Festival of Flight 2022

Happy Spring to you all!  We hope that you have had a chance to get some flying in over the winter.  If not, you won’t have to wait much longer – spring is practically upon us!

HPAAC Exec discussed the spring 2022 Festival of Flight and the consensus is, since we are still experiencing some COVID-related issues this year, we have opted to postpone the Festival to the end of the summer flying season this year.

The 2022 Festival of Flight will be held on Labour Day long weekend, (Friday, September 2, to Monday, September 5).

In addition to the change of date, the 2022 Festival of Flight will be held in PEI this year!

Many benefits of a PEI Festival include:

  • Our sites are actively maintained
  • Our 3 primary flying sites are located around Point Prim/Orwell area (25 minutes from Charlottetown – between where the NS Ferry in Caribou lands on PEI at Wood Islands and Charlottetown).  These sites take a variety of wind directions (NW, N, and W).
  • Possibility of tow launching at Cable Head Flight Park and Summerside Airport.  (Need a winch and operator)
  • The launch site at Cousins Shore (N-NE wind) – requires a good briefing prior to flying.
  • Launches from some small cliff sites with South and SW-SE winds (these sites are typically quite small sections of cliffs, beach landings are possible at low tide)
  • A wide variety of accommodations are available, ie. Campgrounds, Cottages, B&B’s hotels, motels
  • Tons of restaurants with a wide variety of food and price point.  Great grocery shopping available.
  • We have active PG pilots here, even some ultralight pilots and PPG pilots too.  (My neighbor is an ultralight pilot and I know a couple of active PPG pilots here. We could invite them in as guests to participate and/or simply hang out with other like-minded people who have a passion for flight of any brand).
  • If the wind is too strong/too weak for flying, there is no shortage of things to do:
  • there is a good chance of kiteboarding (south shore, north shore sites) if winds are too strong for flying.
  • Golfing
  • Beaches
  • Hikes and biking mountain biking trails, or the tamer rails to trails system (from tip to tip)
  • Restaurants, Pubs
  • Museums and Heritage, Parks

We are open to any suggestions for activities anyone would like to offer – just let me know.  We will be planning the Festival details very soon. More to come as we get things together!

Safety message from HPAC

March 19, 2020

Fellow Pilots:

We find ourselves in a dynamic situation that is evolving daily. While the pandemic is not expected to have a significant direct impact on association operations, it will undoubtedly affect individual members, instructors, schools and tandem operations in many ways.

Aside from the obvious recommendation to follow local guidelines about travel and avoiding groups of people, I feel it is important to ensure members consider some less obvious effects of the pandemic when making decisions about flying.

  • Landowners may not be happy to have visitors under these circumstances, please check with the site organizer or landowner before heading out.
  • Your fellow pilots may wish you to keep your distance, please respect their space.
  • First responders and emergency services are likely to be increasingly overloaded. If you have a bad ending to your flight, you may wait a very long time for rescue if they are able to respond at all. If you need emergency care you will be using resources that someone else may need more than you.

With respect, I ask you to weigh the relative importance of your desire to fly against the needs of your community to limit the spread of the virus. It is your decision where and how you fly. Please make your decision wisely.

Best Regards,

Nick Jones
President, HPAC/ACVL

25th Annual Festival of Free Flight : May 17-20, 2019

The event marks the start of the flying season for many people and is the largest gathering of Maritime pilots during the year.  With over nine different potential flying sites and friendly competitions, it is a social highlight for many pilots.


2019 FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

Flying (Friday – Monday) locations depend upon wind and weather conditions.
Location updates will be posted on whiteboard on Mainstreet (Loctation TBD) , Twitter @HPAAC and on the HPAAC Facebook page– and see site map above.

Friday May 17

  • Pilots breakfast 8:30 am @ Harbour View Restaurant
  • 6:00 pm – Lobster Boil – members only

Saturday May 18

  • Paramotor demo at the Pier 0730 – 0800
  • Pilots breakfast 8:30 am @ Harbour View Restaurant
  • Flying – Check the whiteboard for locations (dependent on wind conditions)

Sunday May 19

  • Paramotor demo at the Pier 07:30 – 08:00
  • Pilots breakfast 8:30 am @ Harbour View Restaurant
  • Flying – Check the whiteboard for locations (dependent on wind conditions)
  • 18:30 – Dinner and AGM – Harbour View Restaurant

Monday May 20

  • Paramotor demo at the Pier 07:30 – 08:00
  • Pilots breakfast 8:30 am @ Harbour View Restaurant
  • Flying -Check the white board for locations (dependent on wind conditions)
  • Pilots leave throughout the day
  • Often the best flying of the Festival to be had by those who stick it out.

Reminder that Fox River and Chignecto sites are closed to all flying.

This incident report is a good read to learn from. Many lessons can be learned from it.

https://hpac.ca/pub/?pid=478#collision

Pilots from across Canada looking to visit the East should consider making the journey to Nova Scotia for this premier event.  With several days of potential flying and a lobster boil on the beach overlooking the scenic Bay of Fundy, this is a very special event.

2018 Festival of Flight

24th Annual Festival of Free Flight : May 18-21, 2018

The event marks the start of the flying season for many people and is the largest gathering of Maritime pilots during the year.  With over nine different potential flying sites and friendly competitions, it is a social highlight for many pilots.

