SBD Airport (San Bernardino) Class D Airspace, November, 2008

SBD Airspace - Effective 20 Nov., 2008

Extends from surface to 3,200 MSL

In effect daily from 7 AM to 9 PM (local time).

Note that the NE corner is cut off at the base of Harrison Mtn.,
so XC flights should only be over the hills/mountains in this area.

SBD Airport (San Bernardino) Class D Airspace, November, 2008: Extends from surface to 3,200 MSL

Establishment of Class D Airspace; San Bernardino International Airport, San Bernardino, CA

Sep 25, 2008 (Transportation Department Documents and Publications/ContentWorks via COMTEX) --

SUMMARY: This rule establishes Class D airspace at San Bernardino International Airport, San Bernardino, CA. The FAA is taking this action to provide controlled airspace for the safety of aircraft executing Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and other Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at San Bernardino International Airport. The configuration of this airspace has been modified to accommodate airspace design changes that would enhance the safety and efficiency of air traffic operations at San Bernardino International Airport and continue general aviation access to Redlands Municipal Airport 4.5 nautical miles to the east.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Effective Date: 0901 UTC, November 20, 2008. The director of the Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under Title 1, Code of Federal Regulations, part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA Order 7400.9 and publication of conforming amendments.

more...

SBD Airport (San Bernardino) Class D Airspace, November, 2008, Sectional: SBD Airspace - Effective 20 Nov., 2008 as depicted in Sectional

Crestline-Marshall General Description

Crestline and Marshall Peak, in sunny Southern California, combine to make one of the best all around hang gliding and paragliding sites in the world. Thermal and ridge soaring are both plentiful during the 300+ days a year it is flyable here.

Contents:

1. Crestline General Info
2. Site Protocol
3. Crestline Launches
4. Andy Jackson Airpark

Crestline General Info

Crestline is located about 60 miles east of Los Angeles, California, in the San Bernardino Mountains. The flying site consists of the Crestline Ridge at an altitude of 5,200 feet MSL and Marshall Peak, about a mile in front of Crestline with an altitude of 4,000 feet.

The site, which faces generally SW, is reliably soarable from April to September. Beginning in September the Santa Ana winds (NW) shut the site down for periods of up to 5 days at a time, peaking in October-December and tapering off through early April. The periods between Santa Anas are often quite good and the clear air makes flying at these times quite spectacular. In the summer it is rather smoggy, but still soarable. To get to San Bernardino take Interstate 10 east from LA and go north at the I-215 junction. When the freeway splits bear right ("Mountain resorts") and take the Highway 18 offramp. Highway 18 leads to the town of Crestline and there is a paved road all the way to the Crestline launch. Access to Marshall is via a 2 WD dirt road off of Hwy. 18 part way up. Andy Jackson Airpark (map) is located just behind Cal State University, San Bernardino. From the 215 Fwy, bear left at the previously mentioned split ("Barstow, Las Vegas") and get off on University Pkwy. Head for the University (toward mountains) and turn left on Northpark Blvd. Follow the road over the dike and turn right on the first dirt road. From there it is obvious.


Site Protocol

Crestline offers a combination of ridge and thermal soaring and is primarily a hang gliding site, though PGs can fly from there when the winds are light, usually late afternoon. Marshall is an excellent thermal site for both HG and PG, with top landings possible for advanced HG pilots and very easy for PG. To fly at Crestline/Marshall a pilot must be a ushga member and be a Crestline Soaring Society (CSS) member. Day use fees are $10.00 for non-members. CSS memberships(Application) are available for $100/year(day use fees are not applicable toward membership). Both Crestline and Marshall Peak are rated Hang 3/Para 3 due to the strong conditons usually found there. Pilots with lower ratings may fly if they are under direct supervision of an instructor or if they have an instructor's sign-off, which can be obtained by contacting a local instructor and showing him or her your logbook and/or demonstrating some skills. Pilots with less than 10 hours airtime are further restricted in that they may not fly between 11 AM and 5 PM from April to September; this is due to the sometimes violent thermal activity encountered those times of day during that time of year, especially in the landing area. All pilots flying in the Crestline area are required to carry parachutes appropriate for their aircraft. Andy Jackson Airpark is the only location (in the valley) where it is legal for pilots to land. The City of San Bernardino has an ordinance against flying or landing within city limits and the police can issue tickets to violators.


