US Hawks Hang Gliding Association

To be a friend of Dockweiler Gliding Society
I'll report my decision to stop hang gliding at the historical Dockweiler Hang Gliding Park:
Silica Airs

My hang gliding will be done only at other sites.
A Dockweiler era of mine beginning in 1971 has just ended yesterday, Aug. 21, 2019, with about 30 flights while with Bob had about 40 flights.

We were dreaming of flying seven days a week at the site with the free waiver. From now forward I will not rest or stand at the site at the leeward edge of the broad beach sand and bluff. What a grand flow of flying with others!

Others will explore the issues and decide for themselves. But I cannot any longer advocate the use of the site by others. The risks for limited instruction may be once taken at the site; but I move that the students not return but use only other sites for continued hang gliding. Persistent long-term use of the site by any specific person for hang giding is no longer recommended by me.

Sorry to hear this Joe. But you can still fly at other sites. Is it Ed Levin or Any Jackson (excuse my spelling) that doesn't require U$hPa membership. There's little to no silica there.

Thanks, Scott. I'll report the alternative flights. Thanks.

http://www.worldhangglidingassociation.org/SilicaAirs.html

I think this might deserve some more research.

If it were actually true that fine particles of blowing sand showed a high correlation with disease and death ... there would be a lot of cheap beachfront property available.

I have an open mind, but there's a lot more investigation that should be done first.

Bob Kuczewski wrote:I've read this article, and there's no mention of beach sand as a source. I don't think walking, driving, or surf action produce the forces to smash sand into the pulverized powder that is described in these industrial practices.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3683189/#!po=8.46154

I trusted that Bob would find a key core question worthy of fair resolution!
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[ ] What is the result of car tires rolling on Dockweiler sand?
[ ] What is the result of sand being sifted over a moving rolling metal sieve over the years done weekly?
[ ] How much do fine particulates settle into brush, grass, sewers, lawns, dew, rain?
[ ] What are the measures of particulates at a particular site at a particular time?
[ ] How much do things matter in the way one breathes: during long hours of exercising compared with occasional visits of low time?
[ ] It is hoped that actual measurement will be made by the State of California or the County of Los Angeles for various times and conditions at the bluffs of Dockweiler Hang Gliding Park.