Notes for site managers and administrators

Why this site guide?

In April 2017, the first of a series of annual, nationwide pilot surveys was conducted by SAFA (formerly HGFA). The response from throughout the membership was overwhelmingly for the generation of a national site guide. In December 2017 a meeting of all state presidents was held where similar discussions about site establishment, maintenance, development and security of tenure were had. Pilots asked for an ANSG in part, to have a single, standardised information source to find sites, who to call, and how to find out about site protocols, without having to trawl numerous information sources, or access sites unknowingly and risk site loss or closure.

The Australian National Site Guide is designed to go someway to provide the requested information. It is not an attempt to wrest away the clubs site management responsibilities. This guide provides clubs the ability to comply with club affiliation requirements; to maintain ongoing management, assessment and publication of changes to launch and landing sites within their auspices.

The ANSG has been compiled by a volunteer group of SAFA pilot members from around the country and the information sourced from RA’s, clubs and pilots. There is a permanent ANSG webmaster appointed for updates and changes.

Site Managers

All site managers are encouraged to ensure their sites and the information shown is as accurate and up to date as possible (or is linked to a maintained club site guide). There are several long outdated site guides on the web, particularly where clubs have folded.

Site information, such as name and rating is often used in accident/incident investigations and may be included in the collation of national accident summary reports. Hence it is extremely useful if at least the minimum site information is provided for each site.

There are several ways site information is displayed in the ANSG.

  1. The ANSG provides minimum information; Site name, rating and contact details.(eg Tasmania)
  2. The ANSG provides minimum information, and a link to the administrating clubs site guide. (eg North Brother, NSW)
  3. The ANSG provides minimum information, a link to the administrating clubs site guide, and may provide other info such as flight hazards, landowners, flight conditions, etc. (eg Rainbow beach, SQLD)
  4. The ANSG is used by the site managers as THE only site guide and contains ALL known information for the site (eg Flinders, Vic)

The amount of information above the minimum requested, is at the discretion of the club site administrators. You can put as much, or as little, information in the site guide as appropriate. To reduce the need for constant updating, ideally information shown should not become dated. Eg, heights, wind directions, name, locations, contact club etc.

Sites with access closed by the land owners can be indicated 'Closed' (as per several existing sites). The site guides will not be removed/deleted immediately. This is to ensure 'long membership' pilots do not simply turn up on the site expecting it to 'be like the old days'.

The minimum information requested for a site is:

Other preferred minimum information is:

Sensitive sites

All sites are sensitive. All sites are subject to the whims of nearby residents, environmental groups, local or state governments, access agreements, noise control, flight restrictions, landing restrictions, and the list goes on. Your management requirements are the same as everywhere!

If you are managing a 'more' sensitive site, make this very clear in the entry. Tell the pilots who to contact for site protocols, and other information. You may wish to change site location co-ordinates to a nearby landing or meeting point.

Other site concerns

"Our sites are sensitive"

Use the ANSG to tell pilots the site protocols.

"We dont want our sites published"

It is not mandatory for sites to be published, however, there are several ‘site guides’ on the internet, not endorsed by SAFA, that already publish site locations (and little else). E.g. xcontest.org, paraglidingspots.com, groupspaces.com, OzReport, ParaglidingEarth, Airservices Australia, hanggliding.org, YouTube, Vimeo, Holfuy, Facebook, Windy etc.

Use the ANSG to regain control of your site information distribution, help you manage and reinforce your sites protocols or restrictions.

"Our sites are restricted to club members only"

Use the ANSG to tell visiting pilots what they need to do and who to talk to, if they wish to access/fly the site.

If you have access or use consent agreements with the landowner, for future amendments, perhaps consider access by other certified SAFA pilots, or reciprocal arrangements with nearby clubs.

"The ANSG is not up to date"

The ANSG is a shared resource for, and created by, all pilots and relies on us to keep the info as up to date as possible. A quick email to the webmaster will fix it.

In response to the membership request, and our need to improve our sports safety management, we would encourage all club site managers and other site administrators (if managed by local pilots) to assist with continued development of the Australian National Site Guide.

Your ideas and input are welcome.

The SAFA may provide favourable loans or grants to affiliated RA’s or clubs to assist with site establishment, development and retention. (see SAFA Management & Procedures Manual).

Please contact the webmaster.