More Mesa Flight Management  

The Santa Barbara Soaring Association Directors along with local flight instructors have established guidelines for flying More Mesa and the Hope Ranch Bluffs.

These guidelines were needed because of recent incidents that threaten foot launched flying in this area. 

These incidents include;

·        Pilots flying without the SBA Tower being notified prior to flight,

·        Substantial Complaints from Hope Ranch Property Owners regarding privacy,

·        Mishaps involving pilots with limited experience that have resulted in injuries and/or the need to call on County rescue services.

 All pilots must have a site specific briefing by a local site guide prior to flying any local launch for the first time, or if considerable time has passed since your last orientation to the site. Guides: Circling Hawk Paragliding: 805.408.5848; Eagle Paragliding: 805.968.0980; Fly Above All Paragliding: 805.965.3733; Fly Away Hang Gliding: 805.957.9145; John Greynald: 805.682.3483.

Before flying the More Mesa/Hope Ranch area, all pilots must contact a Local Site Guide and ask the guide to call the SBA Tower for permission to fly within this Tower regulated air space.

All Pilots must confirm that the SBA Tower has been notified of flight plan by getting confirmation from the site guide that the tower has been called. Confirmation can also be established by tuning into 132.650 or calling 805.967.0283 and listening for the ATIS that refers to gliders flying in the More Mesa bluffs area.  

Student pilots are restricted from flying More Mesa without a local instructor’s direct supervision.

Students and novice pilots are restricted from flying east of the undeveloped More Mesa area. (toward Hope Ranch)

All pilots should respect the privacy of homeowners on the bluffs.

Every pilot will attempt to maintain at all times a flying position not further inland than the beachside of the top of the cliff-face.

Pilots shall not:

• Loiter when flying in front of any property longer than it takes to traverse in front of that property in a timely manor.
• Needlessly fly in an area that will get resident dogs barking.
• Photograph or video any residents or properties along the Hope Ranch bluffs

Please pay particular attention to the estates just east of the Hope Ranch Beach Arroyo (where the cabaña is on the beach) See drawing.

These Property owners have experienced privacy incursions because their properties are on the most soarable area of the bluffs. If the conditions are such that the only soarable area of the bluffs is at this location, pilots wishing to have a soaring flight should not fly until conditions improve.

Flights originating from the Douglas Family Preserve (Wilcox) that go west past the gap at Arroyo Burro Beach (Hendry’s) are bound by all of the guidelines above.

Thanks for keeping to the guidelines and helping to preserve our flying locations.

These guidelines are subject to change and are not intended to replace the need to contact a local guide for a complete site-specific orientation.