Flying life is not back to business as usual at High Rock. The security procedures for High Rock that Joe Gregor worked out with the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) and FAA have some specific provisions that we need to highlight.

First, only pilots registered in advance through the procedures Joe set up will be authorized to fly there - this part you already knew about.

Second, Joe has represented the the effort as one whereby local pilots who regularly flew the site before the TFR were seeking to regain the priviledge for the purpose of maintaining their cliff launch flying skills. The FAA and USSS therefore expect that the group is composed of pilots who are members not only of USHGA but also of one or the other of the two clubs specifically licensed by the Washington County Board of Supervisors to fly at High Rock: Maryland Hang Gliding Association and Capital Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association. As a basis for the security considerations, he has explained that as a close community of pilots, we know each other well enough to recognize all pilots and be able to identify pilots not among the membership of the two clubs. This was one of the selling points to the USSS.

Third, as a selling point to the FAA, only pilots fully aware of the long-standing airspace limitations around P-40 would be flying under the waivers. This means for the time being we should limit participation previously experienced High Rock pilots. As part of the training argument, we can try to accomodate local H2's who would normally be Rocker's had they not come on-board at just the wrong time.

The upshot of all of this: To qualify for registration at this site you need to be a current member of either CHGPA or MHGA, you also need to have flown High Rock on a fairly consistent basis prior to when the 9/11 TFRs were imposed, be training up for the time when you will regularly fly High Rock once again if the TFR were lifted, and have signed the site waiver held by LZ owner Emma Jane.

If you do not meet these criteria, please refrain from registration on the web site. With time, as the authorities become more comfortable with us, we can move to open things up further. But if we move too fast in the beginning, we may ruin chances for everyone.