Crestline/Marshall Launches

The Crestline launch is the most popular site in the area for hang glider pilots. The 5,200 foot MSL ridge, 3,500 feet above the landing area, offers a mixture of ridge lift and thermal soaring throughout the year. There is a paved road all the way up, a paved parking lot, ample set-up area, and toilet facilities. The launch is steep and smooth so the airflow is laminar even in strong conditions. Pilots may follow the ridge for several miles in either direction (E-W) depending on conditions. Just west of launch is the "Billboard" area, an excellent place for thermals. Thermal activity begins around 1 PM, peaks about 3 PM, and tapers off to an evening glass off around 6 PM. Marshall Peak can easily be reached if one leaves the ridge about 300 feet below launch level or higher, depending on the headwind. Thermalling up to Crestline from Marshall or lower is not out of reach for Novice or Intermediate pilots.

See map showing launches and LZ.

On those days where the inversion is not present (usually around 6,500 feet) one can even go over the back for XC into the desert. There is also XC potential to the east, toward Yucaipa 20 miles away. Jumping the 1 mile gap from Billboard to Pine Mtn. to the west brings a pilot to a good thermal gathering mountain which can lead to forays 6 miles farther to Cajon Pass. Flights of 1 to 2 hours are the norm, and even in sled ride conditions a flight will be about 15 minutes.

Marshall Peak offers several launches, the primary one being Marshall Peak itself, 4,000 feet MSL and 2,300 feet above Andy Jackson Airpark. Marshall is the main launch for paragliders flying in the area. Access to Marshall Peak is via fire road 2N40 from Highway 18, after crossing the top of Waterman Canyon. There are actually three launches on the peak, the top is a wide flat SW slope suited to both PG and HG. There are two slightly lower launches facing SSW and S which provide options for HG pilots when the wind is more south than west. Because of the mixture of aircraft at Marshall PG pilots flying just in front of launch are asked to keep an eye on HGs wishing to launch and to yield to them so that they may launch safely. The usual indication that an HG wishes to launch is when he has picked up his glider from the ground. The top of Marshall is flat, about 60 yards wide and is very easy to land a paraglider on. Hang gliders can top land by coming up the slope on the NW side, but this is tricky at times and is definitely an advanced skill. There are thermals along all of the spines around Marshall and the top is even ridge soarable in moderate winds, though the area is not very wide. It is rather easy for pilots to fly back to Crestline from Marshall, but getting back out front can be quite a challenge for paragliders, who risk a VERY inconvenient "out landing" if they do so.

Other Launches

There is a little used launch known as "Regionals" to the west of Marshall Peak and about 600 feet lower than Marshall Peak. This launch is used for competitions and when cloudbase is below Marshall Peak. There is also a launch at 750 feet AGL just above the Airpark which (normally - see note below) can be reached in 12 minutes via a dirt road from the LZ. The "750" launch is good for both PG and HG and is well suited to training and landing approach practice. Good pilots can even thermal up from the "750" and fly all over the place. It is quite satisfying to launch from the 750 and land on Marshall Peak.
Limited Access - hopefully NOT permanent.
Since the 'Old Fire' in Nov. 2003 the dirt fire road (2N40) from near the LZ to the top of Marshall has been closed to motor vehicles, limiting access to the 750 launch. Paraglider pilots can hike up a trail with their gear and launch from the 750, but HG access is pretty much out of the question. The 'Regionals' launch, about 1700 feet above the LZ is also on 2N40 and thus is not currently a normal option, even for PG pilots, though if Marshall were in the clouds one could hike down the road 1.2 miles to Regionals and launch.


Andy Jackson Airpark

Airpark Sign: Our LZ Entrance is well marked.
This is our cast-concrete Airpark sign, ca. 2002, placed at the turn from the 'main' dirt road to our access road. The sign is the handiwork of Dusty Rhodes and Owen Morse. Congratulations for a great idea and excellent realization of it.

