US Hawks Hang Gliding Association

Hi Logan, I am the recreation manager on the Lost River Ranger District in Mackay, Idaho, and I have been asked to answer your question on the King Mountain Hang glider site. The launch site is located on public land, so a membership in a club or organization is not necessary to hang glide there. However, King Mountain is an advanced flying site known for strong thermal conditions, moderate turbulence, and occasional high winds that can develop quickly. Several passes/gaps exist in the Lost River Mountain Range to the north that will compress and multiply the existing wind speed. Rams Horn Canyon, Pass Creek, and Double Springs Pass are examples of these features. Take extra care to approach these locations with sufficient altitude and upwind clearance such that a forced landing in the canyons/pass is avoided. It’s also a good idea to contact a local pilot prior to flying here for the first time. Thanks! -=Melissa=

The rules at the park are as follows. We do not require flyers to be members of the local club or USHPA to fly at the flight park. We encourage and think it's a good idea to be members and receive training with a group, as from what I have found, offers some good insurance coverage if you are, but it is not required to be a member.

LoganR wrote:Unfortunately, I think the basic premise of the article comes from deliberate misinformation: “Is self-regulation working at Torrey Pines Gliderport?” The simple fact is that Torrey Pines Glider port is in fact NOT self-regulated. Like many public lands, the regulation authority has been given to private parties to profit at taxpayer expense. The quote given in the article “It’s up to us to self-regulate. As paragliding and hang gliding pilots, we have a national association, and that is really the governing agency of how we self-regulate.” The “National Association” which has a unique monopoly on public lands is known as USHPA, or the United States Hanggliding and Paragliding Association”.
The monopoly USHPA holds on most public lands is explicitly prohibited by: 49 U.S. Code § 40103. Sovereignty and use of airspace: SEC.306. In exercising the authority granted in, and discharging the duties imposed by, this Act, the Administrator shall give full consideration to the requirements of national defense, and of commercial and general aviation, and to the public right of freedom of transit through the navigable airspace.

SEC. 308. (a) No Federal funds, other than those expended under this Act, shall be expended . . . . There shall be no exclusive right for the use of any landing area or air navigation facility upon which Federal funds have been expended. (1)

Before the introduction of Paragliders; the association was known as USHGA, or the United States Hang Glider Association (2). The idea that this is the governing agency is explicitly prohibited under FAR 103 “The USHGA's self-regulation program lacks the legal authority to enforce requirements to ensure the safety of others. There is no requirement for any hang glider operator to be a member of the USHGA.” (3) USHPA is quite simply not a “self regulating” body of hanggliding and paragliding plots, they are a private club. The FAA is the regulating body, USHPA takes advantages of unlawful monopolies to extort money using the perception of legitimacy. (4)

(1) https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/49/40103
(2) https://www.ushpa.org/page/mission-and-history
(3) https://www.usua.org/Rules/faa103.htm
(4) http://forum.hanggliding.org/viewtopic. ... ublic+land