THIS IS NOT A COMPLETE LIST OF GUIDELINES, AND GUIDELINES MAY BE ADDED PRIOR TO ANY UPDATES TO THE LIST BELOW. ALL OUT OF TOWN PILOTS ARE REQUIRED TO CONTACT A LOCAL GUIDE TO FLY THE SANTA BARBARA SITES. 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.
GUIDES:
Eagle Paragliding: 805-968-0980
Fly Away Hang Gliding: 805-957-9145
John Greynald: 805-682-3483
- All pilots flying the Santa Barbara mountain sites must have a minimum H3 or P3 USHPA rating (or IPPI equivalent). Pilots with a H2 or P2 (or IPPI equivalent) rating must either fly under the supervision of a local instructor or obtain a sign off from a local instructor to fly without instructor supervision. The Wilcox (Douglas Family Reserve) ridge soaring site requires a minimum H4 or P4 USHPA rating. Any pilots rated H3 or P3 must obtain signed permission to fly this site from a local Advanced instructor. The More Mesa ridge soaring site requires a minimum H2 or P2 rating.
- All pilots must fly with a RADIO, HELMET, RESERVE PARACHUTE, CERTIFIED HANG GLIDER OR PARAGLIDER or an open class competition paraglider deemed acceptable by a local instructor.
- All pilots flying in Santa Barbara must pay $30 for full annual membership to the SBSA.
- Anyone flying any Santa Barbara site must have the AIRSPACE WINDOW opened prior to flying. This will notify airplane pilots that hang gliders and paragliders are in the area. Any pilot can check to see if the AIRSPACE WINDOW has already been opened by calling the ATIS report (recorded message) at 805-967-0283. If the ATIS is not reporting hang gliding and paragliding activity, you must contact a local instructor or guide to open the window. The phone numbers of instructors and guides are available on the SBSA website.
- All pilots must exercise safe and responsible judgment in order to keep our sites open.
- All pilots should follow USHPA’s Recommended Emergency Procedures, which are available at www.USHPA.aero.
Generally speaking, the Santa Barbara mountain sites and landing zones are more challenging to fly than many sites outside of this area. Be aware that there are specific flight plans available through local knowledge that can minimize the possibility of a non-local pilot putting themselves in a bad situation. If you don’t follow the local knowledge you risk landing out.
All pilots must land in designated landing zones, All pilots must comply to SBSA Landing zone requirements