Site Rules

Torrey Pines Gliderport is an active soaring sites. It is a regulated site to ensure the safety of spectators, pilots and personal property so all visitors may enjoy it. Use of the Gliderport is a privilege and not a right. The flight Director has the authority to enforce these rules per San Diego Municipal Code Section 63.02.32. Violation may result in revocation of flight privileges.

General Rules

1. This is a Gliderport. Only motorless, un-tethered flight is permitted.
2. Unauthorized spectators are not permitted in take off or landing areas or along the cliff edge.
3. Anyone under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants is prohibited from flying. No alcohol or intoxicating substances may be consumed prior to or while flying.
4. All flight operations will be litter free.
5. Flying is prohibited when the site is posted as being closed. When the black ball flag, smoke or flares are used to indicate an emergency, all aircraft in the air must land immediately.
6. There shall be no low altitude flying (less than 50ft) over the RC pit area, the launch area, or other pilots or spectators. There will be no flying within 500ft of any public, commercial or residential building.
7. Any accidents, incidents or disputes between pilots shall immediately be brought to the attention of the Flight Director.

All Flight Operations

1. All pilots must be USHPA members and have in their possession while flying, their USHPA membership card or a temporary 30-day USHPA membership card issued by the Torrey Pines Gliderport shop.
2. All pilots must have all required waivers on file that are no more than 1-year old, show proof of rating and sign-in at the Flight Operations Center each day prior to flying.
3. All pilots must sign-in prior to flying.
4. Paragliding, hang gliding and sail plane pilots must fly with a two (2)- meter radio, set to the pilot emergency frequency.
5. Preflight your glider and harness and lock in. Due to the convenience of the launch this is easy to forget.
6. Helmet, whistle, radio, and reserve parachute are required for all flights.
7. Immediately prior to launch, announce intended direction of launch to RC pilots, then sound your whistle loud and clear.
8. Only ONE glider in the window at a time.
9. You must blow your whistle loud and clear when entering the window and every few seconds while transitioning through the window.
10. No turning or loitering in the window – it is prioritized airspace for RC model use only.
11. Northbound glider has right of way.
12. Yield to the right.
13. Announce intended landings and sound whistle loud and clear prior to final approach.
14. Launch and land in designated areas only.
15. Gliders must be parked well clear of landing area.
16. When kiting your paraglider, please drop the glider to the ground when other gliders are on final approach.
17. Only safe landings will be tolerated. No low altitude approaches, no flying through the landing area.
18. No low altitude flying over spectators or car.
19. No flying over the RC model set up area.
20. All turns should be away from the cliffs.
21. Lower glider has the right of way.
22. Whistle must be carried by pilots at all time.
23. No alcohol or intoxicating substances prior to flying.
24. All tandem instructional flights must be cleared by the Flight Director.
25. No flight shall go above 1500ft from launch altitude (300ft above Mean Sea Level). Controlled airspace (Class B) begins at 1800ft MSL.

Paraglider & Hang Glider Operations

1. All pilots must be USHPA members
2. Hang glider pilots must have an USHPA Advanced (H-4) or equivalent foreign rating at the least. Paraglider pilots must have a USHPA Intermediate (P-3) or equivalent foreign rating. Intermediate rated Paraglider pilots must have at least 50 hours of air time, demonstrable in their log book. Tandem flights require a USHPA Tandem Rated pilot and permission of the Torrey Pines Gliderport Flight Director.
3. Preflight your glider and harness and lock in. Due to the convenience of the launch this is easy to forget.
4. Helmets, reserve chute, radio and whistle are required on all flights.
5. The “Window” (See map for North and South Window boundary flags) extends from the beach upward with no altitude limits and East and West with no limits. It is primarily for Radio Controlled aircraft flying.
   • Only one hang glider or paraglider shall be in the Window at a time.
   • Fly straight through the Window. No turning or loitering while in the Window.
   • Sounding a whistle communicates your location to the RC pilots, other pilots and spectators. Sounding a whistle and announcing your intentions is for your safety and the avoidance of accidents.
6. Immediately prior to launch, announce your intended direction and sound your whistle loudly.
7. Prior to entering the Window announce your flight direction and sound your whistle loudly. Sound your whistle several times while transiting the Window.
8. Prior to landing, announce your intended landing and sound your whistle loudly.
9. Standard right-of-way rules apply:
   • Head-on: Stay to the right. Northbound glider has the right-of-way.
   • Converging: Glider on right has the right-of-way.
   • Overtaking: Pass on the cliff side. Slower glider has the right-of-way.
   • On approach or landing: Lower glider has the right-of-way.
10. Launch and land only in designated areas.
11. No “touch and goes” or flying through the landing area.
12. Do not loiter, kite or park your glider in the launch or landing areas.
13. No flying or landing north of Bathtub Rock.
14. No flying or landing south of the Scripps Pier.
15. No landing south of the Life Guard Access Road (horizons).
16. No intentional beach landings (sled rides) unless approved by the Flight Director.
17. All pilots must fly with cell phones and/or radios and notify the staff of emergency and/or non-intentional beach landings.
18. Pilots violating these policies may receive a citation and/or have their flight privileges suspended.