The Airpark is our custom built LZ which replaces the old Pinecrest Airpark, which was swallowed up by an expansion of the Devil Canyon Powerplant. The LZ has ample parking, some shade, benches, and toilet facilities. The LZ is a trapezoidal plateau about 600 feet on the long axis (which points into the prevailing SW wind) and about 350 feet wide. The field slopes up into the wind at 2%, with a 50 foot drop-off at the upwind end. The slight up-grade helps make landing at the Airpark a true joy. The (rare) overshooting pilot finds him or herself 50 feet high in the air, but there is plenty of room to make an emergency landing, though the terrain does slope down slightly into the wind and one will have a long walk back to the LZ. There are bluffs just downwind of the Airpark which provide soarable lift, so landing approaches are set-up from the sides of the LZ, which has no obstructions to approach from any side. The PG approach is from the west side and the HG approach is from the east. There are two 50 foot diameter grass target spots, the West for paragliders, the East for hang gliders. Landing pilots are asked to move their wings to the ample grass-covered breakdown area along the west side of the LZ as quickly as possible after landing. The 50 foot high upwind end of the LZ is also used for instructional flights for both PG and HG, as traffic allows. There is a small 20' high mound built up at the northeast end of the LZ for hang glider training (usually with bungee assist). This hill lies right under the HG approach path, but even when in use it is not in the way, and affords students a good view of 'real' flights and landings while they are taking their first runs and flights.


Conclusion

If you are planning to visit Southern California a visit to Crestline should be near the top of your list of things to do, even before Disneyland and Universal Studios. The site offers fun and challenging flying for pilots of all skill levels and is consistent enough that getting up in the air is virtually assured. We look forward to seeing you here and sharing our excellent site.

Site Protocols and Etiquette

ANDY JACKSON AIRPARK PROTOCOLS & ETIQUETTE


To protect our site, and the pilots who fly here, we request you respect the following few rules of site etiquette:

• All pilots and passengers must have a valid USHPA membership.
• All pilots and passengers must wear helmets.
• This site requires an intermediate rating (P3 or H3). Novice pilots may fly with local instructor supervision or signoff.
• Crestline Soaring Society Membership or day-use fees are required*, day use fees and visiting pilot information forms must be filled out and in the dropbox before launching. Day Use & Waiver PDF may be printed and filled out before visiting.
• No aerobatics below 500 ft (AGL).
• Dogs are permitted only in the parking lot or on the patio if on a leash and supervised constantly by the owner, and nowhere else in the LZ. The owner will be responsible for any damage the dog may cause.
• No unattended children.
• Respect the emergency procedures (see below).
• Camping limited to 90 days per calendar year.
• Please respect the standard landing approaches, particularly on busy days and clear the field as soon as possible after landing.**.

Emergency Procedures: If there is a fire in the mountains within 5 miles of the launch, DO NOT LAUNCH, and if you have already launched, LAND AS SOON AS SAFELY POSSIBLE. If a large white X has been placed on the PG target, it also means LAND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. It could be the airspace needs to be cleared for firefighting or helicopter search and rescue.

Emergency or 911?Tell the dispatcher the Airpark location is:
     Andy Jackson Airpark
     6191 N Badger Canyon
     San Bernardino, CA 92407

     (not for mail)


Rules Enforcement:
The CSS Board is to follow this procedure to maintain a fair and predetermined response to rule infractions. If an incident causes a significant and tangible effect on the CSS or to the sport of hang gliding/paragliding, the Board will respond by using the procedures described under Significant Incidents. Incidents need not be witnessed by a Director or a CSS member to result in action by the Board.


1. Standard Incidents – Standard Incidents include infractions of all Site Protocols. The following procedures will be followed in case of violations of Standard Incidents.

First Infraction: Verbal Warning from a Director.

