SDHGPA Meeting Minutes, News & Articles Blog - San Diego Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association

Palomar reopened for Weekday flying

7/17/2019

Palomar has been reopened for Weekday flying starting 7-16-19.

However, there are new Protocols worked out with the Pala Roberts Ranch for checking in and out with the Ranch office and Tribal Security along with a few other protocol updates.

Make SURE all Pilots read the full updated Palomar site guide!

Key updates and those not followed 100% in the past few months:

All SDHGPA Membership Status must be checked for complete application and waiver submission.
Weekdays Monday – Friday (now reopened): Each person accessing the Site must log-in and log-out with the Ranch Office. Check in with the Ranch Office Manager (Clarissa). If the Ranch Office is closed when checking in or out, call Pala Tribal Security Dispatch (760) 742-0548 with names, USHPA #, and license plates of each vehicle.
Weekends: Each person accessing the Site must be logged-in and logged-out through the Pala Tribal Security Dispatch by calling (760) 742-0548 prior to accessing and leaving the site. (Carpooling or groups of pilots can call in with names, USHPA #, and license plates of each vehicle, but each pilot is responsible for making sure that they have been checked-in and out). On Saturdays if ranch hands are present, introduce yourself.
All Vehicles must display current SDHGPA vehicle ID/ gate pass. This includes All Vehicles accessing the site: driving through, parked, or unloading / shuttling pilots from LZs to Launch. This also helps to account for all pilots at the end of the day.
Parking in Main LZ: All vehicles must park south/west of building. Click on adjoining image for a visual guide. Do NOT park in front of roll-up doors, shade structure, any gates, or driveways. (Vehicles can load HGs from the LZ tear-down area but cannot be left unattended.)
All Pilot trash should be packed out - Do Not use the Ranch dumpsters.
If leaving a cooler or other equipment in LZ, tape a spare membership card to the items so that it can be identified as having a reason to be there. Otherwise, nothing can be left in the LZ unattended.

Park South/ West of the Office Building in the Main LZ even if just pulling up for a short time.

NEW LAGUNA PROTOCOL - JUNE 2019

6/7/2019

Flying Laguna? There's a new protocol. More to follow, but the short version is this:

We need to Text Bill Helliwell with the number of pilots launching from the Upper launch as soon as it is known.
Also need to Text Bill Helliwell with the number of pilots landing at the Earthquake Valley LZ, the number could be zero.

As soon as it is known how many are going to take off from the upper launch, send a text to Bill Helliwell (his area code is 760, then dial 500 followed by 1265) with the number of pilots. Sorry for the robot avoidance attempt.

Bill will text the park ranger Point of Contact. Also As soon as it is known how many pilots are landing at the Earthquake Valley LZ (the number could be zero) send another text to Bill Helliwell.

For all Site Protocols and information, see the full Laguna Site Guide.

Gate Codes change May 2019

5/9/2019

Notice: Palomar Gate Codes have changed to the 2019 Combo & The Laguna Codes will change by the end of May.

All Gate Codes are available in the Member Only Section

2019 Gate code for Laguna and Palomar gates is: XXXX

Palomar reopened for Weekend flying

4/27/2019

Palomar has been reopened for Weekend flying starting 4-27-19.

However, there are new Protocols worked out with the Pala Roberts Ranch for checking in and out with Tribal Security and a few other protocol updates. Make SURE you read this!

PALOMAR, XC, AND THE RULES

4/22/2019

MEETING MINUTES FROM CLUB MEETING 4/18

What's going on with Palomar? Is it really closing for good? What can we do about it? Also, XC for new pilots, Q&A with salty dogs.

Palomar LZ HAZARD

4/21/2019

San Diego Sky People!

UPDATE: Palomar closed to pilots on week days M-F until further notice. This is due to the power pole project and recent site issues with pilots & non-pilots not following rules. We'll keep you updated regarding when this site will re-open for free flight.

