Fight for Flight: Gliders Oppose Research Facility

By HEATHER CHAMBERS
San Diego Business Journal Staff

The Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine will seek final
approval next month to build a $115 million research hub on the Torrey
Pines Mesa, one of seven proposed stem cell research institutes
statewide. The tan, windswept bluffs of Torrey Pines have long
beckoned daredevil pilots who, with a little wind and enough momentum,
launch their gliders off the cliffs above the Pacific Ocean.

Today, those pilots are fighting a headwind that they say is apt to
spoil their usual activities. Torrey Pines Gliderport pilots who fly
fixed-wing aircraft could see their favorite landing spot impacted by
the construction of a state-funded stem cell research laboratory.

The Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, a group comprised of
world-class research institutes such as the Burnham Institute for
Medical Research, The Scripps Research Institute, the Salk Institute
for Biological Studies and UC San Diego, aims to erect a four-story
building on North Torrey Pines Road.

Last week, the UC Board of Regents issued their set of approvals to
the project. The proposal will likely go before the California Coastal
Commission in December for final approval.

On Dec 8, 8:26*pm, wrote:
> Fight for Flight: Gliders Oppose Research Facility

Seems like a good reason to go back to landing on the beach!

Andy

And launching!


>
> > Fight for Flight: Gliders Oppose Research Facility
>
> Seems like a good reason to go back to landing on the beach!
>
> Andy

On Dec 9, 10:54*am, GARY BOGGS > wrote:
> And launching!

Nah, unless the beach usage has changed you never get anyone to take a
launch.

Only hearsay unfortunately. When I flew Torrey with AGCSC in the
early 80's the beach was already closed for landing.

Andy

I hate to say it but that is a high risk place to fly full size
gliders.

I have flown my paraglider there and have seen the action first hand.

The full size gliders have been hit with RC models in flight and its
just a matter of time before something really bad happens there with
Models, Hang Gliders, ParaGliders, full size gliders, Jets, golfers,
surfers, beach users, tourists and tour choppers all occupying the
same area more or less.

I think the time has come to shut down that winch operation location
for the great risk to safety it presents.

Ray

On Dec 9, 1:26*pm, jb92563 > wrote:
>
> I think the time has come to shut down that winch operation location
> for the great risk to safety it presents.

Last I heard the winch operation was only a few weeks of each year.
Why could the other users do something else, or go somewhere else, for
those few weeks?

Andy

On Dec 9, 12:55*pm, Andy > wrote:
> On Dec 9, 1:26*pm, jb92563 > wrote:
>
>
>
> > I think the time has come to shut down that winch operation location
> > for the great risk to safety it presents.
>
> Last I heard the winch operation was only a few weeks of each year.
> Why could the other users do something else, or go somewhere else, for
> those few weeks?
>
> Andy

Well for one thing the paragliding operation there is for-profit ($150
a pop for a tandem ride), and they're not willing to part with several
weeks (or even several days) worth of revenue.

But the real problem is not the paragliders or RCers, it is members of
the general public who feel they have a right to walk across the
runway to get to the beach, or park their cars on the emergency cross-
wind runway.

I have to say, the title of this thread sounds like everything is
already over and soaring at Torrey has ended. Nothing could be further
from the truth.

Members of the Associated Glider Clubs of Southern California and
other organizations from the Torrey Pines Soaring Council to Save Our
Heritage Organization (a local history preservation advocate in San
Diego) continue to work with UCSD to identify a compromise that allows
both science and gliding to continue. The Environmental Impact Report
that so many glider pilots commented on at meetings in San Diego was
indeed approved by the UC Regents last week, but this report also
includes a possible runway reconfiguration that will likely allow
continued sailplane operations at Torrey. Furthermore, these same
organizations have worked with the CalTrans Department of Aeronautics
to insure that these sorts of changes will satisfy the needs of the
govt organizations responsible for flight operations approval. Torrey
is by no means dead.

To answer the question regarding safety, quite frankly I don't think
Ray clearly understands the flight operations. This makes me
concerned, because as a paraglider pilot at Torrey, he should be quite
familiar with the flight regulations at Torrey. Safety is everyone's
concern. When the winch is in operation, there is a very loud horn,
there are flagmen, etc. and these flight rules are expected to be
reviewed with every pilot at Torrey as they check in at the gliderport
during the annual sailplane operations, whether the pilot flies hang
gliders, paragliders, models, or sailplanes.

The essential reason that hang gliders, paragliders, and RC sailplanes
fly at Torrey Pines today is because of the history of soaring in
sailplanes at this site. This is a history worth preserving through an
active soaring institution that includes winch-launched and auto-towed
manned sailplanes. If you want to soar at Torrey in 2009, I encourage
you to contact the Associated Glider Clubs of Southern California.
Suggesting the "demise" of Torrey Pines is quite premature.

Gary Fogel

> I have to say, the title of this thread sounds like everything is
> already over and soaring at Torrey has ended. Nothing could be further
> from the truth.

> Suggesting the "demise" of Torrey Pines is quite premature.
>
> Gary Fogel

Thanks Gary!

On Dec 11, 4:11*pm, wrote:
> I have to say, the title of this thread sounds like everything is
> already over and soaring at Torrey has ended. Nothing could be further
> from the truth.


Hang in there! I enjoyed flying at Torrey. I may never go back, but
I'd like others to be able to experience it.

Andy

Gary Fogal's response is worth reading again.

Without concerned and active individuals like Gary, his late father
Larry, and Ed Slater and Rolf Schulze of AGCSC, and the Torrey Pines
Soaring Council and Save Our Heritage Organization, we would be
looking at the end of soaring at TP. Instead we have a raport with the
UCSD management and leaders that is working to keep manned and un-
manned soaring alive at Torrey Pines.

Keep up the good work and support them and their effforts whenever you
can.

Wayne