|
Dear Mission pilots,
We are pleased to announce that we have new site procedures for Mission Ridge. These procedures will take effect on Monday, June 21, 2021. Please familiarize yourself with the new procedures before flying Mission.
Here is a summary of the changes:
- Updated site map, with clearer labels of launch and landing areas.
- For vehicles, added a requirement to carry both a shovel and a fire extinguisher, rather than one or the other.
- Removed HG rack guide. Pilots are responsible for ensuring that their racks are secure, without oversight from the club.
- Removed the "Damp Road Rule".
- The park confirmed that this rule only applied to the hiking trail from Stanford Avenue staging area, and does not apply to the back road from Mill Creek Road, which is considered an "all weather road".
- Since the park no longer allows pilots to drive on the lower part of the hiking trail, there was no need to keep this rule.
- Updated requirements for P3 and H3 pilots. See below.
Updated requirements for P3 and H3 pilots
There are several updates to the requirements for P3 and H3 pilots. The new requirements are summarized here:
-
Pilots must possess basic thermal and mountain flying skills, be proficient in flying in active conditions, and be able to land in restricted areas before being sponsored to fly at Mission.
-
Pilots must describe their thermal and mountain flying experience to their sponsor before flying at Mission.
-
As a guideline, pilots should have flown a minimum of 4 mountain flights from launches over 2800' MSL, each over 20 minutes duration in thermal lift per flight, before flying at Mission.
-
Pilots must complete at least 3 flights under the supervision of a member of the Mission Ridge Site Introduction Team on the same wing type. At least one of those flights must be a sustained flight under thermic conditions (i.e. not during late evening conditions when there is only ridge lift, or when there is no lift).
-
The sponsored flight will only count if it is conducted safely and in compliance with the site procedures. It must include a safe controlled launch and landing in the designated landing zone.
-
The sponsor has the authority to determine whether the sponsored flight has met the requirements described above.
-
The sponsor may also decide that only 2 supervised flights are required, if the pilot is exceptionally skilled and experienced, or that more than 3 supervised flights are warranted.
-
H3 pilots must have completed their H4 spot landing requirements.
Once pilots have completed all requirements, their final sponsor will request that they be granted a silver Mission icon on their electronic membership card, enabling them to fly unsupervised.
For P3 and H3 pilots who have met the requirements from the previous Site Procedures, you may still fly at Mission under the parameters of the old procedures until the end of 2021.
Thanks to everyone who provided input on these new Site Procedures. If you have any questions, please reach out to Steve Welch (Mission chair) at [email protected], or any member of the Mission Ridge Site Committee.
Thanks,
Steve Welch (Mission chair), and the Mission Ridge Site Committee |
