Visiting Pilots
Experience the Wind Capital of the World
Hood River's atmospheric conditions make it very attractive for soaring. The reliable west winds combine with thermal heating in the Hood River Valley to make the valley's east ridge ideal for consistent ridge soaring, while to the west, Mt Hood and the Cascade range generate conditions for upper-level wave soaring.
Hood River Soaring Club is an active group of aviation enthusiasts who share a love of soaring. We welcome visiting pilots to join Hood River Soaring with our daily membership that provides full access to regular member rates for towing, instruction and equipment rental. All visiting pilots must provide proof of current SSA membership.
Our area holds a wealth of soaring opportunities but also a host of potential pitfalls, well known to more experienced local pilots, that require special attention to the local environment and landmarks. Consultation with an HRS instructor is mandatory before flying here as a visiting pilot, whether flying your glider or ours. In addition, visiting pilots wishing to fly an HRS glider will be required to fly one or more orientation flights with an HRS instructor before flying an HRS glider solo. Visiting pilots bringing their own gliders are also strongly encouraged to take an orientation and landmark-familiarization flight with an HRS instructor. For pilots with flight computers who wish to download a waypoint file to display the local landmarks, click here: Worldwide Turnpoint Exchange: Hood River.
Proof of SSA membership is required
All visiting pilots, please contact us well ahead of your visit (a minimum of 30 days advance notice is best) so that we can advise and help you have the best experience.
Hood River Soaring is a club, not a commercial operation, so all members, including visiting pilots, must follow these steps before flying an HRS glider solo or taking a tow behind an HRS tow plane in a private glider:
Verify currency with the HRS Soaring Proficiency Plan. Note that this has several components that will take some time and are explained in more detail in the proficiency plan form.
1. First time only
a) Provide a copy of your WingRunner ground operations certificate.
b) Obtain a ground operations training badge. For visiting pilots, this may be done on the day(s) you fly.
2. Once per calendar year
a) Certify that you have read and understood the HRS Operations Manual;
b) Certify that you either attended the HRS annual safety meeting in person or have watched the recording.
3. Get checked out by an HRS instructor.
Application Options
Visiting glider pilot not affiliated with clubs in next column
Visiting member of Willamete Valley Soaring Club, Evergreen, or Puget Sound Soaring Assn.
I want to join as a regular member