Our WEB site has a topic, “IMPORTANT: National Park Service reviewing its policies”, that encourages Funston pilots to write the National Park Service to end its policy requiring special use permits to hang glide and paraglide in National Parks. The unintended consequence of ending special use permits may be paragliding at Funston.
We hang glide at Fort Funston under a special use permit issued by Supt. O’Neil of the GGNRA. Paragliders have attempted to obtain a permit but have been denied for obvious safety reasons. If Supt. O’Neil looses his authority to determine who flies at Funston, the site may be open to paragliders and hang gliding will be limited or marginalized as at Torrey Pines.
Several years ago a USHGA Regional Director threatened to revoke our site insurance unless we allowed paragliding at Funston. We responded that the decision to allow paragliding was the GGNRA’s. We do not want to undermine the GGNRA’s authority to make that decision by abolishing or limiting its right to issue special use permits.
Support our landlord. Maintain special use permits at least at Funston. Preserve Supt. O’Neil’s authority.
Dan Brown