I’m posting this on the behalf of the GMFT Membership Committee.

We have been approached by a number of pilots, local and visiting, about flying Grouse, being added to the guest list, membership list, etc. We would like to clarify the current policy regarding flying at Grouse for guests, visitors and new pilots who wish to be added to the list.

Some background: The new chairlift presents a serious hazard, not only to the pilot, but to the unsuspecting bystanders riding the chairs. Within the first month of this flying season, there have been two incidents involving the chairlift, one of which involved a bystander who incurred a minor injury. As a result, the Grouse Mt. management made it clear that another incident involving the chairlift would end all flying at Grouse. They also requested GMFT to come up with some concrete measures to prevent future incidents.

In addition to this, the LZ is undergoing construction involving machinery and building materials stored in the upper field, etc. The only landing option is the lower field or the slope between the two fields.

In the interest of preserving Grouse as a flying site, the current (temporary) policy regarding non-member flying at Grouse is as follows:

1. For the duration of this season, flying will be limited to members only.
2. No new members will be accepted this year. Old members, who have not renewed their memberships yet, will be renewed if they meet all the requirements.
3. The experiences gathered during the current season will be studied and the situation will be reassessed before the start of the next season.

The intention of these restrictions is to allow time for the experienced pilots to use the new launch and learn about its intricacies. We are hoping that this collective knowledge will help us create new measures that will enable safe guest flying.

We hope that most pilots appreciate the sensitivity of the current situation and wish to thank everyone for their patience.

GMFT Membership Committee