SDG&E is using the Palomar LZ as a staging area for its power pole replacement project. This project will be staging massive pilot-impaling ankle-rolling leg-snapping wing 'n line catching telephone poles in the Palomar Main LZ through May 8th.

Annual 2019 SDHGPA Membership Renewal is now open

12/10/2018

SDHGPA Annual 2019 Membership Renewal is open for the 2019 Calendar Year!

Now is the Time to renew as All 2018 memberships expire on Dec 31st.

If you have not renewed for the 2019 calendar year, please renew at:
https://www.sdhgpa.com/join-sdhgpa.html to continue all of your great membership benefits without a gap into the new year.

GATE CODES CHANGING - 2019

12/10/2018

Notice: Palomar & Laguna Gate Codes will be changing to the 2019 Combo by the end of January.

All Gate Codes are available in the Member Only Section

2019 Gate code for Laguna and Palomar gates is: XXXX (will be updated mid Jan)

Reminder: All 2018 Annual (calendar year) memberships expire on Dec 31st.

For 2019 Site & Gate access: Join or Renew SDHGPA Membership if you have not already done so for the 2019 calendar year.

Site Gate Codes are only provided to Annual Members after Membership Verification and may take several weeks to process. If you desire immediate site gate access, Please Fly with current local active Annual Member Pilots for site access and site briefings. Visiting pilots can only gain gate access with a Full Member guide present.
Annual Members will receive a separate email after verification on how to access the Member Only section of the website and receive current gate codes.

Plus you get all the other great SDHGPA membership benefits:

Site & gate access to the following sites:
- Palomar
- Laguna
- Big Black
- Little Black
- Horse
Site Guide & News Updates
SDHGPA Weather Stations with accurate current conditions at your favorite sites (more being added each year)
Quarterly Fly-ins

Great Meeting Topics & clinics throughout the year

Access to the Member Only section of the Website
- Local Pilot Roster & Contact Directory
- XC maps & way point files
- Master SDHGPA Google Earth Site Guide file
- Meeting notes & presentation materials
- Membership Card & Parking Pass re-printing
Helping to protect The Sites & Landowners by carrying Site Landowners as Additional Insured to the USHPA policies for the following sites: Palomar, Laguna, Big Black, Little Black, Horse, Blossom.
Site Maintenance for all of the above sites (depending on permissions negotiated) that includes Windsocks, Outhouses at Palomar Launch & LZ, Mowing, & other launch & LZ surface maintenance from erosion & other.

You can check Current Membership Status under the Membership menu.

Palomar Site Guide Update

11/8/2018

The Palomar Site Guide has been updated to highlight some Protocols that are being overlooked.

Specifically to: Check in with the Ranch Office Manager (Clarissa) Monday - Friday (& Saturday if ranch hands are present) and introduce your self.

Also, Please pack up before dark: SDHGPA access has been granted for Day Use only. Do not linger in the LZ past dark unless we have specific permission to do so for an event. If the security flood lights trigger on, that is the time to be heading out. (after dusk, head over to El Rey for post flight socializing)

October Update & 2018 in review

10/20/2018

San Diego Free Flyers, we’ve got a bunch to catch up on! 

Year in Review

It’s been a rad year of learning for me. I spent most of this last year flying Blossom with the intent to build my basic XC skills of thermal flying and mini-XC legs over to the Cap & back.

The good news is that Blossom is still as technical and and fun and challenging/dangerous as it ever was, the better news is that I’m still in one piece to be able to enjoy it thanks to a bit of luck and a lot of guidance from the local pilot community.

Article by Nik Hawks

I should probably start naming names: Bill Davis was the one who saw the opportunity to shove me into a thermal over at Little Black, and I’ll probably always remember his super simple and intensely shared advice over the radio: “Keep turning, ya knucklehead!”

As funny as it sounds, that’s really all you need to get started with thermalling, although that’s just the start of the invisible elevator game.

