Landing at Cottonwood
The purpose of this guide is to help you understand how to safely land at Cottonwood Airport in compliance with FAA and City rules. Failure to comply may result in a ban on all hang glider and paraglider landings in the future.
Due to the sensitive nature of our situation, hang gliders and paragliders are encouraged to land elsewhere whenever possible. Use of Cottonwood Airport as an LZ should be restricted so as to minimize the chance of conflict with aircraft which could jeopardize our use of the Airport. In other words, if can land safely someplace else, other than the Airport, please do!
This is intended as a "bare bones" minimum familiarization with Cottonwood Airport. A more detailed guide, with additional details and safety related information, can be sent to you by email. Contact an AHGA club officer or local pilot for more information. See the contact list linked on the main page, or visit our forums and ask for some help.
Prior to Launch:
If you think that you might land, at the Airport, you must make a phone call prior to launching. CALL: Aerobear Aviation at 928-634-5517. Tell them when you might land (between noon-4:00PM?) and how many hang gliders/paragliders are launching and how many might land at the Airport. Ask Aerobear to announce, on UNICOM to aircraft that hang gliders/paragliders may be in the area in this time frame. It's probably a good idea to write down the name of the person you spoke to and the date & time to CYA!
Airport Familiarization:
This photo shows a high altitude view of Cottonwood Airport and the surrounding area. Note that your approach, from Mingus, is from the lower left (southwest) corner of this photo. The sky diver drop zone is a secondary LZ for hang gliders and paragliders but skydivers have priority. If skydivers are landing do not land in the drop zone. Note that you can also see the bailout LZ, the criss-crossing dirt runways, in the extreme lower left hand corner of this photo. The bailout is an another alternate LZ for hang gliders and paragliders which is accessible by dirt road from the Airport. A third, alternate LZ is the 10th Street LZ in the upper right hand corner of this photo. Avoid flying through the General Aviation Pattern while approaching the 10th Street LZ.
Cottonwood Airport features a single runway and parallel taxiway oriented in a northwest/southeast direction. Note that the General Aviation traffic pattern (airplanes and helicopters) is shown in red on the east side of the Airport. Do not fly in the red area below 1500 feet above ground level (AGL).
Also note the YIELD ZONE shown in yellow. This is the area you should avoid if an airplane or helicopter is taking off or landing. The idea, behind the YIELD ZONE is to provide some distance between hang gliders and aircraft while both are using the Airport.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS THAT AIRCRAFT HAVE THE RIGHT-OF-WAY AT ALL TIMES: HANG GLIDERS AND PARAGLIDERS MUST YIELD TO AIRCRAFT.
THIS IS AN FAA REQUIREMENT!
In other words, if an airplane is on the runway or is just off either end of the runway, then we should stay clear of the YIELD ZONE so as not to make the aircraft pilots nervous. If safely possible, land in the same direction as the airplanes are landing, but land in the designated hang glider LZ.
This photo shows the hang glider traffic pattern and designated hang glider/paraglider LZ. The hang glider/paraglider LZ is the dirt area, between the ramp and taxiway, just below the name COTTONWOOD painted on the ramp. THIS IS THE ONLY APPROVED LZ FOR HANG GLIDERS/PARAGLIDERS ON THE AIRPORT OTHER THAN THE SKYDIVER DROP ZONE.
BE SURE THAT YOU CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THE LZ LOCATION PRIOR TO LAUNCHING!
Note that this photo is taken from the east side of the runway, looking back toward the west. In other words, you should never see the Airport from this perspective since it is taken from the General Aviation Traffic Pattern area. Your approach, from Mingus, is from the upper left hand corner of this photo.
Remember that airplanes and helicopters leave behind nasty wake turbulence that may cause you to lose control! Seek additional training if you're not familiar with this hazard and how to avoid wake turbulence.
After Landing
Do not break down your glider in an area that would interfere with taxiing aircraft. Your retrieval vehicle can drive out to pick up your glider. Go to the airport office, in the terminal building, to get access through the gate. While on the ramp, comply with the following rules:
- Speed limit 15MPH
- Do not drive on taxiway or runway: only drive on the ramp (airplane parking area)
- Yield to taxiing aircraft
- Break down first then drive out for pickup: minimize time on ramp
- No alcohol consumption on Airport
Conclusion
A helmet sticker is REQUIRED to land at Cottonwood Airport. Helmet stickers are available by attending a training session in person, or by following the online test. If you successfully pass the online test you will be provided with a printable document that will serve as your "temporary helmet sticker" until we can get you a real one.
For more information, on Mingus Launch and landings at Cottonwood Airport, please contact an AHGA club officer (link available on the main page) or sign up in our forums and ask for additional information and support.
8 comments
The Cottonwood Airport stuff is great!
Now we can direct out-of-towners to this excellent tutorial.
I really like the large image function that you included for the pictures... very helpful.
I'll need to check with Tim Costello as to whether it is still okay for us to land at the drop zone. I've heard the new skydive leaseholder is not HG friendly?
UPDATE 05/15/2009
The FBO, Aerobear Aviation, is no longer in business, according to the airport manager. So there is no one to call on the phone prior to launch since there is no one at the airport operating on the aircraft band UNICOM frequency.
There have been a couple of incidents between hang gliders and the skydive operator. It is best to avoid overflying the skydiver DROP ZONE and avoid landing there, if possible.
However the DROP ZONE is not part of the skydivers' leased area. The DROP ZONE is not controlled by the skydive operator according to the airport manager. That means HG's and PG's CAN land in the drop zone but it is best to avoid the DROP ZONE if possible.
Also, keep an eye out for skydivers approaching to land. Please do not fly anywhere near them!
For the "old timers," the old HGer LZ has new obstacles: signs that direct aircraft. Various obstacles have recently been removed from the NEW LZ; the designated landing area shown on this webpage is now better.
Cheers , D
I believe in the past we have invited HG members to a meeting (so held) so we may all be informed about landing and flying safety between the different aspects of flight at (or near) the Cottonwood Airport.
Perhaps an annual meeting? Tim Costello could arrange this easily. I would also add that the current Skydive Center owners (DZO's) are third generation owners and ARE Hang Glider friendly.
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