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Meeting Minutes, News, & Articles

Radio Etiquette

8/5/2024

1 Comment

 
Updated Radio Etiquette slide from 5-2023 talk and prior XC talks is a good reminder for Site Flying and XC pilots:

Site and XC Flying Radio Use 101
​- The Basics -

General Radio Use Guidelines:
  • If site flying: Use low power settings
  • Keep it short and to the point with useful information: Think about what you want to say, then then broadcast your useful information.
  • Realize that your broadcast was probably heard, but other pilots were probably busy thermalling or your broadcast did not warrant a response. 
  • If you hear a transmission, and you are at altitude or on the ground and it is convenient for you to do so: it is helpful and reaffirming to repeat a message. This helps to relay transmissions acting as a repeater for transmissions that may not have line of sight. i.e. if a driver or transmitter is in a canyon or out of transmission range on the ground.
  • Once you have landed, keep your radio on and nearby until all pilots are and vehicles are retrieved and accounted for.
​
General What Not to Do:
  • Do not Chat it up: Realize that if you are chatting it up waxing poetically your excitement to be flying, you may be blocking other critical transmissions up to 50 miles away or distracting those trying to focus on their varios in maybe a critical location.
  • Do not use up airwave time by asking for someone by name only or broadcasting non information such as "can you hear me" with no other content.​​





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What to and When to Transmit:
Keep radio transitions short and useful to the point info:
  • Who: “This is “Pilot Name”
  • What: Who, what, where, other (conditions . . . that would be useful to others in route or in fight)
  • When: On transitions, getting low, back up, gaggle flying decision points, relaying/ rebroadcasting info from pilots that are low or that have landed out and may not have line of sight signal strength.
  • Where/ Location: “Location & Altitude” Learn and use common way-point names, and roads. Note that multiple Sites can here the transmissions and is good to know what LZ or launch you are reporting conditions for.
  • WX & Other : (conditions . . . that would be useful to others in route) (short Gaggle coordination)
Examples of good radio transitions:
  • ​“This is Pilot Y Landed Safe in Palomar LZ, LZ is active and winds SW @ 5-12.
  • “This is “Pilot X”, 9K at Granite, Going on glide to Vulcan, Winds SE @ 10”  “Pilot Z What's your 20”
  • “This is “Pilot Z”, Low, 1K over Earthquake Valley, may be landing, Winds East @ 10”
  • “This is “Pilot Z”, Back in game, Thermaling 7K over Scissors Crossing, Winds SE @ 2 in convergence line”
  • “This is “Pilot Y”, Setting up to land in Wash, Winds SE @ 10”
  • “This is “Pilot Y”, Landed Safe in Wash, Winds SE @ 5”
  • “This is “Pilot X”, 10K over Banner in convergence line, on glide to Vulcan;  “Pilot Y Landed Safe in Wash, Wash winds SE @ 5 will need retrieve”

Slide for Printing:
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1 Comment

APRIL 2020 - club meeting

4/18/2020

1 Comment

 
Watch Meeting Video - In Members Section
Current/Topical Issues
Steve Prairie’s reserve toss on YouTube
“Potty mouth pilots flying to Borrego Springs”
STRUCTURE OF THE MEETING
1) Buying Blossom - But First… Club Unity
Share the passion for free flight

The role of the club: Support Free Flight in San Diego
-site access & preservation
-public relations
-maintaining reasonable insurance practices

What do you, as a member, want out of the club?  

Before you answer that, remember that we’ve got 5-8 Board and key volunteers people supporting about 200. What would allow us to do more is for more members to step up and make a positive difference to help carry the torch.

Rather than purchasing and retaining Blossom ownership, we would likely work with the City, County, or other Agency to develop an Open-space Park with Recreational Access.
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2) COVID19, Where do you stand and why?
Two sides are:
  1. I got into free flight to be free, flying isn’t any riskier than it was, COVID isn’t really swamping our hospitals, I need to maintain currency in order to be safe.
  2. It seems reasonable to hold off on flying in order to give the healthcare system plenty of leeway.  While COVID may turn out to be less scary than it first appeared, I’m happy to sit out from flying for a weeks in order to be safe.
​
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3) XC routes from Palomar
Check the files on the website
Be patient
Spine to spine jumping
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Notes taken:

Elsinore Site Guide, Bill Soderquist
-About a dozen locals fly it
-Been landing over by O’Hara’s (terrible place to land if it starts to blow down)
-Mostly top land in cleared areas (via chop and controlled burns)
-The bank may own it, caretaker usually is the only one to come out and interact.

