Visiting Pilot's Information and Code of Conduct

Welcome to the FlyStanwell Club

FlyStanwell warmly welcomes all visitors, whether locally, interstate or from all over the globe.

Welcome to the FlyStanwell Club home of one of Australia's premier flying sites. Our mission is to safely share the incredible experience of flying Stanwell Tops with as many pilots as possible whilst keeping all patrons, pilots and the public alike of Bald Hill (our launch area) and all other designated areas safe at all times.

Bald Hill is a very busy launch area, and with that comes a number of distractions that new pilots may find challenging. This is why it is critical that all new visitors receive a full site briefing/site induction. It will help them enjoy our site more.

Bald Hill is rated as an intermediate site, and as such, we must ensure all rated pilots are catered to in a way appropriate to their individual skill levels. FlyStanwell strives to honour this by managing all visitors in a safe and supported environment. In order to best support your needs, we have a number of pre-requisite steps all visitors must comply with before coming to the 'Hill'.

Safe and enjoyable paragliding and hang gliding is reliant on the goodwill of many various groups, including other pilots, landowners, government departments and members of the public.
Over the years, we have worked hard to foster goodwill and build positive relationships with these groups.
To help maintain this goodwill, the club has published a Club Code of Conduct.
Please take the time to familiarise yourself with the Club Code of Conduct, keeping in mind the goals of the code outlined above.

Thank you, and we wish you safe and enjoyable flying,

FlyStanwell Committee

Code of Conduct

FlyStanwell Club welcomes you as a visitor or for your membership contribution. We also welcome your ideas and the giving of your time to club meetings and projects. Your club supports your access to the sites, and values your support in return.

In order to fly our beautiful sites administered by FlyStanwell you must be a member of SAFA (either as a full SAFA member or under the SAFA Visiting overseas pilot license)

It is also a requirement as a visitor or club member that you agree to observe & abide by the following:

1. Respect for the sites. Our sites and surroundings are a precious resource for our sport & our club. Our custodianship of sites and ongoing access is under constant review, and we are grateful for the goodwill of the site owners. When at a flying site, please always behave respectfully and considerately towards the site. This includes familiarity with site rules – this is your responsibility. The rules are detailed on our website and in various locations around the physical site. It is mandatory that visitors receive a site briefing from a club's safety officer prior to flying. All club members have access to the site guides. If in doubt, it is a requirement that you ask a representative of the club for clarity. Launching/flying/landing is only permitted from or within specifically designated areas, in appropriate conditions, following approved site procedures.

It is a requirement of our “site licence” that:

All pilots be aware of, and adhere to the ”No Fly Zones” around the sites.

All Pilots should ensure that they are aware of any airspace restrictions within the scope of their intended flight. The Club does not condone any instances of airspace breach and will not protect any pilot from investigation by the SAFA or CASA should this occur.

2. Respect for other stakeholders. Please respect and acknowledge the rights and interests of other site stakeholders – these include residents, landowners, members of the public and other site users and/or custodians such as councils, surf clubs, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service NPWS, SAFA and CASA. Flying is not a right – Flying is a privilege that relies on the goodwill of these stakeholders to continue.

3. Respect for our sport.  Know the rules, know your limitations, participate within them and make safety your primary consideration. Every time you fly the site you are representing your sport & your/our club. Please help portray an image we can all be proud of, and protect the goodwill we have established. Always consider and ensure the safety of the general public. This particularly applies to where the public are near to a launch and landing zones. Pilots are also asked to keep their language in check at all times.

4. Respect for your club and your fellow members. Goodwill between pilots, including visiting pilots, FlyStanwell club members and commercial operators, is vitally important. Please be considerate towards others. Antisocial behaviour towards any member of the club or public will not be tolerated by the club in any instance. This applies to either verbal or electronic formats such as Email, Social Media postings or any other such carriage service. Should it be felt that an issue warrants investigation on Pilot Behavior or Safety grounds, the member should direct their concerns in writing to the FlyStanwell Club Committee.

It is a common courtesy to fellow pilots that the following is considered at all times:-

All hang gliders or paragliders should be set up outside of launch areas to maximise the efficient use of this space and to prevent any likelihood of damage occurring to equipment or persons due to a launch issue.

Where it is permitted, ground handling of paragliders is to immediately cease when other pilots show the intention of launching or top-landing. Pilots top-landing in the vicinity of East Launch have priority over launching pilots. Pilots must delay their launch until the pilot top-landing has safely landed and moved away from the area.

If, whilst you are flying, you can see that other pilots are set up to launch but appear to be waiting; there is a good chance that they are waiting for space to fly. Even though you may feel that there is room for another aircraft, you should remember that we are a community that includes low airtime or tandem operations and that we all deserve the opportunity to fly. Share the air by having several short flights rather than one or two longer ones.

All landing zones are to be vacated as soon as practicable to allow safe flight operation.

5. Respect for our environment. Please don’t litter whether biodegradable/organic or not. This means anywhere in or around our sites including car parks. Whilst we cant always control other site users in this regard, we can lead by example by leaving the site clear of rubbish at the end of a flying day. 

6. Media Involvement. Should any incident occur where the media seeks comment or information, all pilots are to refrain from making comments on any such incident/ accident that has occurred. Instead, the member is to direct any enquiry to the Club President or Club SSO. This is to prevent the fuelling of speculation, inaccuracies or a negative portrayal of the Club/Sport; and to prevent the names of the persons involved being released prior to informing of family/partners etc.

7. UHF Radio use. All pilots are encouraged to use a UHF CB radio tuned to SAFA 2 for safety announcements or weather updates from the Duty Pilot or Club SSO. All PG2 or HG Supervised pilots must use a UHF CB radio tuned to SAFA 2 or a channel in direct communication with your supervising pilot. If a PG2 or HG Supervised pilot does not have a radio the club has a limited number of radios that can be hired by visiting pilots for a small fee or free to financial members of FlyStanwell.

Commercial Operators

1. Touting the public: Commercial operators, members of their staff, assistants, or affiliates will not approach members of the public soliciting business to secure bookings.

2. Public asking about the sport: As pilots, you may find yourself approached by members of the public showing an interest in the sport. Remember, you are all ambassadors of our sport, so be friendly, courteous, and enthusiastic about this sport we love. Feel free to comment on what you feel confident in saying, and if you cannot answer their questions, direct them to a member of the committee or an instructor.

3. Public asking about tandem flights: Pilots approached with questions about tandem flights, direct them to the advertising boards the commercial operators have out. Or introduce them to all the commercial operators who are operating on the hill at the time to give all operators an equal opportunity to secure the business.

Please be active in upholding these points with other club members and visiting pilots. The future of our sites and our sport depends on these efforts and having a consolidated club voice.

Failure to abide by the above ‘Code of Conduct’ could result in suspension of flying privileges or escalation to the SAFA as deemed necessary at the time by the committee.