Please note that all soaring and services at Marfa are by appointment only.
We soar year-round at Marfa and may utilize thermal or wave lift enabling climbs to over 18,000' MSL (Marfa Airport is at 5,000' MSL.)
I also host an invitational "Texas Glider Rally", usually in April, to take advantage of the strong southwest winds that may generate wave lift in the area. We thermal up to the wave after release from aerotow at 7,000' MSL. With our typical dry air (low dewpoints) west of the "Marfa Dry Line", cumulus or lenticular clouds may not appear, although I have seen them every month of the year around Marfa.
The Albuquerque ATC "Assigned Airspace" Letter of Agreement for the Marfa Wave Window is a 6 page document in the column on the left side of this page. Pilots must print it, read it, and carry it in their sailplane.
In order to soar above 18,000' MSL (Class A airspace) over Marfa and the Davis Mountains, we have arranged for a daily "wave window" that only I can open for you by request. Advance communication is required and the "window" is not automatic nor permanent.
Please comply
exactly with the details and dimensions of our wave window.
Pilots must remain within the window above 18,000' MSL.
Oxygen equipment in your sailplane is required per FAA Regulations.
The Marfa “Wave Window” GPS Coordinates are
here:
http://soaringweb.org/TP/Marfa_wave/control_points.html
RESTRICTED AREAS:
Obtain and study your
current El Paso Sectional Aero Chart.
The Balloon Pilots must avoid the Restricted Area of the balloon (tethered aerostat) 13 miles West of MRF, up to 14,000’ msl, even if the balloon is not aloft.
The Border Crossing the Rio Grande River / US – Mexico Border ADIZ is strictly forbidden and may result in revocation of your flying privileges. (Yes, they can see you, and I don’t want to get another phone call from the “Men in Black”!)
Alert B-1 Bombers and other fast military aircraft including refueling missions will use the low-level training routes around Marfa depicted on your current El Paso Sectional Chart. Also be aware of occasional military aircraft at all altitudes in the Valentine MOA, west of Marfa. Unmanned UAV's have also been reported.
AIRMANSHIP:
Right of Way Rules Airplanes, Border Patrol Helicopters and Transient Charter Jet Aircraft as large as Gulfstreams may visit Marfa delivering clients to the resorts or art gallery events around Marfa. They are usually not aware of glider activity (apparently they rarely carry an El Paso Sectional nor do they check NOTAMS.) The Marfa VOR is about 5 miles southeast of the airport. There have been some close calls with our gliders as they may circle to land and are not looking out their windscreen. While airplane and helicopter category aircraft must yield to glider and aerotow operations, most of those pilots do not. So watch for them – avoid them – don’t test their knowledge of the FAA right-of-way rules.
Landing Aircraft – Any Category If they are landing (sometimes with no radio call on 122.8) ANY AIRCRAFT of any category has the right of way when landing, so immediately clearing the runways and taxiways by at least one sailplane wingspan (75 feet) is essential. This also means releasing your towrope from your towplane so it can taxi clear. If you are instructed to release and clear the runway or taxiway, do not hesitate or debate the call. Do it, now.