Greetings Pilots!
This is not a full list of guidelines, and new ones may be introduced before the list below is updated. All out-of-town pilots must contact a local guide in order to fly the Santa Barbara sites.
All pilots must land in designated landing zones!
Please make every effort while flying in the local Santa Barbara mountains to avoid the following landing zones listed in this interactive map. Click X in the map or on the box in the upper left for the legend, then click each link to zoom in on the no landing zone. The name of each will show up when clicked.
All pilots must comply to SBSA Landing zone requirements
Important
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.
Hang gliding and paragliding activities are permitted only when at least one instructor from any of the local flight schools is present. Eling’s is a private park, and the park will call the sheriff and press charges if anyone kite’s or flies their glider when no instructor is present. The parks liability exposure is very high with no formal supervision.
Approval for all activities must be obtained daily from an instructor prior to hang gliding and paragliding activity. This includes ground handling/kiting.
Eling’s Flight Park is private property, and only the approved flights schools have access to instruct and coach students and certified pilots. Pilots of any rating are only able to receive coaching or instruction of any kind from the Elings Flight Park approved flight schools. All paragliding schools and instructors must have approval before using the Elings Park Training Hill for instruction. Call Fly Above All (805-965-3733), Eagle Paragliding (805-968-0980) or (802-558-6350) for details.
Student pilots with less than novice hang gliding rating (H2) or novice paragliding rating (P2) must have direct supervision by their USHPA certified, Eling’s Park Flight Park approved, instructor.
A safe physical distance must always be maintained between moving gliders, people, and/or vehicles. Paragliding and hang gliding pilots have the right of way over RC gliders.
Vehicles are not allowed in landing or launching area – they are to remain on the roads or designated parking areas at all times.
All hang gliding and paragliding activities must be in compliance with USHPA hang gliding and paragliding pilot rating and instructor certification programs, and FAR 103.
Each park user is responsible for upholding the best interests of the flight park. Any inappropriate or unsafe conduct (as deemed by any instructor or USHPA certified pilot) may result in a temporary or permanent ban from Elings Flight Park.
All those engaged in hang gliding and paragliding activities must
The Santa Barbara Soaring Association Directors along with local flight instructors have established guidelines for flying More Mesa.
These guidelines were established due to incidents that threatened foot-launched flying in this area.
These incidents include:
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.
Guides
Eagle Paragliding: 805-968-0980
Fly Above All Paragliding: 805-965-3733
Fly Away Hang Gliding: 805-957-9145
John Greynald: 805-682-3483
Before flying More Mesa, all pilots must contact a Local Site Guide and ask the guide to call the SBA Tower for permission to fly within this Tower regulated air space.
All Pilots must confirm that the SBA Tower has been notified of flight plan by getting confirmation from the site guide that the tower has been called. Confirmation can also be established by tuning into 132.650 or calling 805.967.0283 and listening for the ATIS that refers to gliders flying in the More Mesa bluffs area.
Student pilots are restricted from flying More Mesa without a local instructor’s direct supervision.
Students and novice pilots are restricted from flying east of the undeveloped More Mesa area.
All pilots should respect the privacy of homeowners on the bluffs.
Every pilot will attempt to maintain at all times a flying position not further inland than the beachside of the top of the cliff-face.
Pilots shall not:
Please pay particular attention to the estates east of the launch area, specifically where the cabaña is on the beach.
These Property owners have experienced privacy incursions because their properties are on the most soarable area of the bluffs. If the conditions are such that the only soarable area of the bluffs is at this location, pilots wishing to have a soaring flight should not fly until conditions improve.
Flights originating from the Douglas Family Preserve (Wilcox) that go west past the gap at Arroyo Burro Beach (Hendry’s) are bound by all of the guidelines above.
The Douglas Family Preserve, also referred to as Wilcox, is only open to pilots with an H4 and P4 USHPA rating, or H3 or P3 pilots who have secured signed authorisation from a local Advanced USHPA Instructor.
No flying allowed beyond trees east of launch.
Pilots cannot land their hang glider or paraglider west of the slough that is east of the Boathouse Restaurant.
All landings occur on the ocean side of the bike path. Do not cross the path on approach and land on the grass! Walk (don’t kite) your glider from the sand to the grass to pack up.
Choose an approach and touch down spot far enough away from all other users to avoid conflict or the perception that there could be conflict.
Pilots shall NOT:
Kite or ground handle at this site unless you are an intermediate rated pilot and a current member of the USHPA Do not go on glide for the beach unless you are sure that you will arrive over the LZ with at least 500 feet AGL. Do not squeak in low! When in doubt, turn back (early) and land at a predetermined bailout LZ. If the entire designated landing area is too busy for a safe landing and areas outside the boundaries are open, land outside of the boundary (See map). When carrying a glider across the bike path, yield to other traffic. When at the landing area, actively assist other incoming pilots with condition reports and if necessary notify other beach users of the incoming traffic and probable traffic pattern. To be an effective assistance, pilots may need to use different radio frequencies. No motors. Operating or not. Know where the local air space is restricted and be aware of other air traffic, especially as you get closer to the beach. The most likely encounters would be from west bound traffic—in route to Santa Barbara Airport. You must be under 1500 ft south of the 101 freeway.
The Roundhouse is located on the SW point of the front ridge on your way from Eliminator/Skyport to Parma LZ.
The owners of the Round House live there as a primary residence. They insist that we respect their privacy. They don’t want the perception that pilots may be peeping through their windows. In the interest of being good neighbors, we have agreed upon the following guidelines.
When possible, stay 500 feet horizontally and 200 feet vertically clear of the Round House.
Any pilot who attempts to abide by guidelines should prioritize their safety. We are aware that it is not always possible to fly according to recommended procedures. We appreciate your efforts to protect our flying areas and show respect for private landowners while keeping safety as your top priority.
