Sylmar Hang Gliding Association

This topic thread invites the exploration and chronicling the unfolding future of SHGA non-USHPA hang gliding. Right now, if I surmise correctly, a USA citizen may not commonly land a hang glider on the SHGA landing soil, that is, if the SHGA documents are to be the only consideration; please correct this surmise as part of the discussion; TIA. The SHGA membership is needed; and in the agreement there is a requirement of USHPA valid active membership; please clarify this, if I am not describing the matter quite correctly.

How is the following handled by SHGA? A XC hang glider pilot arrives over Sylmar and needs to land his or her hang glider. He or she lands at the SHGA hang glider soil. S(he) has no USHPA membership. What happens in such case? Consider even a case where the pilot has no rating by any entity and no logbook and no instructor sign-off. The pilot respects FAA traffic rules and craft rules and is generally polite to others in a civil sense.
When all is known, the pilot may have some rights to land on the SHGA soil, but I have not yet the text or insight to describe the matter; maybe others do; your analyses are invited.

There is a guestimate that there will an increasing number of hang glider pilots who choose not to have USHPA membership; it could occur even that one day almost all USA hang glider pilots will not choose to have USHPA membership. Will SHGA be considering making changes, new agreements, etc. What might things look like in the unfolding future?

Feel free to open discussion on aspects of the topic that are not mentioned yet.

In early 1970s I launched from the old 1500' road and landed in the old Olive View lot (then) using a Seagull III hang glider. Times have changed. But what is the comprehensive potential of a USA hang glider pilot in relation to the soil at the SHGA LZ?

Has SHGA received any government funds with respect to the landing property? Any Federal funds at all?

Will SHGA be able to open its bylaws to more than USHPA, perhaps S-SA or USHHGA, or USPA, etc. ?

I just reviewed the rules and infractions' disciplines. The text uses the phrase "flying privileges" where is probably meant use of certain soils for launching or landing, as airspace is not privatized, but open to navigation by citizens of the USA. Will SHGA be editing the text to more accurately reflect the difference between flying in airspace and the different action of using certain soil area for launching or landing?

Quoting SHGA:

The Sylmar Hang Gliding Association is a non-profit 501(c)7 organization. SHGA owns the Sylmar Flight Park, and maintains the LZ, Kagel mountain launch, and access to other launches in the area. Operating expenses are primarily covered by a combination of membership dues and glider storage fees.

Please note that use of SHGA facilities also requires current USHPA membership for the liability protection that it provides.

"for the liability protection it provides."
Question: Would SHGA consider not requiring USHPA membership while getting provision of liability protection from a pilot by some other means? Say having a pilot coverage third-party liability by some other route?

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shga.com rules:

What is required of a pilot to fly at Kagel?
- Current USHPA membership (card must be carried by the pilot).
- Understanding and demonstration of SHGA Rules, Guidelines, Site Dangers, and landing pattern.
- Hang/para glider pilots must be rated H/P-3 (Intermediate) or higher.
- H-2 (Novice) hang glider pilots and P-2 (Novice) paraglider pilots may fly if under the direct supervision of, or signed off by a local SHGA designated instructor.

The BOD is pretty busy with the new bathroom issues and permits.

The moment BobK gets a refund check he can forward it to the CA government and they can take a look. I doubt shga will have to change their rules. It's simpler to change it at ushpa only.

Doug,
What would SHGA do, if USHPA goes extinct?
Motions are underway for such extinction in some quarters.
That org with its increasingly tight PG hug is becoming something
unconscionable to support using HG funds, spirit, time, attention ... by some HG-focused pilots.

The SHGA rule just posted above by Doug might be rewritten
to emphasize "use the launch permission at Kagel"
instead of the word "fly".
One does not need USHPA to "fly" in the Kagel adjacent airspace.
One does not need to be a card carrier to fly a HG in the Kagel airspace.
One does not need any rating or any membership in any club or
association besides being a citizen of the USA
in order to fly a hang glider solo in the near-Kagel airspace.
One is required to fly a HG in a manner to fulfill the F.A.A. regulations.

The airspace is not privatized.
There will be increasingly pilots of even the HG sort that simply
will not relate with the USHPA and may choose to fly in the Kagel airspace.
It is the land use for launch or landing that holds control matters.
F.A.A. already controls the airspace for flying.

Doug,
SHGA could continue advancing its quality org. Such effort often includes
improving text to be ever more faithful to other entities that have non-empty interface with the SHGA.

If the Kagel land top permission is government involved, then an USA
citizen may not have to be forced to join a private certain association
in order to have launch permission in equity at the Kagel launch point.
One day there might be two or five HG clubs in the Sylmar area all
wanting to use the extant launch point in fair community with SHGA.
And there might be several landing areas separately controlled,
perhaps with collaborative share agreements.
The potential coming other clubs might
be 100% unconnected with USHPA.

I think the most we could ask for at the moment is, that if a HG pilot, regardless of their association, landed at the Sylmar Flight park, and was not a SHGA member, we would likely ask for a day use fee, currently $10.

Most likely for most of us, pilots, regardless of discipline (HG or PG), if they arrived to Sylmar Flight park via a XC flight, would be greeted pretty warmly.

Chip,
Such warmth is what I have come to know about SHGA.
Codifying such warmth would be a possible target of the BOD and members of SHGA.

What would the text look like to express such warm habit?
Drafting:
1. One may land at the SHGA landing area with or without membership in any club or association;
a day-use fee would be urged from the landing pilot, payable to SHGA;
he or she then also would be welcome to use the new restrooms
and area to communicate with others at the landing area.
A warm welcome will normally be something one could expect from SHGA.
There would be a passive invitation to join the SHGA and further support
the fine works of SHGA.

2. ?

I think it is greater than text can be.

That culture needs to be part of the spirit of acceptance within the organization. By fostering that culture, hopefully even visitors will want to recognize the efforts to make a truly world class flight park by either joining the association or paying the day use fee.

Thankfully, SHGA has been the beneficiary of the close relationship with Windsports Hang Gliding. We have very smart people here that understand how vital community relationships are both politically and professionally. That culture is very much part of the SHGA membership.

On a typical weekend, you can experience pilots greeting visiting pilots and non-pilots (neighbors). I think most leave with a positive SHGA experience. We're lucky to have the support of the local community leaders and our neighbors. I think that extends to all pilot disciplines.

I think most everyone knows what the rules refer to. If a pilot wants to use our launch and LZ, he is flying our site. If he is flying our site he must follow our rules. Our requirement for USHPA membership and ratings is mainly for insurance purposes and a shorthand way of having some idea of a pilot's competence to fly here.

Of course the airspace is free and anyone can be flying in it. It is rare for pilots to land here after XC flights from another launch but when they do it is a happy occasion and I don't see a need to spell out a list of procedures and rules about it for problems that don't happen. The only exception is the exclusion of a very few pilots over 30 years whose behavior has flaunted the rules and put the site at risk. I also think reports of USHPA's demise are greatly exaggerated and maybe wishful thinking by some people. I am very happy we have the organization.