One of the oldest inland hang gliding sites, Mt. Sentinal in Missoula, Montana, has been shut down after several incidents regarding nearby controlled airspace and conflicts between gliders and power pilots.
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2007 ... news01.txt
There are many clear parallels to the environment at Kagel. In this case, the landowner, the University of Montana, which had for many years given permission to use the site, appears to have taken the safe, prudent, CYA, characterize-it-as-you-like position by simply pulling the plug.
It sounds like the glider pilots were aware of their tenuous situation and did many things right, including letting ATC know when they were flying.
Even so, when incidents occurred, the result was no more flying.
SHGA should study this outcome and be aware of the lessons implied. The article cited above is pretty well written, for once, and the information fels reliable.
One thing I'd suggest is that no SHGA pilot ever call ATC about anything until talking to the BOD and Greblo first, and that when (not if) a power pilot has a beef with us, or vice versa, the clu8b is readywith a crisis management response.
Airplane vs. HG conflict Shuts Mt. Sentinal Down
Moderator: Chip
Please help support hang gliding by writing an email!!
Missoula pilots are asking for your support on this issue by sending email to the local newspaper. See:
http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.ph ... 00640c2f28
http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.ph ... 00640c2f28
http://www.helenair.com/articles/2007/0 ... 807_03.txt
Here is more information.
It seems the ATC is a private company contracted out by the FAA. I think there are 200 of these in the country.
...In the past few weeks, UM has received letters from the hang gliding club and from Barsotti's boss, David McCann, who is administrator with Serco Management Services Inc., the company contracted by the FAA to manage the Missoula control tower....
http://skyvector.com/#22-2-2-3431-2531
the sectional chart clearly shows hang glider symbols.
Maybe the FAA is over burdened, they are trying to fund NextGen, a new 15 billion dollar ATC system.
http://www.fcw.com/article102988-06-14-07-Web
Here is more information.
It seems the ATC is a private company contracted out by the FAA. I think there are 200 of these in the country.
...In the past few weeks, UM has received letters from the hang gliding club and from Barsotti's boss, David McCann, who is administrator with Serco Management Services Inc., the company contracted by the FAA to manage the Missoula control tower....
http://skyvector.com/#22-2-2-3431-2531
the sectional chart clearly shows hang glider symbols.
Maybe the FAA is over burdened, they are trying to fund NextGen, a new 15 billion dollar ATC system.
http://www.fcw.com/article102988-06-14-07-Web
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JT
Montana Pilots Get Relief
In case anyone in our club cares, I went back to the original forum posting and found that Mt. Sentinnel was re-opened July 4th. Apparently, they received a great deal of support from the Missoula community and letters from distant pilots to the local newspaper. The University relented on the closure of the launch property. They still have to contend with the private ATC outfit that, at least one pilot complained, continues to direct airline traffic through the immediate area above launch.