The Verbal Warning to the pilot shall include:

1. A description of the rule and the Incident.
2. A warning that the next Incident will result in a Written Warning.

Most Incidents are errors of ignorance or other unintentional acts. In any case, the pilot should be given the benefit of any doubt, and the Verbal Warning must be respectful and non-confrontational. The Verbal Warning will be discussed at the next Board meeting and recorded in the Board Minutes.

Second Infraction: Written Warning from the Board.

A Written Warning may result if a pilot repeats an Incident within 18 months after receiving an Verbal Warning. The Board shall, at a regular or special meeting, discuss the Incident. The alleged violator shall be requested to participate. After the discussion, the Board shall vote to issue a Warning from the Board to the pilot. The Written Warning, if issued, shall include:

1. A description of the rule and the infraction.
2. A description of the prior Warning.
3. A warning that the next Infraction will result in a Suspension of Flight Privileges of up to two months.

Third Infraction: May result in a Flying Privilege Suspension.
A Flying Privilege Suspension may result if a pilot repeats an Incident within 18 months after receiving a Written Warning. The suspension may be up to two months in length. The Board shall, at a regular or special meeting, discuss the Incident. The alleged violator shall be requested to participate. After the discussion, the Board shall vote to suspend the pilot’s flying privileges and issue a written notice providing details of the suspension, if appropriate. The notice shall include:

1. A description for the rule and the infraction.
2. A description of the prior warnings.
3. The period of the flying suspension, this may be up to two months in length for this category of incident.
4. A warning that the next infraction will be treated as a Significant Incident and may result in a lengthy Flying Privilege Suspension.

2. Significant Incidents – Significant Incidents include any infraction that causes a significant or tangible negative effect on the CSS or the sport of hang gliding. A continued pattern of Standard Incidents may also be treated as a Significant Incident (see above). For this reason, the enforcement policy is rigid and serious. A lengthy, up to and including permanent, Suspension of Flight Privileges may result from this category of Incident. The Board shall, at a regular or special meeting, discuss the Incident. The alleged violator shall be requested to participate. After the discussion, the Board shall vote to determine the appropriate sanction, if any. A written notice providing details of any sanction will be provided to the violator. The notice shall include:

1. A description for the rule and the infraction.
2. A description of the prior warnings (where appropriate).
3. The period of the flying suspension, this may be up to a permanent Flying Privilege Suspension for this category of incident.

A Flying Privilege Suspension of one year or more is to be considered an extreme remedy. A suspension of this type may be appealed at the subsequent Annual Meeting (either Spring or Fall, whichever occurs first). The CSS Board may take subsequent action to commute a permanent Flying Privilege Suspension to a suspension with a fixed term.

Other Notes:

Communication: 146.415 or 123.3

If you are leaving a vehicle overnight in the LZ, please leave a note or let a Club Officer know to avoid unnecessary concern for your well being.

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* USHPA Certified Instructors can purchase a special "Instructor's Membership" which covers ground handling, kiting, training hill and tandems for students. Check with your instructor.

** The area north of the LZ is ONLY for the base leg of an aircraft approach (downwind, base, final) because it tends to be turbulent and triggers thermals. Pilots should lose altitude to the east or west of the LZ as appropriate for their type of wing before starting their left-hand or right-hand approach.


Version 1.3, November 7, 2009

Contact / Instruction

People fly Crestline seven days a week, weather permitting, so it is usually easy to get site information and a ride up the hill. This website's Pilot's Forum is a good means of getting current information, if you can plan in advance or have web access while here. There are a few flight schools which operate nearly every day and they are good sources of information for visiting pilots and for obtaining day memberships and sign-offs if needed. We have an online weather station and webcam installed near the Crestline launch and also have a Windtalker installed at the Crestline 'Top Town' intersection which provide wind information to pilots considering a trip to Crestline; winds between WSW and ESE and under 25 MPH indicate that it is launchable. Visiting pilots who are unfamiliar with the area are strongly advised to contact locals before going up to fly.

