Torrey Pines Demise

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