Oceanside Open Safety

Meet frequency: 151.625

Backup frequency: 151.925

Emergency frequency: 158.400

Retrieve frequency: 151.505 Note retrieve is only provided from the main beach LZs at Oceanside and Cape Lookout Safety Chair – Vincent Griffith

1. You are the pilot in command. You are responsible for assessing conditions, deciding to fly or not to fly, preflight checks, launching safely, and landing safely.

2. All pilots are required to:

-Carry a radio on the meet frequency

-Attend the safety meeting at <Date and Time>

Obey ridge rules and right of way

-Read and understand the site guides for Oceanside and Cape Lookout!

*Oceanside: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AnZTM-e2jmb50yhs5jFiCA6ay3asP45wnJlEKHkrKp0/edit

*Cape Lookout:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UwGKJRczw3WGvlHtC0lZsDhu6RBzlSTg17lS8hPBWtI/edit

-Get a site intro at any site you have not flown before

-Not fly after using alcohol or other drugs that day

-Be a current USHPA P2 or higher

-Fly with a helmet

3. All piots are strongly recommended to:

-Fly modern equipment in good condition, including a reserve and back protection

-Perform a thorough preflight routine and assessment of conditions before each flight

-Carry a satellite communication device such as an InReach. It is possible to fly out of cell and radio range from our sites.

-Save the Safety Chair and Event Director contact information in your phone and InReach presets

-Carry a tree rescue kit or 200′ line and a weight to haul up a kit from rescuers

-Limit radio calls to necessary or important information

-Use the buddy system for safety. Let your buddy know when you are done flying and make sure your buddy is safely on the ground at the end of the day

-Only fly if you are well rested, alert, and focused

-Be a member of Cascade Paragliding Club with annual dues paid

4. Launch or sites may be closed due to weather or other safety hazards. Please respect these closures.

-Closures may apply to only P2s in high wind or challenging weather conditions

-If you are in the air when a site is closed use your best judgment as pilot in command to land as soon as safely possible

-You may need to land further down the beach and walk back if many pilots are landing all at once 

5. If you are in an emergency:

-Declare an emergency over the radio. ex. “This is Vincent Griffith, I am being blown over the back due East of Oceanside launch.”

-Declare emergencies early. It is possible to lose radio and cell communication on the ground due to terrain.

-If appropriate, communication will switch to the emergency frequency. If it is not possible to switch, all other pilots must keep the meet frequency clear.

-If you are on the ground and not able to communicate on the radio, attempt to call the Safety Chair or Meet Director.

-Remain calm and use your best judgement as pilot in command. We will discuss procedures for blow backs and tree landings at the safety meeting.

6. If you do not want to launch due to conditions you can step to the side of the line and get back at the front at any time. If you abort 3 launch attempts you will be asked to step to the side of launch, you may get back at the front of the line once you are focused and prepared to launch.

7. Weather can change rapidly at the Oregon Coast. Fortunately these sites have excellent visibility of approaching weather. Stay alert to approaching rain cells or whitecaps. Land well ahead of any hazardous weather. Stay alert to waves and tides and land well away from the water.

8. Event hours are 10am-5pm. Any flying outside of these hours is not part of the event and is under normal site rules.

9. Tandems are not allowed during the event due to insurance requirements