Crestline Weather Station: http://www.crestlinesoaring.org/wx/index.php
Crestline Windtalker: (909) 338-3362

Instructors/Schools:

1. High Adventure, HG & PG, Rob McKenzie
2. Atmosphere PG School,
3. (email to be added to this list)

Introductory Tandem Lesson or Full Lesson Package:
A tandem lesson flight is a great way to find out what HG & PG are all about, and if they're right for you, plus tandems are a lot of fun. Most USHPA certified HG and PG Instructors are also certified as Tandem Instructors. There are a number of Tandem Instructors who do not also offer further training, as a means to increase the public's access to our sport without the burden of running a flight school. Below are links to lists of CSS members who have identified themselves as HG and/or PG Instructors and/or Tandem Instructors.

HG Instruction - usually includes Tandem
HG Tandem
PG Instruction - usually includes Tandem
PG Tandem

Crestline/Marshall in Google Maps

The Google Maps view below shows the Crestline and Marshall Peak launches and the Andy Jackson Airpark. [img_assist|nid=1840|title=Crestline and Marshall Peak launches and the Andy Jackson Airpark, with local freeways|desc=|link=node|align=center|width=498|height=350] [b]We also have a [url=http://www.crestlinesoaring.org/airpark_lz_to_launches]closer view[/url] of the LZ relative to the 215 freeway and Cal State San Bernardino.[/b] [list=1] [*]Crestline Launch - 5,200 MSL, 3,400 vertical. Mostly HG, but PG OK in lighter winds. Access via paved roads all the way. [*]Marshall Peak
4,000 MSL, 2,300 vertical
HG and PG - all levels. Access via 2 miles of 2WD dirt road off Highway 18. [*]Andy Jackson Airpark - Access via <1 mile of 2WD dirt road off Northpark Blvd. [/list] [b]Location relative to Los Angeles:[/b] [img_assist|nid=1841|title=|desc=|link=node|align=center|width=434|height=345] Andy Jackson Airpark 6191 N Badger Canyon San Bernardino, CA 92407 [i]([u]not[/u] for mail)[/i] [u]Latitude/Longitude/Altitude[/u] [b]Andy Jackson Airpark LZ :[/b] 34° 11.596'N, 117° 19.382'W , 1700' MSL [url=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&q=34%C2%B0+11.596%27N,+117%C2%B0+19.382%27W&sll=34.236332,-117.312809]Google Maps[/url] [b]Crestline launch:[/b] 34° 14.159'N, 117° 18.781'W , 5200' MSL [url=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&q=34%C2%B0+14.159%27N,+117%C2%B0+18.781%27W&sll=37.0625,-95.677068]Google Maps[/url] [b]Marshall Peak:[/b] 34° 12.615'N, 117° 18.181'W , 4000' MSL [url=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&q=34%C2%B0+12.615%27N,+117%C2%B0+18.181%27W&sll=34.236332,-117.312809]Google Maps[/url] Andy Jackson Airpark LZ :
View Larger Map Crestline launch:
View Larger Map Marshall Peak:
View Larger Map [b]See Also: Jerome Daoust's [url=http://www.expandingknowledge.com/Jerome/PG/Site/Marshall/Main.htm#Maps]Marshall Page[/url][/b]

Airpark LZ to Launches

12/18/2008 - The linked-in live Google maps stopped working, for some unknown reason. The static images below will have to do for now. The Marshall/Crestline map can be viewed in larger form.

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Here are some Google maps showing how to get from the Airpark up to Marshall Peak or Crestline. The trips to Marshall Peak and Crestline both take 25-35 minutes.
Going to Marshall involves a couple of miles on a dirt road, 2N40. There are paved roads all the way to Crestline, and they're kept plowed in the winter, though the Crestline parking area may be full of snow.

Airpark LZ to Waterman Ave./Hwy 18 & Up the Mtn.
The first map details getting from the Aipark to Highway 18. The Northpark Blvd. route has been favored by most pilots for several years because it was a little shorter and only had a few stop signs; it has recently had three stoplights installed near the University and there is a new stop sign near the Airpark, so the advantage over the Kendall/40th St. route to the South may be history. The southern route is certainly best for visitors, since there are only a few turns. The left turn from 40th onto Waterman (Hwy. 18) can take several signal-cycles to get through, so an alternative is to turn left on Sierra Way, two lights before Waterman, and then catch the 48th St. connector to Waterman, which has no light. Sierra Way north does not connect to Waterman Ave.


