Re lifting the ban on tandem hang gliding on Oregon beaches
40 views
Skip to first unread message
Steve Seibel
Jul 10, 2012, 9:08:12 PM7/10/12
to ohga...@yahoogroups.com, Cascade Paragliding Club, deserta...@googlegroups.com, Discover Paragliding
PS it goes without saying that the recent ban on tandem hang gliding is a great concern. I didn't realize that the rules had been written this way. Again, thanks Brad and Maren for working on this issue.
What do you need specifically, apart from affirmation that we want to be able to fly tandem hang gliders on the Oregon coast? Have you talked to the active tandem pilots? Maybe some photos or videos showing how this is a vital part of their business and has zero negative on the coast and beachgoers? Or maybe the tandem issue is just an oversight than can be quickly fixed? I'm sure you know that John Matylonek has given many tandems on the coast, not sure who else.
Steve Seibel
On Sat, Jul 7, 2012 at 6:17 PM, Discover Paragliding! <Bradan...@discoverparagliding.com> wrote:
The Oregon Department of Aviation (ODA) defines aircraft as this:
836.005¹
Definitions
(2) "Aircraft" means any contrivance used or designed for navigation of or flight in the air, but does not mean a one-person motorless glider that is launched from the earth’s surface solely by the operator’s power.
Pasted from <http://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/836.005>
The ODA also specifically bans the landing of any aircraft on Oregon's beaches except in the case of an emergency. This is the rule that the Oregon State Parks, (and now the Ocean Shores Commission) was forced to use to stop PPG activities on the beach. (Does anyone else see the glaring problem with the above definition and how it affects many of us?)
I have managed to the the rules changed with the state parks sufficiently to allow PPG's to fly on the beach, but they have expressed that they are reluctant to make a decision counter to the ODA and allow us to fly (land) PPG's on the Ocean Shore area until the two agencies rules and definitions are more in line.
I am currently preparing to go to a meeting of the ODA on July 19th and make a presentation on how the above definition, (and prohibition of landing), affects us, and why it should be changed to be more in line with the FAA's definitions under Part 103.
Does anyone have any contrary opinions to my moving forward on this? Does anyone have any advice for how to proceed? I have quite a few ideas, but between this, working on Oceanside, and trying to be out teaching every day, I am getting a bit frazzled and could seriously use any help I can get! (On this, Oceanside, or even the PG biz! :-). )
Please let me know your thoughts,
Brad
--
See you up there,
Brad and Maren
Your 'Couple' of Instructors
www.DiscoverParagliding.com
503-861-2772 (W) 503-440-0733 (c)__._,_.___![Yahoo! Groups]()
.![]()
__,_._,___
Discover Paragliding!
Jul 10, 2012, 10:02:52 PM7/10/12
to Steve Seibel, ohga...@yahoogroups.com, Cascade Paragliding Club, deserta...@googlegroups.com
Steve (and all),
That (the banning of any tandem or towing flight) hasn't happened... Yet. The current laws, if taken verbatim, would indeed ban tandem flight from the beaches, (and towing too). The state parks have repeatedly expressed a lack of desire to do that (enforce the letter of the rule). But, this is the exact definition/rule that they are using to outright ban the landing of PPG's on the beach. Giving a reason that if they allow PPG (as permitted in the new section 21 rules), and something happens, or someone complains, there could be unspecified trouble relating to the conflict between the two regulations.
Carrying that line of logic out further, tandem flying and towing are in exactly the same boat, and an accident, or public complaint in the future, could leave the parks little recourse given the current rule structure other than to shut us down.
Getting the ODA's definition of Aircraft to be more in line with FAR 103 would definitely help with the longevity of towing and tandem flight on the beaches. Motorized flight is another thing entirely, and the new rules under Section 21 of the state parks would give the parks the opportunity to open any section, select sections, or the whole beach to motorized flight at their sole discretion. This was necessary to have some control over pilots that may choose to fly motors here in the future. They have quietly expressed several times that they don't want to revisit anything like we had out here last summer. But they have offered an openness to a structured and educated approach to motorized flight if well thought out. (Site guides, section rules, pilot ratings, etc.)
I believe the definition in question was created well prior to the current activities that we now enjoy, both as HG, PG, PPG and PHG(?) pilots. My brief summary to the ODA was well received over the phone, and I was granted a time slot to make a presentation for our case at the July 19th meeting Department of Aviation general meeting in PDX. But, since this is an Oregon Regulatory Statute, I was cautioned that this process could take up to two years. Ugh.
Better to get started now, right?
Brad
PS - Sorry to spam all lists, but I figured I'd better clarify things for everyone. (Let me know if I actually succeeded! :-)
That (the banning of any tandem or towing flight) hasn't happened... Yet. The current laws, if taken verbatim, would indeed ban tandem flight from the beaches, (and towing too). The state parks have repeatedly expressed a lack of desire to do that (enforce the letter of the rule). But, this is the exact definition/rule that they are using to outright ban the landing of PPG's on the beach. Giving a reason that if they allow PPG (as permitted in the new section 21 rules), and something happens, or someone complains, there could be unspecified trouble relating to the conflict between the two regulations.
Carrying that line of logic out further, tandem flying and towing are in exactly the same boat, and an accident, or public complaint in the future, could leave the parks little recourse given the current rule structure other than to shut us down.
Getting the ODA's definition of Aircraft to be more in line with FAR 103 would definitely help with the longevity of towing and tandem flight on the beaches. Motorized flight is another thing entirely, and the new rules under Section 21 of the state parks would give the parks the opportunity to open any section, select sections, or the whole beach to motorized flight at their sole discretion. This was necessary to have some control over pilots that may choose to fly motors here in the future. They have quietly expressed several times that they don't want to revisit anything like we had out here last summer. But they have offered an openness to a structured and educated approach to motorized flight if well thought out. (Site guides, section rules, pilot ratings, etc.)
I believe the definition in question was created well prior to the current activities that we now enjoy, both as HG, PG, PPG and PHG(?) pilots. My brief summary to the ODA was well received over the phone, and I was granted a time slot to make a presentation for our case at the July 19th meeting Department of Aviation general meeting in PDX. But, since this is an Oregon Regulatory Statute, I was cautioned that this process could take up to two years. Ugh.
Better to get started now, right?
Brad
PS - Sorry to spam all lists, but I figured I'd better clarify things for everyone. (Let me know if I actually succeeded! :-)
See you
up there,
Brad and Maren
Your 'Couple' of Instructors
www.DiscoverParagliding.com
503-861-2772 (W) 503-440-0733 (c)
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages