Flying Site and Safety Information
Revised 20260120
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 HGSafety is YOUR Responsibility
Paragliding is a potentially deadly activity. Worldwide, one in every 1000 active PG pilots are killed every year, with more being injured badly enough to require hospitalization. Don't be complacent - don't fly sites above your skill level - don't fly in conditions above your skill level - don't be a statistic!
Preflight Checks
Your checklist must be easy to remember and cover all essential safety elements. More importantly, you must remember to use it! We recommend putting something on your flight deck to remind you to run through it.
A good checklist has a sequence that makes sense. For example, putting on your helmet must happen before you are hooked into your wing! Consider using the following one, which has an easy to remember mnemonic:
Particularly Cautious Hombres Realize Careful Scrutiny Brings Longevity Advantages
Particularly: reserve Parachute - handle secure, not detached, not stuck
Cautious: helmet Chin strap buckled, tight. (Camera working if you use one)
Hombres: Harness - all buckles fastened. (bungee attached to shoe if you use one)
Realize: Radio / Instruments - correct frequency and DCS; test with other pilots. Garmin/Spot on, tracking, send pre-launch message
Careful: Carabiners - hook in correctly, check for riser twists
Scrutiny: Speed System connected, not twisted, not misrouted
Brings: Brakes - in correct hands, lines not twisted around risers
Longevity: Lines untwisted all the way to the wing, no snags or lines-through
Advantages: Air, mental Attitude, Aircraft - Are the conditions matching the forecast; is it within your capabilities? How are you feeling mentally and physically? Are you fit to fly? Are there any other aircraft in front of launch/ top landing that could cause a collision? This is your last opportunity to make sure you are fully ready to bring the wing up and commit aviation. No shame in backing off!And don't limit your preflight checks to yourself - if you are lucky enough to be with other pilots on launch, take a quick look at them. You can easily spot things they might have missed such as forgetting to connect the speed system, floppy reserve handles or even forgetting helmets.
Communication
Radios:
The RGSA has adopted the radio settings used by the Arizona AZHPA and SAHGA chapters. In most cases, you need to change at least two settings, and sometimes three:
Frequency 151.505, Squelch type: DCS; DCS code: 025 (If there are separate settings for TX and RX, set both to 025)Some radios refer to the DCS code in various formats, but if there is an "N" or "R" option, select "N" for "Normal".Along with eliminating chatter from ATV/UTV drivers, EMS helicopters, and crane operators, you never need to adjust your squelch level because the squelch is either open or closed based on the received DCS code.
Tracking/Sat comm's/ SAR
The RGSA strongly encourages everyone to fly with a Garmin inReach and subscribe to the Garmin High Risk SAR plan (the standard plan does not cover PG). Many of our sites have terrible or no cell service, and radios are only good for line of sight and have limited range. If we can't communicate with you and can't see you, without some kind of sat tracking we will have to assume the worst and start a search. Don't be that pilot!
Telegram is the preferred social media for pilots in the SW USA, including the RGSA. Take the time to update your Telegram profile with your Garmin inReach Share URL and your Garmin inReach email - which is not the same as your share address! Your share address looks like this: share.garmin.com/ABCDEF , the email looks like
pilotname@inreach.garmin.com . The email is very important - if we are coordinating a rescue/retrieve in an area with no cell coverage, we can't fire up a browser and look at the share URL to find you. All communication will be direct inReach to inReach (which will include GPS coordinates)
Please also subscribe to any of several free tracking services, such as XCtrack.me or flyxc.app - and include that info in your Telegram profile.First Aid Kit
Unfortunately the Jocky Sanderson X-lite PG first aid kit is no longer available. You can watch the original video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UroXqxzOpg , and assemble the kit yourself. Here’s an overview of its contents. The RGSA recommends using a small dry bag to contain the kit. Total weight for the kit is a little over a kilo.
RHINO RESCUE First Aid Splint 36" X 4.3" Orange-Gray, Keep Bones in Position (1, Folded)
Chito-SAM 100 4" X 4" bleeding control (x2)
OLAES® Modular Bandage
Nitrile Gloves (x4)
Suture kit
CAB Card
Pen for writing
Adhesive Bandages - Different sizes for treating minor cuts and scrapes.
Antiseptic Wipes - Several - To clean wounds and prevent infections.
Gauze Pads - Several - Sterile gauze pads for dressing larger wounds.
Adhesive Tape roll To secure dressings in place.
Scissors - For cutting tape, gauze, or clothing.
Tweezers - For removing splinters or debris from wounds.
First Aid Manual - for various first aid procedures. Make sure it contains trauma guidelines
Safety Pins - for securing gauze or bandages.
Elastic Bandage - For sprains or strains, providing support and compression.
Steve Crye also recommends asking your personal physician for a prescription for Hydrocodone - include a few pills in your kit; they could make a world of difference while you are waiting for evac with broken bones.Emergency Action Plan
After a serious injury, communication is key. If there are several first responders, designate one person to communicate with SAR. If you can quickly reach the injured pilot and the pilot has a Garmin inReach, trigger the SOS BEFORE you call 911. even if someone has already called 911, still trigger the Garmin SOS.
Determine who has the most medical training and let that person take charge of the patient. Locate the first aid kit and follow the quick-response cards/first aid manual.Chapter 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:
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;
- NWS Blended Ensemble Forecast for Agave Hill
Lee's Lookout
- Lee's Lookout is closed. Use Nelson's instead.
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, TX;
- NWS Blended Ensemble Forecast for Nelson'sFranklin 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;
- NWS Blended Ensemble Forecast for North Mount FranklinDry 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
- NWS Blended Ensemble Forecast for Dry
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' AGL
- NWS Blended Ensemble Forecast for La Luz
Anapra Mesa El Paso
- Launch 31.786567° -106.582500° 4,081' MSL 200' AGL
- LZ - either top land, or land directly below (east) of the mesa
- NWS Blended Ensemble Forecast for AnapraEast Potrillo Mountains NM
- Torrey Paso launch 31.864917° -107.006817° 4,944' MSL 800' AGL
- LZ 31.86905 -106.99456
- NWS Blended Ensemble Forecast for Torrey PasoGuadalupe 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 -104.8945816º
- NWS Blended Ensemble Forecast for GuadsKilbourne Hole Marr NM
- East Launch 31.968833° -106.953967°, 4,360 MSL 440' AGL (main LZ)
- Main LZ 31.971866° -106.963756°
- NWS Blended Ensemble Forecast for K-holeWindy 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°
- NWS Blended Ensemble Forecast for Windy Point
Non-RGSA sites
In case you are curious about non-RGSA sites, here are the NWS FC links for some popular ones in the West.
- NWS Blended Ensemble Forecast for Sandia Peak Albuquerque
- NWS Blended Ensemble Forecast for Mustang AZ
- NWS Blended Ensemble Forecast for Point of the Mountain Draper UT
- NWS Blended Ensemble Forecast for King Mountain Idaho