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Polipoli Flight Park - Ferns Launch
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Polipoli Flight Park - Ferns Launch
Spot info
Spot details
PPG friendly
Not marked
Authorization
Required
Club / contract
Required
Launch faces
Not listed
Forecast point
Ready
Access notes
Ferns is an active launch at the privately owned Polipoli Flight Park managed by Paraglide Maui. Every visiting pilot must contact the operator, sign waivers, complete a site orientation, and pay the current $10 daily or $100 annual park fee plus the $50 orientation fee. Ferns is normally P3: a visiting P3 must first complete at least one Echos flight. A current P4 comfortable with light-wind forward launches may go directly, though the operator recommends a lower-launch warmup. This is intentionally shown as a red private/authorization-required field.
Site rules
- Contact Paraglide Maui, sign the site waiver, complete the site orientation, and pay the current flight-park fee before flying.
- Hold current USHPA membership and bring the card or membership number.
- Ferns is a P3 launch. A visiting P3 must complete at least one Echos flight first; a visiting P2 may use Ferns only if the operator agrees to instructor supervision.
- A current P4 comfortable with light-wind forward launches may proceed to Ferns, but a lower-launch warmup is recommended after a lapse in forward-launch currency.
- Fly with a reserve parachute, helmet, and protective harness and follow USHPA general flying rules.
- Use a C/EN-certified paraglider; a wing over five years old must show its latest annual certification.
- No parakites, Moustache-type wings, reflex wings, or speed wings with USHPA wing loading at or above 6.8.
- No aerobatics or stalls; keep the wing overhead. No tandem flying unless affiliated with Paraglide Maui.
- Land only in the designated LZ, avoid the radio-controlled-airplane area, and drive slowly and respectfully past Waipoli Road neighbors.
- Visiting P3/P4 pilots should finish by 11:00 a.m. in summer and noon in winter; the first-come shuttle is secondary to tandem operations and currently costs $10 cash to Ferns.
Direction notes
The official page requires the correct light-wind heading to clear trees but does not publish a compass direction; none is inferred.
Safety notes
- Ferns is about 6,500 feet MSL with roughly 3,000 feet of descent. Launch is in light wind: select a good cycle and the correct heading to clear the trees in front.
- On good mornings the source reports 300-to-600-fpm lift and two or three launches before clouds close the launch.
- The designated LZ is at about 3,500 feet on a mountainside; land sidewind and expect a faster groundspeed than at sea level.
- The normal LZ approach is north to south. Do not cross the road because vehicles regularly move along the landing area.
- Keep the LZ within a 45-degree glide while over trees on either side, allow for an unexpected headwind, and understand that a tree landing requires self-rescue.
Additional notes
Ferns is a separate higher launch with materially different rating, warmup, launch-cycle, tree-clearance, elevation, and cloud-limit rules. It is retained as a documented red private field. PPG is false.
Map pin (approximate field)
The coordinate is ParaglidingEarth's published Ferns point, while the current operator confirms the named launch and elevation but does not publish survey coordinates, access gates, or parking.
Navigation warning
Private-flight-park vicinity pin only. It is not permission, a gate, parking route, shuttle pickup, exact takeoff setup point, or landing target; contact Paraglide Maui and complete its waiver and orientation first.
Official website
https://www.paraglidemaui.com/Spot review
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