Sites we know are open:
  • Palomar - watch out for drilling rigs, look for new parking lot area, walk Palomar before you fly the site.: via Bill H: well pipe, about a 1’ in diameter and 4’ high, requesting that we land to the NW side of the building where HG typically land.  Need to update site guide regarding LZs
  • Blossom  - keep it Chill
  • Laguna is open if flying the Cliff Launch, but we do not have an Active permit for the State Park and the Upper Launch being in the State Park is technically Closed due to COVID-19 .  The ABSP haven’t cashed the check paying for our permit. The Earthquake Valley LZ is also closed (being in the State Park. All entrances to Anza-Borrego (Earthquake Valley) have been fenced off with tape.  Nothing has been put on our gate at the upper launch.  Rangers unlikely to be cool about us going to the upper launch.
  • Otay is probably open
Site that we know are Closed:
  • Horse closed
  • Little Black closed die to being in a City Park
  • Big Black closed

Time to Adjust those flight clocks Forward & adjust flight time of Day

Spring is Here! - Reminder:
​Hey guys just wanted to reinforce to everyone that spring /early summer conditions are upon us.

​We've had a handful incidences / accidents in the past week (I am sure everyone has seen Prairie's video) and this is indicative of the stronger conditions(in terms of turbulence and wind).

​It is highly encouraged that only experienced mountain pilots fly midday this time of year. New and intermediate pilots should think about flying later in the afternoon. We have amazing glass-off conditions here in San Diego! Fly smart and stay safe!

- Chris Ottmar SDHGPA Safety Director
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Steve Prairie's Reserve Toss Video


Next Month's Proposed Topics:
Sailplane pilot present to us on their lines.
Reserve aging (when should you replace it?)
1 Comment

PG/HG Medical Emergency Discussion 2019

2/15/2019

0 Comments

 
​What do you do when someone hits the ground hard? Look, I know you're not a medical professional, but if you're flying you should have a basic idea of what to do in a medical emergency.
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What's your weather flow?

2/2/2019

3 Comments

 
People of the sky, let’s talk about weather!  More specifically, how do YOU look at the local flying forecast?  What sites do you go to, what do you look for on them, and how often do you check?

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3 Comments

SDHGPA XC contest 2019

1/18/2019

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The SDHGPA 2018-2019 Season XC Contest pages have been set up for the year and ready to list & score flights for the season.

Looks like Brad is in the current leader position for this year, but hold onto your seat boards as we are just two months in and the prime season is yet to begin. 
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You don't need to be a contest leader to join in on the fun. The Shirt Awards are for individual achievements and . . .  it is never too late to join in!

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Understanding USA Airspace for Paraglider, Hang Glider pilots

11/20/2018

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This is a great overview of how Airspace effects us as HG & PG pilots:

Understanding USA Airspace for Paraglider, Hang Glider and Ultralight pilots
A big thank you to Ty Gunnlaugsson out of Colorado for putting this together!

0 Comments

Classic Elsinore Convergence Day

10/18/2018

1 Comment

 
Elsinore convergence animation / slideshow hr by hr
From XC Skys on a classic day 9-27-18 starting at 9 am till 6 pm.
Watch how the day develops and progresses. The colors are showing top of usable lift and the scale is on the upper right. From blue to green then yellow are the higher altitudes. 

Note that the Eastern side of the Santa Ana Mts / Santiago Saddleback coastal range (that block & hold back the westerly winds and also referred to the E's Back Range) typically develop 1st before the flats heat up to be workable. Many times, it becomes a patience & waiting game while trying to hold onto altitude before crossing over into the flats.  A lot of times, it is beneficial to hold onto the Back Range until the West pushes through. Once the west pushes through, it is time to go with it and try to stay slightly ahead of it as a tail wind, as the cooler west diminishes the Back Range's productivity, and the Flats turn on.

Elsinore Air Space Notes:
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1 Comment

Palomar Safety Bulletin

10/14/2017

0 Comments

 
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

Fly effective faces that are perpendicular to the prevailing wind conditions. Note that on light and variable wind pure thermal days, the effective faces can be constantly changing and influenced by thermal activity.  i.e. If the prevailing winds are west, trying to ridge fly the big south face or into the canyons will not be productive and can be turbulent. See Article on Flying Effective Faces and scroll through Palomar examples for different wind directions. Also Note that winds and effective faces will shift to thermal activity and geographic location / topography influences.
Do not fly into the canyons at or below ridge-lines down wind/ in the lee of effective faces. Note that effective faces and thermaling / soaring envelopes (out of rotor zones) typically extend up at the same slope as the effective face. 

​Canyon crossings should be made only with enough altitude to be able to fly from spine to spine arriving at the next spine with altitude clearance or to an effective face clear of rotor zones.
Do not attempt to ridge soar deep in the canyons of Pauma / Lion Creek below 6K, there are no lading options and are known venturi locations.  ​
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Thermaling / soaring envelopes typically extend at Slope of Face (out of rotor zones)
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Do not fly into the canyons at or below ridge-lines or cross deep below 6K
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SDHGPA on Thermaling Etiquette

4/20/2015

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Thermaling Etiquette:
(4-20-15 update)
Consensus from an SDHGPA discussion on the topic (1-15-14) & (4-16-15):
(Well, these are the things that came closest to consensus. Maybe that was too high a bar.)

