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

EL CAP WEATHER STATION

4/25/2019

Many of us who fly the San Diego area could use a weather station at "The Cap". The Cap sticks up higher into the airflow than launch at Blossom, and a weather station there would help us make better calls on XC days as well as safety calls on those North-y days. Here's what you can do to help make an El Cap Weather Station a reality...

Laguna WX Station DOWN FOR MAINTENANCE

4/30/2018

The SDHGPA Laguna WX Station has been having issues and may be reporting incorrect or sporadic data for the next few weeks as we pull it down for maintenance, install new firmware and testing back in town. Will put out a notice when it is back up.

New Laguna WX Station

12/18/2017

The 3rd SDHGPA weather station of three planned for 2017 was installed at Laguna on 12-16-17 and is up and running!

A Big Thank You!, Goes out to efforts of those that braved the elements for the installation work over two days. When the station went Live, it was reporting 37 F with gusting winds to 17 mph. On the 16th, it started to snow in the Lagunas shortly after installation.

Expected Readings & Location: The Laguna station location was chosen to represent the general base wind at the Upper Launch and indicate West blow down and shear that would result when the Face may still be blowing up. This location will under report the vertical component of actual winds coming up the Face at the Cliff Launch and house thermal out in front of the Upper launch.

Laguna WX Station looking North to Granite Mountain

Data from the Laguna station is live and is working well

About the SDHGPA Laguna Weather Station

For this 3rd station, we chose the Ultrasonic wind sensor like at Palomar for less maintenance and more obscurity due to no moving parts. The rest of the system is similar to the Palomar and Horse stations that are also solar powered and send data over a cellular network connection. Data is then sent to the Holfuy Data hosting site and WEB based data visualization.

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

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

December 2017 Santa Ana Winds

12/15/2017

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.

Palomar 5 day graph Dec 3rd - 8th (1hr Average with peak)

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.

Palomar max reported Base Wind 50.8 & Gusting to 69.4 (15 min Average) (1 day graph zoom on 12-7-17).

Horse max reported Base Wind 39.7 & Gusting to 60.8 (15 min Average) (1 day graph zoom 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

New SDHGPA Horse Weather Station

10/18/2017

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

For this 2nd station, we chose a more traditional Davis anemometer wind sensor to save on costs in that it is a bit hard to get to. The rest of the system is similar to the Palomar station. The Horse Station is also solar powered with an appropriately sized battery pack and sends data over a cellular network connection. Data is then sent to the Holfuy Data hosting site and WEB based data visualization.

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

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.

Palomar WX Station - Standing Strong

10/9/2017

Palomar Launch Wind values are reporting correctly again!!!

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

Big thank you to Chris Cote, Bob Barry, and Jeff Brown for the primary pre work & coordination efforts along with all the crew that helped get the station back to standing tall!

Palomar WX Station Wind & Heat damage

9/10/2017

Wind values are under reporting until repairs can be made

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.

We will call a work party for the Palomar Launch in the next few weeks to work on the weather station & finish mowing areas of launch & the LZs.

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.

Palomar WX Station rev2

8/20/2017

Palomar Launch Weather Station Stands Tall Dressed in Blue

The Palomar Launch weather station mast has been raised by 10ft to now stand at ~ 23ft tall. The wind sensor is now orientated to the west for less potential mast turbulence. With these modifications, the station should now have a more true wind speed and direction readings. As a finishing touch, the mast has been painted to a sky blue color to blend in a bit better.

For More detailed information on the station, see Related Post: http://www.sdhgpa.com/minutes-news--articles/sdhgpa-weather-stations-update

Before - White Saguaro Cactus proof of concept mast

After - Taller blue mast with sensor oriented into prevailing wind direction

SDHGPA Weather Stations Update

8/8/2017

The Great White Saguaro Cactus on Palomar Launch

The 1st SDHGPA weather station of several that we have have planned was installed yesterday at the Palomar Main Launch and is up and running!

Installation was after a period of testing at Jeff's House so that we could work out the details of set-up and plan for what would be required for installation. We also took this time to layout out Web module interfaces.

What is that white saguaro cactus doing at the Main 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.

Palomar Launch
(Live - updates every 2 min)

About the Palomar Launch Station

The station is solar powered with an appropriately sized battery pack and sends data over a cellular network connection. For this 1st station, we chose an ultrasonic wind sensor that has no moving parts. Data is then sent to the Holfuy Data hosting site and WEB based data visualization.

The Weather Station data can be viewed in several ways:

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

Solar powered cell based system with ultrasonic wind sensor

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.

A big thank you goes out to Jeff Brown & Bob Barry for taking the time out getting all this work done on the station!

Enjoy!

P.S. Don't mess with it !! If you think it needs adjustment or gets hit by a glider, please contact Jeff Brown or Steve Rohrbaugh.

Thanks.

SDHGPA Meeting Notes - June 2017

6/22/2017

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.

Lock with SDHGPA Gate Code has been added the Main LZ Gate
Use is to be treated as we do with all other gates: open and close behind on Sundays.
If Gate is open when we arrive any other day of the week, we may leave the gate open and unlocked.
Last person out should lock the gate on all 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:

Weather Station Design Alternatives
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. 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:

Elsinore Holfuy anemometer style station

Holfuy Ultrasonic style with web cam station

Holfuy Ultrasonic style with web cam station

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.

Fly-in Planning:

Summer fly-in 2017:

Summer SDHGPA Fly-in will be July 8th at Palomar, targeting evening glass-off.
Midday flying not recommended!
Alternate WX fall back date of July 22nd
Steve will work on Pala Tribal Council Approval

Fall Halloween fly-in at Horse Canyon is Tentatively scheduled for October 28th

Summer Fly-in & Palomar 2015

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.