Airpark LZ to Waterman Ave./Hwy 18 & Up the Mtn.


Highway 18 to Marshall Peak (1)
After traversing the length of Waterman Canyon, Hwy. 18 briefly goes West along the face of the main ridge. There is a large turnout on the South side of the road with the entrance to road 2N40 at the West end, which is the dirt road to Marshall Peak. There is a 'double-double' yellow line in the center of the highway, representing a barrier that it is illegal to cross. There are three smaller turnouts in quick succession after the big turnout, on the same side of the road. The place where it is legal to cross is in the hairpin turn after the third small turnout - there is a gap in the painted lines. Making this legal turnaround is very risky unless there is no traffic.

Road 2N40 is usually OK for 2WD, but there are a lot of ruts and some rocky places. Since 2000, or possibly earlier, most maintenance on this road has been undertaken by the CSS, about once a year (with a hired skip-loader until 2007, when we bought a tractor with the help of the Foundation for Free Flight).

Go slowly and watch for oncoming traffic. There are few places for vehicles to pass each other easily.

Highway 18 to Crestline (2)
Continue on Hwy. 18 past 2N40 until the Hwy. 138 interchange and take 138 to Crestline. At the first intersection take Crest Forest Drive left through 'Top Town'. Be careful turning at the intersection as oncoming traffic is out of view down a steep incline and doesn't have to stop. Follow Crest Forest as it winds through a couple of miles of residential areas and take the rising left onto Playground Rd. as Crest Forest begins to descend. Follow Playground until you pass a medium-sized green water tank on the left and come to a parking area, which has a wooden sign identifying it as the Crestline hang glider launch.

Map Showing Routes from Highway 18 to Marshall Peak and Crestline HG-PG Launches: Click image for larger view

Crestline / Marshall Landmarks

A diagram of Crestline, Marshall and points west, marking out local launches and landmarks and their popular names. Click the 'original' link (below right) to see the full-resolution version - 1152 x 588 pixels [b]Launches:[/b] [list] [*]Crestline [*]Marshall Peak [*]Regionals [*]The 750 [/list] For views to the east, see: [url=/images/2007/crestline_marshall_landmarks_east]Crestline / Marshall Landmarks - East[/url] and [url=/images/2007/crestline_marshall_landmarks_east_to_banning_pass]Crestline / Marshall Landmarks - East to Banning Pass[/url]

Crestline / Marshall Landmarks - East

A diagram of Crestline, Marshall and points east, marking out local launches and landmarks and their popular names. Click the 'original' link (below right) to see the full-resolution version - 1152 x 588 pixels. [b]Launches:[/b] [list] [*]Crestline [*]Marshall Peak [*]Regionals [*]The 750 [/list] For a view to the west, see: [url=/images/2007/crestline_marshall_landmarks]Crestline / Marshall Landmarks[/url] and for a view looking east to Banning Pass see: [url=/images/2007/crestline_marshall_landmarks_east_to_banning_pass]Crestline / Marshall Landmarks - East to Banning Pass[/url]

Crestline / Marshall Landmarks - East to Banning Pass

A diagram of Crestline, Marshall and points east to the Banning Pass, marking out local launches and landmarks and their popular names. Click the 'original' link (below right) to see the full-resolution version - 1152 x 588 pixels [b]Launches:[/b] [list] [*]Crestline [*]Marshall Peak [/list] For more north-looking views, see: [url=/images/2007/crestline_marshall_landmarks]Crestline / Marshall Landmarks[/url] and [url=/images/2007/crestline_marshall_landmarks_east]Crestline / Marshall Landmarks - East[/url]

Local Restaurants

There is some good eating near the LZ, some traditional pilot haunts within a few miles, and a cluster of restaurants on Hospitality Lane off the 10 freeway.

If this list gets big enough we'll make a general map showing the locations.