Description
This site is NOT managed by the Arctic Air Walkers, and this Site Guide is provided to assist pilots in making good decisions about flying at this site. Always seek out pilots with site experience to get an orientation to the site.
Year round, Flattop is perhaps the most frequently flown site in the Anchorage area due to easy access and its close proximity to Anchorage. It offers launch options in all directions except easterly. All launches from Flattop require exceptional launch skills.
The North launch is a true cliff launch and the cliff launch special skill sign off is highly recommended. However, it does have the best setup location, a large flat area facing the direction of launch. All can provide both ridge lift or thermal soaring and sometimes both at the same time.
While Flattop has not historically been a good XC departure site due to the challenging terrain nearby, more and more people have had success flying the front range heading north in recent years.
From the north launch, the closest landing site is a 4.3 : 1 glide ratio away. Exact launch locations may vary, as do possible landing sites, wind and thermal conditions and the pilots chosen flight path will also change the required glide to a safe landing area.
Do not land in the parking areas.
Maintain an appropriate distance between launch and landing activities and the public.
Landing Zones
Flattop - Trailside
61.101959, -149.680872
The Flattop Trailside LZ is in the obvious windblown clearing near the trail to the south of the Glenn Alps parking lot. You'll hike past it on your way to launch.
Flattop Overlook
61.104752, -149.682711
The Flattop - Overlook LZ is the obvious east-west ridge-top clearing to the north of the Glenn Alps parking lot.
Weather Considerations
Pilots need to keep a careful watch on weather conditions, both on launch and in the air.
- Works best when the winds aloft are light. Southwest/West winds up to 10mph
- DO NOT launch if the winds are from North East/East/South East; expect strong gust and rotor from Peak 2 or from the east side cliffs. If the winds are strong in Turnagain Arm the wind direction will generally be from the East, you will be hiking down.
- Parks and Rec recently added a Glenn Alps Parking Lot Web Cam.
- Some Hillside area weather stations are in sheltered areas, and DO NOT provide accurate wind data.
- Winds can shift quickly at launch and in the LZ's due to convergence, divergence, and mising valley flows.
Requirements
These are recommendations, not requirements, since this is not managed by the Arctic Air Walkers.
- This site is not managed by the Arctic Air Walkers so there are no specific requirements to fly here aside from good judgement, and strong launch skills.
- Parking requires a annual Chugach State Park parking pass or payment of a daily parking fee at the kiosk.
Pilots are expected to evaluate the launch, the possible landing areas, the weather, and other conditions. Flights are at the Pilot's own risk.
P3 is the recommended pilot level, and it may not be suitable for P2 pilots. Pilots should have P3 skills, but because it is a mountain site, with greater consequences for messing up, pilots should follow the USHPA recommended operating limitations for P2 pilots, which are:
- Maximum base wind of 12 mph.
- Maximum peak gusts to 15 mph.
- Maximum gust rate of 5 mph in 5 seconds
- Should not fly in thermal lift where peak climb rates exceed 200 fpm.
- Launch from slopes steeper than 4:1 with the wind within 25 degrees of being straight up the slope.
- Beginner Speed wing pilots should be accompanied by an experience speed wing pilot until they can gain the experience and skills to safely fly the site.
West Launch Recommended Use Parameters:
P2, M2 minimum Ratings, Glide Ratio to LZ, 4.4: Ideal wind, 5 MPH, directions from 200 to 300 degrees. Max wind 10 MPH with 5 MPH gusts
North Launch Recommended Use Parameters:
P2, M2 minimum Ratings, Glide Ratio to LZ, 4.3: Ideal wind, 5 MPH, directions from 330 to 10 degrees. Max wind 10 MPH with 5 MPH gusts
SouthLaunch Recommended Use Parameters:
P2, M2 minimum Ratings, Glide Ratio to LZ, 4.8 to 5.5, need to cross around NW ridges: Ideal wind, 5 MPH, directions from 160 to 230 degrees. Max wind 10 MPH with 5 MPH gusts
Hazards
Other hikers/spectators/berry pickers may occasionally visit this site and the potential for a conflict exists. Pilots are cautioned to ensure an appropriate distance is maintained between launch and landing activities and the public. Pilots are expected communicate to the public as needed to maintain clearances.
This is a natural mountain site and there are many natural hazards that are common to many natural mountain sites in Alaska that could be a hazard for pilots.
- Hike all the way to the top, winds from the surrounding peaks can create false wind indicators.
- DO NOT launch if the winds are from North East/East/South East.
- DO NOT land in the main Glen Alps Parking Lot, even if there are few cars. Winter landing at the lower parking lot is acceptable, but NOT any time that the lower lot is open for parking.
- There are converging, diverging, and mixing valley flows. Stay alert.
- Winds can shift quickly on top it is not uncommon to have winds shift 180 degrees while you are preparing to setup.
- Pilots often try to fly around from the South launch to land at Glen Alps. If you choose to do this be aware of mechanical turbulence as you fly around the West face, this a one way trip and you may need to land on Blueberry Hill.
- Be cautious when cloud deck is close to launch level.
WARNING: The descriptions of typical flying conditions listed in this Site Guide reflect the experience of the authors of the guide. The conditions that you encounter at the site may differ, sometimes substantially, from those described. These descriptions may not be relevant to the possible experience of any other pilot, particularly one who is relatively inexperienced or new to the Site.