1)     Keep in mind that different aircraft and different configurations have different blind spots, and act accordingly 
  • Hang gliders cannot see above them or behind them
  • Seated paraglider pilots cannot see directly below them or behind them
  • Supine paraglider pilots (pod pylons) cannot see below them
  • Tandem paraglider pilots cannot see directly in front of them, behind them, or below them

2)     Fly in a consistent and predictable manner, such that other pilots can predict your position and flight vector (don’t randomly change direction, speed, or bank angle, especially in close proximity!).

3)     Communicate with other pilots. Wave, make some noise, and use eye contact to confirm that nearby pilots are aware of you. If nearby pilots are not aware of you or cannot see you, act accordingly (give them the right of way). Continually spot and make eye contact with those you are thermaling with. (Do not fly around looking at your wing).

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4)     Fly into thermals from the edge / tangent, turning the same way as other pilots already in the thermal. If you are entering a thermal, yield right of way to pilots already in the thermal. If entering may cause issues, wait to enter until there is a gap.

5)     If in a thermal with other pilots, attempt to match their direction and 360 rate/ angular velocity (don’t cut others off by increasing your bank and moving inside of them in the thermal). 

6)     Mixed wings and mixed wing classes / ratings with different air speeds can effectively fly and center up on the same thermal by keeping the same turn angular velocity. This is achieved by varying each gliders turn radius while visually spotting each other. Slower gliders will be in a smaller radius while faster gliders will be on the outside. If you feel like other gliders are flying faster and running up on you, try to turn tighter while centering up on the thermal. (Another possibility is that you are just flying too slowly.)

7)     If in a thermal with other pilots and you feel pressed for space or wish to follow an irregular pattern in the thermal, turn out of the thermal (away from the core and the path of other pilots in the thermal, not through the thermal and the paths of others). If leaving a thermal, you must clear your turn and time your exit to not interfere with other possibly faster gliders in the thermal. 

8)     When ridge soaring or entering a thermal, yield right of way to those already established in the thermal (generally yield right of way to those making the tightest turns). Do not fly straight through the thermal. (The sound of loud expletives is a good indication that you are doing this without realizing it.)

9)     If another pilot is coming up below you in a thermal (especially a pilot in a hang glider, who may not be able to see you above them), yield right of way and let them pass. Conversely, if you are rapidly approaching another pilot from below in a thermal (especially a pilot in a paraglider who may not be able to see you below them), yield right of way.

10)     In general, if you are overtaking someone else, you must yield right of way and not force them towards obstacles, other gliders, etc. . . . i.e. If they can’t see you.

11)     Watch where you are going. Clear your turns. Do not fly around looking at your wing. Watch shadows (handy way to tell if anyone is close to you, even in your blind spot). And listen – if you have the “jams” cranking in your headset, you won’t be able to hear other pilots warn you of impending collisions.

11)     (A personal addition from Dave M) – Realize that tandem paragliders are especially subject to blind spots, as our passengers are directly blocking our forward view and all views below and to the front of us.
For a Printable Older Version of this article See: 
ThERMALING ETIQUETTE - Print File
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Effective Ridge Lift Flying - MOUNTAIN Sites

3/27/2015

3 Comments

 
Understating of this topic will not only lead to a pilots ability to maximize the soaring lift potential of our sites, but also lead to safer flights.

We are continuing to see many pilots flying in inappropriate locations to prevailing conditions at our more complex non simple ridge sites like Little Black and Palomar to name a few. All Pilots need to constantly evaluate wind directions & shifts to perpendicular faces. Do not fly Mt sites by rote.

This material is re-posted from our Members Only section 2015 Thermal and XC Clinic Talks , but is so important to making better safer pilots; we are repeating it here in our open blog section. 

Finding lift in all the right places: (Effective Ridge Lift & Thermal Flight)
Some Basic to Complex Ridgelift Therey
(Images from Dennis Pagen's "Understanding The Sky" & "Art of Paragliding")
  • Steeper Slopes Produce more lift
  • Shallow slopes produce weaker lift
  • Lift strength drastically falls off when not perpendicular to slope
  • Wind will wraparound mountains and features reducing lift
  • Effective soaring face on small features are even smaller
Mt Condition Cautions
  • Be cautious of Rotor conditions
  • Up-slope winds are not always truly upslope winds

Putting Therey in to practice

Effective Ridge Lift Faces will greatly vary depending on wind direction. 
  • Do not fly Mt sites by rote. 
  • Constantly evaluate wind directions & shifts to perpendicular faces.
  • Constantly evaluate rotor and wind shadows to wind direction shifts.
  • Make your 1st pass along a face into the wind if slightly cross to maximize lift height away from terrain. 
Palomar Example: Showing effective soaring faces and sensitivity to wind shifts.  
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(United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association)
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