated and Notice Published regarding San Felipe Valley Summer Month Closure on June 21st.
• Reminder that Use of Palomar Launched or LZs and other listed Sites as Instruction sites that includes Tandem Flight (by definition) by any commercial operator, even from Robin's or other alternate launches, is only permitted by instructors that have registered with SDHGPA and meet all SOPs.  http://www.sdhgpa.com/instruction-policies---protocol.html. A reminder and Notice was sent to Air California Adventure and its instructors on 5-2-2017 after violations of site protocols. As an USHPA Chapter, SDHGPA Flight SOPs are based on and include all USHPA SOPs, and are considered USHPA SOPs by extension. Noncompliance with those SOPs could put ratings and appointments at risk.
• In the April meeting, the Board voted and passed a motion to add Blossom back in as an additional insured site covering the Landowners and Chapter. Primary reasons are for site preservation and to cover the % of pilots the are USHPA members. This brings the Chapter to covering 6 Additional Insured Sites in addition to 62 specific managed Launch and LZ locations.

Palomar Main LZ Gate Update:
​Main LZ access on Sunday is now available to SDHGPA Club Members along with all other days.

Call for SDHGPA Weather Station Proposals: - Approved

• Elsinore and several in AZ sites have installed  "Holfuy" Weather Stations that look to be a fairly good Weather Station turn key solution.  Holfuy includes web data hosting backbone, website modules, and phone Apps with their stations that are autonomous running on 3G / GSM network and solar power. http://holfuy.com/en/shop.php   Station Specs: http://holfuy.com/en/about.php 
• Jeff Brown volunteered to work on Proposal investigations and System Designs

​Proposal to include:

1. Weather Station Design Alternatives
2. Initial costs and reoccurring costs per station and other alternatives to Holfuy stations. http://holfuy.com/en/

• • Holfuy Standard 450€  ~ $500  (Controls Hub & Solar Power box)
  • Davis 6410 sensor. 110€  ~$125  (Wind anemometer & vane)
  • or Ultrasonic sensor 490€  ~ $500
  • Humidity sensor 110€  ~ $125   (if want cloud base predictions)
  • Camera 300€  ~ $340
• System Sub total for Simple Anemometer Wind only: $768.34
• System Sub total for All up with higher end options ~ $1564.72 per station
• Other costs:

1. 1. Pole & Installation costs
   2. SIM card & Data Plan

• Finalize Station Designs

The Board voted unanimously to spend up to $2K per weather station and associated data plans and installation for two initial trail stations. The first trial stations are proposed to be at the Palomar Main Launch and Little Black.  

• Dave M will ask LB Rangers if we can put one up behind launch or below the 500 on LB, otherwise we'll investigate other alternatives for a true site ind reading.  
• For Palomar, we will scout placement locations at or before the July fly-in.
• Steve will seek permission for installation from the Pala Tribal Council ​.

​

Aug Update: After initial proof of concept install at Palomar, the Board decided to approve a 3rd station for installation this year under the 2017 budget and the first 3 Stations would be installed at Palomar, Horse, & Laguna as being sites that are undeserved by current weather stations and being lease susceptible to being vandalized. 

Example ​Holfuy stations and web module samples:

Accident Awareness & Prime Season is here.
Reminder to follow USHPA Pilot Proficiency SOPs for flight condition parameters per rating level. - Midday flying should be reserved for advanced pilots only at all Mt sites off of the coast.​  

Recent Accident reports were also reviewed.  Without getting into details for two recent accidents at our San Diego and other US sites, some things all pilots should be reminded of when flying home sites or abroad in another country: 

• Flying mid-day during peak heating should be reserved for advanced pilots at inland sites.
• Fly within recommended operating parameters in Site Guides/ Protocols and USHPA Pilot Proficiency ​​System​ Pilot Proficiency Ratings.
• Always fly with local pilots. If they are not flying, there might be a reason. 
• Seek the advice of local pilots for weather and site introductions for each day based on weather conditions. 
• Seek out and join Local Clubs and utilize those clubs resources for site guides and other information available regarding sites. 
• When traveling as well as at your home sites, make sure you have insurance that covers you when and where you are. 

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Fly-in Planning:

Traditionally there is no scheduled SDHGPA Meeting in July.  The Aug Meeting time slot has too many conflicts for Board Members and will be canceled.  The Next Scheduled SDHGPA meeting will be in September on the 21st. Follow the SDHGPA Calendar for updates.