Flying Site Information
Revised 20240228
Contacts for additional site information (AFTER you read the guides!)
(please text the pilots below, if possible)
Norm Bloom (575) 491-0456 PG
Steve Crye (915) 412-5769 PG HGChapter Level Accident Collection and Reporting
This is a USHPA Chapter requirement at the Chapter level as a feedback mechanism to the Risk Management process. If you are involved in an accident or incident at any of the flying sites below, please contact either the RGSA Safety Coordinator or the RGSA President, in addition to filling out an USHPA AIRS report.
Site Rules and Guidelines
We strongly recommend all pilots abide by the rules and guidelines of the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (USHPA) . Flying in the Franklin Mountains State Park has additional rules which are enforced by Texas Parks and Wildlife Rangers and Texas Parks and Wildlife Police.
Info and Site Guides
Robin Hastings wrote a nice article "Southern New Mexico - Sampling the offerings of southern New Mexico" that appeared in Volume 50, #4 (July/August 2020) of USHPA Pilot Magazine. (Download PDF)
The RGSA maintains site guides for sites in far west Texas and southern New Mexico.
The Franklin Mountains State Park is in El Paso, Texas. The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department has graciously given active members of USHPA permission to launch, land, and fly anywhere within the TPWD Park system (including FMSP), subject to the approval of the local Park Superintendent - AND subject to closely following the regulations and protocols, which include but are not limited to filling a yearly flying permission form and notifying the Superintendent prior to and after each flight. We have three "maintained" launches within FMSP: Agave Hill, Nelson's and North Mount Franklin. "Maintained" is within quotes because those launches are still rocky and snaggy compared to what you might expect if you fly in more benign localities. There is no prohibition for launching anywhere within the park, but the terrain and vegetation make that very difficult anywhere other than Agave, Nelson's or North Franklin.
Franklin Mountains State Park - Agave Hill
- Agave Hill Launch 31.913033, -106.506967 , El Paso, TX;
- Main LZ 31.910659, -106.519001, El Paso, TX;
Lee's Lookout
- TPWD no longer permits hiking up the spine from the picnic area. We are re-opening this site in honor of Lee Boone, who passed away on 4/1/2023. Bear with us while we clear the brush from the launch.
Franklin Mountains State Park - Nelson's Launch
- Nelson's Launch 31.872852, -106.498522, El Paso, TX;
- Alt Nelson's LZ 31.876043,-106.518821, El Paso, TXFranklin Mountains State Park - North Mount Franklin
- North Franklin Launch 31.902917° -106.493700° , El Paso, TX;
- Main LZ 31.910659, -106.519001, El Paso, TX;Dry Canyon
- Robin Hastings Launch (HG, PG)32.927171, -105.885846 Alamogordo NM
- Bo Frazier Launch (PG)32.925986, -105.883702 Alamogordo NM
- LZ 32.928433, -105.945367, Alamogordo NM
The Dry Canyon launches are on Forest Service land in the Sacramento Mountains east of Alamogordo, NM. Dry Canyon LZ, aka Cox Field aka Hang Glider Park, is located in Alamogordo, NM. The Medevac helicopter at Gerald Champion Hospital in Alamogordo should be notified whenever launch operations are about to commence, to reduce the risk of midair collisions over the landing zone in Alamogordo. Their phone number is (575) 635-3494.La Luz
- La Luz, NM 32.971658° -105.917189° 5,856' MSL 1,100' AGLAnapra Mesa El Paso
- Launch 31.786567° -106.582500° 4,081' MSL 200' AGL
- LZ - either top land, or land directly below (east) of the mesaEast Potrillo Mountains NM
- Torrey Paso launch 31.864917° -107.006817° 4,944' MSL 800' AGL
- LZ 31.86905 -106.99456Guadalupe Ridge NM
- Launch 6,000' MSL, H/P3 rating
- PG launch 32.2605710º -104.8963580º
- HG launch 32.2537955º -104.8933776º
- LZ 32.2618089º -104.8919299º
- Camping 32.2614743º -104.8945816ºKilbourne Hole Marr NM
- East Launch 31.968833° -106.953967°, 4,360 MSL 440' AGL (main LZ)
- Main LZ 31.971866° -106.963756°Windy Point Ruidoso NM
- HG launch and start of hike for PG 33.396142° -105.764624° 1,950' AGL LZ 10,000' MSL>
- LZ 33.385098° -105.748773°