Visiting pilots please contact us before flying in the area, as there are many sensitive areas where PPG is not allowed.
Let us show you where the best launch sites are, and the best routes to fly.
Contact: Keith Pickersgill, Mobile 082 414-8448, Email: keith@xplorer.co.za
Please familiarise yourself with the local airspace around Cape Town here: https://skyvector.com
If you intend to fly inside controlled airspace, please make the appropriate arrangements by radio or telephone BEFORE entering!
Ensure you do not accidentally stray into restricted airspace such as over the Waterfront, Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, Simonstown Naval Base, Cape Point Reserve, etc.
Also be aware of the prohibited airspace around Langebaan, just South of Voelvlei, just West of Strand Beach, etc.
Durbanville & Fisantekraal area, special procedures
New Delta200 (FAD200) Airspace effective 12 February 2009.Click HERE for details and map
New FAD69 Airspace effective 26 August 2010. Click HERE for details and map
Before flying anywhere between Mossel Bay and Knysna on the Garden Route, you must sign a Declaration that you have read and understand the Rules.
Download the ZIP file HERE
See our collection of WEBCAMS of local flying locations
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Section: A. LIVE Realtime Reports
Section: B. Weather Forecasts
Google Streetview: View Larger version on new page
Google Map at: https://goo.gl/maps/Fk3owE8JDpkUMUVa9
Google Earth Placemark available here Get Google Earth from: earth.google.com
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Dolphin Beach and Table Bay in general
Location: Dolphin Beach PPG take-off field is at the intersection of Marine Drive (M14) and Visagie Street in Table View, between the Dolphin Beach Hotel and Marine Circle. .
It is a narrow grass strip sandwiched between the coastal dunes and the road (M14), running parallel to the coastline in an approximate NW/SE direction. There is usually a windsock on the seaward side of the field. Best weather for flying from here are onshore winds from North-West, through West to South-West, however it can also be flown in a light Northerly and sometimes a very light Southerly. Fresh Southerlies and almost any South-Easter are usually too turbulent. Early morning Catabatic offshore winds will generate rotor off the nearby buildings. Pre-frontal NW winds are the ideal direction but can be strong and gusty, whereas post-frontal SW is usually very smooth flying conditions here.
Limitations at Dolphin Beach takeoff area:
Near the North-West corner, alongside the Blouberg Tourism Office, is a childrens' playground consisting of four swings and a Jungle-Jim with a slide. Along the rear of the field (against the road side), is a low wooden rail, approx knee-height. Where this rail forms a cut-out around three park benches, the South Eastern edge of this cutout marks a boundary extended across the field towards the sea, beyond which no paramotor may cross on the ground. Takeoff runs must be aborted BEFORE crossing this line, to keep paramotors away from the playground. This applies at all times, including when there are no children in the playground at the time. Avoid flying low over the playground. On landing approach from this direction, this may require either a steep descent, or cut across the field after you have passed the playground. Absolutely no flying to the landward side of the rear rail (i.e. over the road), even on landing approach. This may require a cross-wind approach, turning into wind at the last moment. Along the seaward edge is a wooden rail approximately shoulder height that must be cleared after takeoff. If you are not sure that you will clear this rail, abort and start again. There are also tall lamposts along the seaward edge of the field. When the wind is light but straight onshore, then it is usually better to launch approximately 45 degrees from the wind to give you a longer take-off run and more space to climb clear of the rail and lamp-posts.
Airspace and radio frequencies:
Coastline to the South:
If crossing Table Bay (to reach Camps Bay and beyond), remain at least 1000ft ASL over the Waterfront and keep a sharp visual and radio watch (125.8MHz) for tourist helicopters operating from the Breakwater Base. Observe the ceiling of 2000ft ASL while crossing the bay. The entire Atlantic seaboard of the Peninsula is in the FACT SRA WEST on 125.8MHz.
