Site Guidelines

ELINGS FLIGHT PARK

Hang gliding and paragliding activities are permitted only when at least one instructor from any of the local flight schools is present. Eling’s is a private park, and the park will call the sheriff and press charges if anyone kite’s or flies their glider when no instructor is present. The parks liability exposure is very high with no formal supervision.

All those engaged in hang gliding and paragliding activities must:

• Check-in with an on site instructor. Show current proof of USHPA rating, payment of training hill fees, and have completed the waiver.
• Fees are: $10.00/day, $50.00/month or $100.00/calendar year. You can pro rate the current year by paying for the following year.
• Wear a helmet anytime they are attached to their hang glider/paraglider.
• Assist the instructors in assuring that all other park visitors comply with all park rules.

Approval for all activities must be obtained daily from an instructor prior to hang gliding and paragliding activity. This includes ground handling (kiting).

Eling’s Flight Park is private property, and only the approved flights schools have access to instruct and coach students and certified pilots. Pilots of any rating are only able to receive coaching or instruction of any kind from the Elings Flight Park approved flight schools.  All paragliding schools and instructors must have approval before using the Elings Park Training Hill for instruction. Call Eagle Paragliding (805-968-0980) for details.

Student pilots with less than novice hang gliding rating (H2) or novice paragliding rating (P2) must have direct supervision by their USHPA certified, Eling’s Park Flight Park approved, instructor.

A safe physical distance must always be maintained between moving gliders, people, and/or vehicles. Paragliding and hang gliding pilots have the right of way over RC gliders.

Vehicles are not allowed in landing or launching area – they are to remain on the roads or designated parking areas at all times.

All hang gliding and paragliding activities must be in compliance with USHPA hang gliding and paragliding pilot rating and instructor certification programs, and FAR 103.

Each park user is responsible for upholding the best interests of the flight park. Any inappropriate or unsafe conduct (as deemed by any instructor or USHPA certified pilot) may result in a temporary or permanent ban from Elings Flight Park.

MORE MESA

The Santa Barbara Soaring Association Directors along with local flight instructors have established guidelines for flying More Mesa.

Guidelines:

1. No flying EAST of launch at any time.
2. No flying over any properties at any time. Stay over the ocean side of the cliffs edge.
3. No flying near a property when an animals are being agitated. Turn around and fly where this is not an issue.
4. No flying near property when there are people (excluding gardeners) present.
5. No making verbal or visual contact with anyone on properties at any time.
6. No pictures or videos which include any portion of a persons property. Best to not fly with or use any camera equipment here.
7. No looking at any properties even if no person is present since residents have felt violated even looking out their windows

These guidelines were established due to incidents that threatened foot-launched flying in this area.

These incidents include:

• Pilots flying without the Santa Barbara Airport Tower being notified prior to flight.
• Mishaps involving pilots with limited experience that have resulted in injuries and/or the need to call on County rescue services.

All pilots must have a site specific briefing by a local site guide prior to flying any local launch for the first time, or if considerable time has passed since your last orientation to the site. Contact Eagle Paragliding to organize a site specific briefing.

Before flying More Mesa, all pilots must contact a Local Site Guide and ask the guide to call the SBA Tower for permission to fly within this Tower regulated air space.

All Pilots must confirm that the SBA Tower has been notified of flight plan by getting confirmation from the site guide that the tower has been called. Confirmation can also be established by tuning into 132.650 or calling 805.967.0283 and listening for the ATIS that refers to gliders flying in the More Mesa bluffs area.

Student pilots are restricted from flying More Mesa without a local instructor’s direct supervision.

Students and novice pilots are restricted from flying east of the undeveloped More Mesa area.

All pilots should respect the privacy of homeowners on the bluffs.

Every pilot will attempt to maintain at all times a flying position not further inland than the beachside of the top of the cliff-face.

Pilots shall not:

• Loiter when flying in front of any property longer than it takes to traverse in front of that property in a timely manner.
• Needlessly fly in an area that will get resident dogs barking.
• Photograph or video any residents or properties along the bluffs.

Please pay particular attention to the estates east of the launch area, specifically where the cabaña is on the beach.

These Property owners have experienced privacy incursions because their properties are on the most soarable area of the bluffs. If the conditions are such that the only soarable area of the bluffs is at this location, pilots wishing to have a soaring flight should not fly until conditions improve.

Flights originating from the Douglas Family Preserve (Wilcox) that go west past the gap at Arroyo Burro Beach (Hendry’s) are bound by all of the guidelines above.

 WILCOX-DOUGLAS FAMILY PRESERVE

This site is limited to pilots with at least a H4 and P4 USHPA Rating, or H3 or P3 pilots that have obtained signed authorization from a local Advanced USHPA Instructor.

No flying allowed beyond trees east of launch.

Pilots cannot land their hang glider or paraglider west of the slough that is east of the Boathouse Restaurant.

EAST BEACH

LANDING ZONE – H4/P4

All landings occur on the ocean side of the bike path. Land on the sand. Do not land so that any part of your hang glider, paraglider, or body is on or over the ice plant, bike path or grass. Walk (don’t kite) your glider from the sand to the grass to pack up.

Use the new area after April 16 2004—not the old area at near the Clark Estate.

Chose an approach and touch down spot far enough away from all other users to avoid conflict or the perception that there could be conflict.

Be aware of all kiting activity and potential pull-ups, and land at a reasonable distance away. If necessary, politely announce your intention to land to people who may be kiting before you make your final approach.

Pilots shall not:

• Approach over grounded wing lines when a pull-up is possible
• Approach over the bike path
• Fold up on the jogging path
• Leave any glider unattended unless it is secured so that the wind cannot relocate it and make sure the wires/lines are stowed away from unaware kids
• Land at this site unless if you are an advanced rated pilot (H4/P4) and current member of the USHPA.
• Kite or ground handle at this site unless you are an intermediate rated pilot and a current member of the USHPA

Do not go on glide for the beach unless you are sure that you will arrive over the LZ with at least 500 feet AGL. Do not squeak in low! When in doubt, turn back (early) and land at a predetermined bailout LZ.

If the entire designated landing area is too busy for a safe landing and areas outside the boundaries are open, land outside of the boundary.

When carrying a glider across the bike path, yield to other traffic.

When at the landing area, actively assist other incoming pilots with condition reports and if necessary notify other beach users of the incoming traffic and probable traffic pattern. To be an effective assistance, pilots may need to use different radio frequencies.

No motors. Operating or not.

Plan a flight path that that does not go over the densely inhabited areas of the City. This means that you will arrive at the beach east of the LZ. Avoid the Zoo, the Clark Estate and the Cemetery.

Know where the local air space is restricted and be aware of other air traffic, especially as you get closer to the beach. The most likely encounters would be from west bound traffic—in route to Santa Barbara Airport.

ROUND HOUSE GUIDELINES

The Roundhouse is located on the SW point of the front ridge on your way from Eliminator/Skyport to Parma LZ.

The owners of the Round House live there as a primary residence. They insist that we respect their privacy. They don’t want the perception that pilots may be peeping through their windows. In the interest of being good neighbors, we have agreed upon the following guidelines.

When possible, stay 500 feet horizontally and 200 feet vertically clear of the Round House.

Any pilot should put safety as their primary objective while attempting to follow the guidelines. We realize it is not always possible to fly following suggested guidelines. Thank you for doing your best to respect private land owners and helping to preserve our flying locations while making safety your primary objective.