Flying Sites - Festival of Free Flight

 

2012 Festival of Flight at Fox River
Pilots enjoying the bountiful air of the 2012 Festival of Flight at Fox River.

 2018 FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

Flying (Friday – Monday) locations depend upon wind and weather conditions.
Location updates will be posted on white board in front of BlackRock Bistro (Main Street) and on Twitter @HPAAC – and see site map above.

Friday May 18

  • Pilots breakfast 8:30 am @ Harbour View Restaurant
  • Pilot arrival staggered throughout the day. Location of pilots will be posted on white board at the Black Rock Bistro on Main Street
  • 7:30 (ish) dinner – Pizza and Movie night at Diligent River Hall.

Saturday May 19

  • Paramotor demo at the Pier 0730 – 0800
  • Pilots breakfast 8:30 am @ Harbour View Restaurant
  • Flying – Check the white board for locations (dependent on wind conditions)
  • 7:00 pm – Lobster Boil – members only

Sunday May 20

  • Paramotor demo at the Pier 07:30 – 08:00
  • Pilots breakfast 8:30 am @ Harbour View Restaurant
  • Flying – Check the white board for locations (dependent on wind conditions)
  • 18:30 – Dinner and AGM – Harbour View Restaurant

Monday May 21

  • Paramotor demo at the Pier 07:30 – 08:00
  • Pilots breakfast 8:30 am @ Harbour View Restaurant
  • Flying -Check the white board for locations (dependent on wind conditions)
  • Pilots leave throughout the day
  • Often the best flying of the Festival to be had by those who stick it out.

 

Hang Glider at High Head
Hang Glider at High Head, Nova Scotia.

Pilots from across Canada looking to visit the East should consider making the journey to Nova Scotia for this premier event.  With several days of potential flying and a lobster boil on the beach overlooking the scenic Bay of Fundy, this is a very special event.

Notice Regarding Pegasus Paragliding

Pegasus Paragliding, the foundation school for the sport in Atlantic Canada, now owned by Patric Stettler, will not be offering instruction for the upcoming season and the foreseeable future.

At this time it is uncertain when Pegasus will resume its service to those desiring to enter the world of paragliding. For those who are currently in the sport and who wish to progress in the sport via upgrading of their HPAC rating, they can still do so.Senior Instructor and (President of HPAAC) Michael Fuller will ensure that this service to the community is fulfilled. He can be contacted via personal contact or by using the Contact Us form on this website.

2013 Festival of Flight – Success

This year’s Festival of Flight occurred May 17-20, 2013 – and it was one of the best!

Although the temperatures were unseasonably cold, that did not prevent twenty pilots from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Ontario, from gathering to share stories, laughs and the sky.

The social events started the Festival, with dinner at the Glooscap Restaurant, followed by a special screening of The Boy Who Flies, a film by Benjamin Jordan. Thank you to Rod and Helen at the Hall – for hosting the film event.

Stormy skyline

Saturday was a complete blow out, with rain and strong gusty north winds that kept everyone’s feet on the ground.  That didn’t slow anyone down though.  Pilots used the opportunity for completing reserve repacks, something that should be done annually.  Thanks to the Fundy Geological Museum for providing space for us to lay our our wings and complete the repacks.

Pilots then gathered at the Pegasus ground handling field for a little bit of fun with kites – feet still firmly on the ground.

Scott launches a smaller kite while Ted looks on.
Scott launches a smaller kite while Ted looks on.

Guenter showing power kite skills
Gunter showing power kite skills

The social highlight of the Festival is the lobster dinner for pilots, a large beach fire on the shore of the Bay of Fundy makes for a very special time.  Many laughs and story telling, and fresh Fundy lobster eaten on the beach.  The view is not too shabby either.

IMG_1379

Sunday made up for the absence of flying on Saturday.  With light northwest winds in the morning, pilots journeyed to “High Head” at Wentworth first thing in the morning.  The air turned out to be excellent – and provided a total of 16 flights.

Patric Stettler showed us how it’s done at High Head.

Rob Bird takes to the air at High Head with his hang glider.

After a successful day at High Head – the fun wasn’t over yet. Hearing that Scott and Brian were in the air at Fox River, everyone packed up and headed to Fox River for a sunset coastal soaring flight. Nine pilots were in the air at one time – and the scene of colorful wings and the stunning sunset made a special end to a great day of flying.

DSC_6531
Scott Newman and Chris Jette soar above the coastal cliffs at Fox River.

DSC_6512
Tim Parker (orange) and Tim Fedak soar the coast during the sunset flight at Fox River.

The icing on the cake was the excellent flying that happened at West Bay on Monday morning.  Eight paragliding pilots were in the air and soared high above the cliffs at West Bay. The sight was spectacular to see, and left everyone feeling that this may have been the best (and coldest) Festival of Flight yet.

Paragliders soaring above the cliffs at West Bay.
Paragliders soaring above the cliffs at West Bay.

A very special thanks to George and Deanne for their work putting the lunches together again this year.  Great sandwiches, fresh coffee, and tasty treats – add so much to this event.  Your efforts were greatly appreciated by all.

2012-05-19 11.48.29

And last but not least, thank you to Michael Fuller and to Patric Stettler (Pegasus Paragliding), for all of the work done in organizing this year’s event.