Radio Controlled Models Operations

1. Radio Control pilots must be AMA members. Before soloing each pilot must demonstrate their ability to safely fly their aircraft to the Flight Director or his designated representative.
2. Beginning pilots are permitted to fly only with the assistance of an experienced pilot.
3. Radio Controlled aircraft must be operated in accordance with the AMA safety codes. An experienced pilot must check new aircraft before they’re first flight.
4. All transmitters must meet current FCC and AMA guidelines.
5. Only Torrey Pines Flight Authorization Cards are allowed on the frequency board (one card per frequency, the transmitter being turned on only while the card is posted on a proper frequency). Limit flight time to 15 minutes if another pilot requests your frequency.
6. Radio controlled aircraft may be flown anywhere along the cliff, but have primary use of the Window area. Always keep “Blue Sky” between your aircraft and all other aircraft. Listen for whistles from hang gliders and paragliders. Give man-carrying aircraft the right-of-way. Do not fly at or near man-carrying aircraft.
7. All RC pilots must have a spotter/observer to monitor and inform the pilot regarding air traffic during full-scale glider operations. During times of heavy hang glider / paraglider operations the Flight Director may require RC pilots to have a spotter/observer. The requirement for having a spotter/observer must be conspicuously posted near the RC frequency board.
8. When there are pilots near the cliff edge, all launches must be from the cliff edge except for test glides or hi-start/winch launches remote from the RC pit area. RC pilots shall fly their aircraft from a position where they can observe the hang glider and paraglider launching area, except when landing their aircraft in the eastern RC landing area. Hi-start/winch launches must be coordinated with other flight operations.
9. RC models will NOT be launched or flown from any other location within two miles of the Torrey Pines Gliderport. This includes the UCSD Biological Reserve, Horizons (the Burial Grounds) and North Face.

Full-Scale Sailplane Operations

1. Gliders will be operated according to the rules prescribed in the Torrey Pines Flight Manual. A copy of this document is on file with the Flight Director. Sailplanes always operate with a designated Flight Leader.
2. Hold daily pilots meetings to identify and establish user group contacts and communications techniques between all user groups when full-scale operations are in effect.
3. The runway and flight operations areas shall be cordoned off from the public during all flight operations.
4. Prior to launching, a flag near the winch will be waved and the horn on the winch will be sounded. Both signals will continue until the aircraft is released from the cable.
5. Standard ridge right-of-way rules apply:
   • Head-on: Stay to the right. Northbound glider has the right-of-way.
   • Converging: Glider on right has the right-of-way.
   • Overtaking: Pass on the cliff side. Slower glider has the right-of-way.
   • On approach or landing: Lower glider has the right-of-way.
6. Light wind landings will be a left-hand pattern from the north to a down wind final from over the ocean. The high wind-landing pattern will be a standard downwind, base and final into the wind.
7. Aircraft will signal their entry into the landing pattern by rocking the wings several times on the north bound pass. The flag will be raised and the horn will be sounded as on launch to indicate a landing aircraft.