Coastline to the North:
Inland:
To the North, there is a corridor between Doodles Restaurant on the beach and Blouberg Heights (the solitary tall block in Bloubergstrand peoper), though maintain a respectful altitude when crossing over and beware turbulence off Blouberg Heights. Between Big Bay and Melkosstrand is mostly Rural area, however be aware that the Huey tourist helicopters operate low level in this area. Inside the Delta200 (FAD200), operate on 124.4MHz. This stretches from the M19 in the South, Northwards between the R27 West Coast Road to the West and the Kalbaskraal Road to the East, under the TMA with a celining of 2000ft ASL. Northward, past the Delta200 airfield, the ceiling increases to 4000ft ASL. Morningstar Airfield, a popular destination (especially on Saturdays for Breakfast), is just South of the Delta200 and on the Eastern side of the N7, operating on 126.8MHz. Further East (and slightly Northward) is the new FAD69 on 124.2MHz. For charts and details, see: http://xplorer.co.za/local/fad69
Nearby contacts:
The Cape Powered Paragliders Club (CPPG) is responsible for managing the local PPG flying sites and ensuring the safety of the pilots and the public. The Safety Committee also operate as a Disciplinary Committee who are empowered to take action against pilots who break the rules.
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Airband radio usage.
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When using official airband channels in flight, we need to keep our communications brief yet clear, using acceptable terminology (Brevity & Clarity), especially in high traffic areas such as Table Bay. We all get rusty over time, so it helps to "listen in" occassionally to remind ourselves how things are done correctly. A few important pointers to remember: Some terms are difficult to make out or interpret over airband which operates on AM not FM, so the reception is not as crisp nor clear. We need to avoid using such terms and use the correctly recognised terms instead. (this is also good practice on the FM paragliding channels) Use the term "motorised paraglider" on the radio and NOT "powered paraglider"
Yes, and No, become "Affirm" and "Negative". To acknowledge that you heard and understand an instruction or call, use, "Copy that" and not, "Affirm". Use "Say Again", and not "repeat". When flying in a group or a loose formation, only one person need do general radio calls for the group. The callsign "paraglider formation" may then be used for general calls, and to inform the group of intentions flight, e.g. "Paraglider formation, we shall turn 180 degrees to the right over the carpark". If there are student pilots in the group, then it may be prudent to use the PPG Chat frequency (130.350MHz) for informal radio contact, however someone must still make regular broadcast calls on the official local channels and then inform the group on the chat channel about possible traffic in the area. All PPG and PHG pilots flying around Cape Town should have the frequencies listed on the Left programmed into their airband radio. Its useful to program these into your radio, and scan these while at the desk or while driving, to "learn the lingo" and keep your ear tuned into the "patter" of airtalk. NOTE: The ATIS channels (Air Terminal Info Service) gives almost realtime update on changing weather conditions. Each time it is updated, the recording is assigned the next letter of the alphabet (e.g. "Information Delta" follows after "Information Charlie"). The key elements worth noting for PPG is wind strength and direction, QNH, visibility, and cloud cover. Make absolutely sure you do NOT accidentally transmit on these channels. It is safest to program these channels as "Transmit Inhibit" to prevent accidental transmissions. |
Reminder of certain mandatory requirements for PPG which must be adhered to:
As you can see from the above, it is often impossible to comply with all these requirements, so airband radio becomes quite necessary on almost all flights. This implies that all PPG pilots must have their airband radio license, own an airband radio and must be on the CORRECT FREQUENCIES at all times throughout each flight.
For Cape Town, this is the VFR AERONAUTICAL CHART OF THE SOUTH WESTERN CAPE region (scale 1:250 000).
This chart can be purchased from the government department of Surveys and Mapping in Mowbray. See: www.ngi.gov.za/. Telephone Numner is 021 658-4300.
If this is not carried in flight, it should at least be in the pilot's car in order to review before each flight. When travelling and visiting other regions, it is imperative the pilot familiarises himself with the airspace in that region. If he does not purchase a map for that region, he must find a local pilot for a briefing and a viewing of the local pilot's charts. Its worth getting one in plain paper (to carry inflight) and one laminated as a wall-chart to work on with overhead projector pens. They have branches for cash sales in: Mowbray- Cape Town, Pretoria, Bloem, PMB.
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