Tuesday was excellent for soaring, I launched at 10:45AM and was quickly able to climb 1,500′ over and stay up until I pulled big ears to get down. Kevin K and Johannes launched soon after and Kevin made it all the way to Lyons!
Today look similar: light winds and sunny conditions. Pressure gradient -.1″ and winds aloft light. Expect more active conditions today as moisture is gone. I will start P1′s at 7AM.
Pressure gradient zero and NBR showing light winds. Winds aloft light but humidity high 50% so slower thermal heating. Surface may be a bit wet.
Took off Just before Granger but did not find a strong enough thermal to stay up. Its definatly all about the timing. I waited to make the turn to take off until I felt the wing try and lift me off the ground. Thought I had hit it perfect but the thermal diddnt last. Got a few small bumps on the way to the LZ but nothing sustained. Every flight is a learing experience. Take note of all the indicators during your flight to learn and improve.
Radio Frequency Urgent Update
Hi Colorado folks,
I received a phone call this morning from the Parks Department in Boulder. They coordinate park operations using radios which operate in the business band, in the same general range of frequencies where we have assignments. They were subject to some extended interference on their licensed frequency from local pilots.
They have a license to operate on 154.800 Mhz. USHPA is authorized to operate business band radios on 158.400 MHz. It is probable that some local pilots have mis-programmed radios which are interfering with the park’s licensed operations.
This sort of thing is exactly why it’s a requirement that only type-accepted, business band radios may be used on the five authorized frequencies. A modified ham radio is NOT legal to operate on these frequencies, because of the risk that it can be mis-programmed, among other reasons. A business band radio cannot be reprogrammed in the field, and the assumption is that a radio technician will set it up properly before use, so it won’t cause interference through misuse.
Police, fire, ambulance, SAR, parks and many other users all have allocations in this band. Some users are life-safety critical, and interference with them is dealt with very seriously by FCC. Penalties for illegal operation can run to $10,000 per incident plus confiscation of equipment. You DO NOT want to attract the attention of FCC, and stepping on other people’s dedicated frequencies is a good way to do it.
The five frequencies that USHPA has authorization for are:
151.505
151.625
151.925
151.955
158.400
Pilots can also get their ham license and operate on any of the simplex frequencies in the 144.5-148.0 band. The test is easy, the exam questions are on-line, and once you’ve passed you’re good for life. Just follow the basic rules, ID regularly and don’t interfere with other users.
Please verify that you are using legal equipment which is correctly programmed. I assured the Parks Department that we would immediately take action to eliminate the interference, and that they should contact me if any further problems occur.
I’m asking the office to send this to all pilots in Colorado, and I’d like to have you post it to your local club forums as well in case the offenders are not current members but are still actively flying and engaged with the community. Thanks for your attention, and fly safely.
Thanks,
Mark G. Forbes
USHPA Radio Committee Chairman
radio [at] ushpa [dot] aero
Office Contact:
——————
Robin Jones, Communications Manager
Saturday–5/5/12–was quite cloudy and I struggled to stay up 21 minutes and could only climb 1,800′ over launch! I spent the first 5 minutes just climbing to ridge level! Maximum climb rate of lift 500′/min! Tough day to climb! Watch it here.
Sunday looks better this morning with a 30% chance of showers this afternoon. Post frontal conditions again today with NE winds forecast. NBR reporting SE winds already. I will start with P1′s at 7AM. I hope it is sunnier and we can climb higher today!
Northerly cold front passed through last night. Pressure gradient is -.09″ and winds aloft are light. NBR showing light and variable winds. Ample sunshine & post frontal conditions today will give active air by midday so I will start with P1′s at 7AM.
Pressure gradient is -.12″ and winds aloft at 9K are 25 knots. Weather radio calling for west winds this afternoon but they may also be here this AM!
NBR showing west winds 6–10 m.p.h. Perhaps this will change with morning heating.
Pressure gradient -.08″ and winds aloft light. NBR showing light and variable winds. Partly cloudy with SE winds 10-15 forecast for Thursday afternoon should make for good flying.
West winds have died down and pressure gradient is now -.05″. Cloudy conditions will slow thermal development. Winds aloft are light. NBR showing light winds.
A NW cold front entering Colorado
NOAA weather radio and Broomfield Aviation Weather are calling for strong westerly winds on Tuesday and Wednesday. Glad we flew yesterday as Thursday looks like the next flyable day.