Aug 07, 2002, 07:41 PM
#1
bjaffee
Brett
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Ban on R/C Soaring at Torrey Pines
The following was just posted to RCSE and a few other soaring related email groups.
THE FOLLOWING IS FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE RC COMMUNITY
Keep aware of the notes are from year
2002. San Diego, CA 08/07/02
Effective today the lease holder of the Torrey Pines Glider
Port (San Diego) has permanently banned RC model glider flying at this nationally known slope-soaring site. This action is (apparently) within the lease agreement and (reportedly) has the backing of the city of San Diego. David Jebb is the current lessee and operator of a commercial Paraglider training facility that includes the sale of Hang/Paragliders and accessories. He also sells tandem Paraglider and Hang Glider (PG-HG) rides to the public.
The premise for this action, if taken at face value, is that
RC gliders pose a safety hazard to manned aircraft (PG-HG) and spectators on the ground.and as such are in violation of AMA rules. Fact: In 35+ years no one has ever been injured by a model aircraft at Torrey Pines. It is currently a recognized AMA flying site. Depending on what source is used; there have been between 12 and 16 fatal and many less serious accidents involving PG-HG flights. WE take no pleasure in that. There are some fine and skilled Ultralight pilots who fly here.
We have cohabited the airspace without injury for all of these
years. True; there have been mid air collisions..the blame for which covers the spectrum of such incidents.
The history of slope soaring at Torrey Pines goes back to
the days of Charles Lindbergh who reportedly flew a glider here while The Spirit Of St. Louis was being built in 1927. Full sized sailplanes still fly here in the Springtime when the winds are usually at their peak. The benign weather and consistent onshore breezes from the ocean provide some of
the best RC year round RC sailplane flying in the country. There is no other location to replace it. Paraphrasing one of the paraglider instructors: "He (Jebb) envisions this place as a million dollar paraglider operation.." With the RC community gone there will be ground space to expand the PG-HG operation
considerably. Perhaps Torrey Pines Safety is more properly spelled: $afety.? RC pilots pay the same user fees to the lessee as the ultralights: $7 a day or $150 a year. But we don't need their $1200+ training course and can't buy RC equipment there as they don't carry it.
It is hoped that AMA can intercede and help reverse this
capricious action. They are reportedly in the process...
Your individual constructive thoughts are solicited. Just
saying, "This isn't fair" or; "We were here first" hasn't worked.
~John Davies
~ San Diego ~
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