A new Virginia State Park is being developed in Woodstock along the North Fork of the Shenandoah River. The park is not scheduled to open until a year from now. The Friends of the North Fork, a nonprofit organization for protection of the the river introduced me to the park this past year. I was hoping that we might establish a presence in the park for hang gliding and paragliding. Unfortunately Virginia Code prohibits landing of any aircraft in a state park as shown in the VA Code below. The park is located at the base of the mountain two fingers south of launch along the river. Emergency landing is possible. You can view a map of the proposed park by googling Seven Bends State Park, Woodstock, VA.
4VAC5-30-400. Aviation.
No person shall voluntarily bring, land or cause to descend or alight within or upon any park, any airplane, remote control model aircraft, flying machine, balloon, parachute or other apparatus for aviation. "Voluntarily" in this connection shall mean anything other than a forced landing.
Statutory Authority
§ 10.1-104 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from VR215-01-02 § 40, eff. May 4, 1983; amended, Volume 26, Issue 11, eff. March 18, 2010.
Joe
Seven Bends State Park, Woodstock VA
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
Re: Seven Bends State Park, Woodstock VA
Is there anything in the code that regulates state sponsored (specifically) free flight parks? How does that work at, for example, Andy Jackson Flight Park?
New H2, AT, FL
Re: Seven Bends State Park, Woodstock VA
I don't know. I am not sure there is even a category for "free flight parks". Need to check the VA Code on this. The Seven Bends State Park is a Virginia State Park, yet to open for business.
Joe
Joe