We did a straw poll at a recent club meeting to see if anyone would be opposed to having a tandem hang gliding program at Fort Funston. There were no objections, so a committee was formed to develop a tandem proposal for the GGRNA. I wrote the backbone, met with Gordon Pollock and Urs Kellenberger to flesh it out, then with some fine tuning by Daniel Pifko, came up with what we feel would be a safe, and low impact way to allow tandem flying at the Fort. I have posted the proposed tandem rules below. This trial program would have to be voted in by the club membership, and could be modified down the road. Because our Special Use Permit expires at the end of February, we felt the need to send the proposal to the GGRNA right away. Their process might take some time, but we would like to get club approval ASAP, so we can start flying tandem if it comes through. Please take a few minutes to read over our proposed rules and come to the club meeting to vote on them.
Thanks!
Steve Rodrigues, V.P.
Proposed Tandem rules for the FFHGA
1) A Fort Funston Tandem Director will be appointed by the Fellow Feathers Executive Committee on an annual basis, and no later than the first Fellow Feathers meeting after a new Executive Committee is elected.
2) Tandem flights may only be operated by Funston Tandem Instructors.
3) Funston Tandem Instructors and their hang gliding equipment must be approved by the Fellow Feathers Tandem Director.
4) Funston Tandem Instructors and their hang gliding equipment will be reevaluated annually.
5) Funston Tandem Instructor approval may be rescinded by the Tandem Director or a majority of the Fellow Feathers Executive Committee at any time for unsafe tandem operations, contravention of these rules, or other just cause.
6) Funston Tandem Instructors must hold a current United States Hang Gliding Association Tandem Instructor rating.
7) Funston Tandem Instructors shall comply with all USHGA tandem regulations and FFGHA rules.
The club shall maintain a list of approved Funston Tandem Instructors.
9) A Funston Tandem Instructor may instruct no more than 3 students per day.
10) Student pilots must be members of the United States Hang Gliding Association.
11) Commercial training and instruction are prohibited.
12) Funston Tandem Instructors must use at least 1 experienced wire person to assist launch.
13) Only one tandem flight may be in the air at any one time.
14) Tandem flights shall be limited to 20 minutes if another tandem flight is waiting to launch.
15) Tandem flights are only permitted when landing on the beach is an option, and when weather conditions allow an additional margin of safety for top landings above what would be expected for single pilot operations.
Guidelines for the Funston Tandem Director to use for approving a Funston Tandem Instructor;
-Current USHGA card with Tandem Instructor rating. (MANDATORY)
-Safe HG equipment, i.e.; safe design and in good repair. (MANDATORY)
-Appropriate Tandem launch method = “FL” (MANDATORY)
- Special skills that contribute are CL and AWCL.
-Experienced at Fort Funston as a solo pilot.
-Parachute repack card.
- Current logbook.
-Personal referrals.