Chris Cote spent lots of time at Blossom with me going over what he looks for and how he understands the sky from the ground and from the riser-feel once he’s skyward. It’s always nice to get the perspective of someone who has put in a ton of time in a very short period (and who holds more than one of the local site records.)

Ivan Guajardo was also more patient than he needed to be when it came to talking through the first steps of Blossom and the crossing to El Capitan, and Mike Dowdall has been about the most generous and encouraging pilot I’ve met on launch.

Yes, Phil Russman was there barking his occasional gems of wisdom, Paton always drops the technical flying info-bombs, and before he got sucked into buying a house, Robert Michiels was a fairly constant wingman.

I got to enjoy the glory of a hike with Dave Metzgar and hear his gravelly version of what’s right and wrong in the world of paragliding, which is one of those experiences that just makes you want to hear more.

On a few car rides to club meetings or out to Horse with Josh Gelb I got an exceptional and interesting view into club history, including many lines that are rarely flown now and the genesis of the Palomar launch.

Blossom Update

Speaking of launches and sites, the big news right now (end of October) is the fight to keep Blossom free of the massive El Monte Valley Sand Mine project. If you’d like to help (and you bloody well should pitch in on this one), cruise over to the Google doc

https://docs.google.com/document/d/13U-JA09VjHxhQSNhghwpAge0b3XXZeCv2S2l5mBL4kg/edit?usp=sharing

Will you pitch in to help maintain this beauty?

This view may be forever changed if the proposed sand mine goes in, with impacts ranging from lowered visibility, Valley Fever exposure (no joke, I have several friends who got this NON-CURABLE disease), environmental damage, and up to 170 trucks per day on that tiny little road snaking through the middle of the valley.

Here's what you can do to help. Yes, it involves reading & writing. You can do this!

Hit the link above and send in a written statement to the listed contacts prior to the Oct 25th meeting and submit it to the county planning commission.

Sunset Gliding at Blossom may change forever

Rough project outline that will be part of the proposed sand mining operation in relation to Flying Blossom. Essentially the entire wash area will be the sand mine.

Proposed Project Map from the last EIR presentation

Why SDHGPA & Why it Maters

Finally, an exhortation to those of you who either haven’t renewed your membership yet OR who are new and wondering what a membership actually gets you.

One of the reasons San Diego is such an excellent and reliable place to fly is that we lean heavily on just a few people to do all the paperwork and admin “stuff” to keep our sites open.

Access to Horse, the permission to fly Palomar, the ability to put up weather stations, keeping sites maintained, the website itself, and keeping us an insured & recognized club in good standing with USPHA is frankly a huge PITA.

There are two ways to contribute, one is easy, one is hard.

The easy way is to take the money you’d spend on your sweetie for a cheap dinner once a year and pay your membership dues. That’s a one-time action that allows the 4 or 5 people who do 98% of the volunteer work that keeps San Diego such a great flying area to keep on slaving away on our behalf.

Oh, and if you find anything other than a cheap dinner in San Diego for under $40, let me know!

The hard way is to volunteer to actually do all that paperwork, and there is a TON!

While I’d encourage you to volunteer, it’s far easier and also pretty effective to just pay your dues. We’ve got about 100 pilots who haven’t renewed yet, which represents a good chunk of our yearly income as a club. If you fly any more than 3 times a year it’s basically a no-brainer to continue supporting.

Finally, if you’re new and thinking about joining SDHGPA, please do!

Most club members are happy to chat with you and share as much as we know, along with introducing you to potential flying buddies and mentors. You can eat $40 worth of tacos at any one of our fly-ins, so if you’re a hungry pilot, think of coming to multiple fly-ins as basically being paid to fly and eat.

At $40 per year for a full annual membership, this is about the most valuable spend you’ll make this year. Ping us with any questions, and see ya in the sky!

Cheers,
Nik Hawks