US Hawks Hang Gliding Association

I may be in a position where a local club may have acted to influence a land owner to exclude a non-U$hPa member from launching from their property. As a hypothetical, if this happened to be true then the U$hPa Chapter would be using the force of an illegal monopoly to prevent a non-member from transiting the US airspace. The US government via the FAA does not require membership in any corporation in order to pilot a hang glider. So, if such a corporation acts to violate someone's civil right to transit the US airspace, then I see that as a very serious situation.

But at this time, the circumstances are not yet clear and more information needs to be gathered. I am hoping that a more positive reason is behind a certain lack of communication.

wingspan33 wrote:I may be in a position where a local club may have acted to influence a land owner to exclude a non-U$hPa member from launching from their property. As a hypothetical, if this happened to be true then the U$hPa Chapter would be using the force of an illegal monopoly to prevent a non-member from transiting the US airspace. The US government via the FAA does not require membership in any corporation in order to pilot a hang glider. So, if such a corporation acts to violate someone's civil right to transit the US airspace, then I see that as a very serious situation.

The more I look at USHPA's tactics and practices, the more similarity I see to the tactics of practices of gangs.

wingspan33 wrote:I may be in a position where a local club may have acted to influence a land owner to exclude a non-U$hPa member from launching from their property. As a hypothetical, if this happened to be true then the U$hPa Chapter would be using the force of an illegal monopoly to prevent a non-member from transiting the US airspace. The US government via the FAA does not require membership in any corporation in order to pilot a hang glider. So, if such a corporation acts to violate someone's civil right to transit the US airspace, then I see that as a very serious situation.

But at this time, the circumstances are not yet clear and more information needs to be gathered. I am hoping that a more positive reason is behind a certain lack of communication.

A private land owner can be the gate keeper to the free airspace.

wingspan33 wrote:I may be in a position where a local club may have acted to influence a land owner to exclude a non-U$hPa member from launching from their property.

Sounds like all went well for your first flight on the new glider. Did you have to go to a different site?

SamKellner wrote: Sounds like all went well for your first flight on the new glider. Did you have to go to a different site?

Well, Sam I flew from the site in question yesterday AND today. About 7 years ago the land owner gave me permission to launch from his property - as a non-member of the local USHPA Chapter. He has not yet rescinded that permission.

However, connected with me getting a new (to me) glider, I wanted to verify that the permission still stood (after 7 years since flying there last). Repeated delays have happened and phone messages have not been returned. So, I have no way to be sure that everything is A-OK with the land owner. But I think I saw him yesterday (in an enclosed tractor 150 feet away) waving "hello" in response to my wave. But it could have been his son in the tractor who may not know one HG pilot from another.

I've sent a friendly snail mail letter that covers most questions that might come up in a person to person conversation. That probably arrived today. If so, then I hope to get some kind of (positive?) response.

Neither yesterday or today were any of the local chapter members at the site. The conditions weren't the best and it wasn't a weekend when said U$hPa Chapter members may be more likely to be there when I'm also there. That kind of situation could complicate matters.

BTW - My flight today was in less than soarable conditions. The flight lasted 6 minutes but did give me a bit more experience on my new (to me) 2003 WW Talon 140. More to come on that in another post.