POM North Side Rules

• Follow all posted Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation regulations.

• Motorized aircraft are prohibited.

• Wear a helmet any time you are attached to a glider.

• Kiting in or upwind of the hang glider landing area is prohibited.

• Immediately before launching, clear traffic and yell “Clear” or “Launching.”

• Adhere to standard Ridge Rule and thermaling right-of-way procedures. 

• Do not perform aerobatics above residences or within 300 feet of the setup and launch areas.

• Paragliders landing in the green grass area must yield the right-of-way to bystanders.

• If crowds prevent landing in the green grass area, land in the hang glider landing area and exit the LZ promptly.

• Land before official sunset (FAR Part 103).

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Incident Awareness and Response

• While airborne, be alert for the lights or sirens of emergency vehicles below. They may be responding to a flight incident or accident in the park or its environs, including the Upper and Lower LZ or along your route of flight.

• The presence of emergency vehicles alone does not require you to land, but plan ahead for an alternate LZ if emergency vehicles block the primary LZs.

• An oversized X laid out in an LZ means a helicopter is enroute and may be responding to an emergency at either the NS or SS Flight Park. Land or vacate the area as soon as possible.

• Familiarize yourself with alternate LZ’s away from the Flight Park. Consider scouting these LZ’s on an off day. Talk to an instructor about arranging a pre-planned off-site landing and retrieve at Steep Mountain Park, Wheadon Farm Park, or the South Mountain Golf Course.

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‘Benching Up’ and Staying Safe at the North Side

• Changes in wind direction, velocity and useful lift can be subtle and gradual—or pronounced and dramatic. Pay close attention to your glider’s performance throughout your flight. If in doubt, land before conditions exceed your limitations.

• Winds aloft will be stronger than surface winds at launch and can easily exceed safe limits for H2/P2 pilots. Loss of penetration and uncontrolled blowback are serious threats to pilots soaring near the ridge of Steep Mountain (the upper bench).

• Under conditions favorable for H2/P2 pilots, expect some difficulty climbing high enough to safely ‘bench up.’ Ironically, the harder you have to work to gain the altitude needed to transition to the upper bench, the safer conditions are likely to be once you get there.

• Paraglider pilots should not base launch or in-flight decisions on the perceived performance of speed-wings and mini-wings launching from the top of Steep Mountain.

• Brisk winds and buoyant conditions in front of the lower bench are an indication of

  1. a high likelihood of strong rotors at the base of Steep Mountain (between the parking lot and the hillside), and

  2. potential out-of-limit conditions at altitude in front of Steep Mountain. Consider remaining in the lower bench pattern rather than benching up.

• After a successful transition to the upper bench, and as you start your climb, remain within the upwind lift band well away from the face of Steep Mountain. At altitude, continuously test your ability to penetrate to the north away from the hillside. Until you gain experience, stay in front of the tallest portion of Steep Mountain rather than flying out to the shoulders.

• Steep Mountain produces dangerous rotors in the lee of the ridge line across its entire width. Do not cross the ridge line towards the south at any point, including the peak and shoulders. If you find yourself blown back and unable to penetrate back to the north,

1. do not attempt to top-land;

2. gain as much altitude as possible and fly west (towards the freeway);

3. fly south over the South Side and land in the open fields to the south of the South Side LZ.

• Midday conditions at the North Side demand technical flying and advanced skills. Midday launches should only be attempted by very experienced pilots and only from the upper bench.