The club guide, current officers, and landowner rules control.
Open official site guide ↗ROCHESTER AREA FLYERS / FLIGHT DECK
PADGHAM HILL
Farmington / Victor, New York
Training hill · about 150 ft AGL
PERMANENT SITE QR / NO PILOT DATALIVE FLIGHT DECK
VERIFY STATUS BEFORE FLYING
No Rochester Area Flyers status message has been posted. Use the controlling club’s official channels and complete the required briefing.
Awaiting today’s controlling-club updateFLIGHT WATCH · VOLUNTARY REGIONAL PLANNING
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Flight Intent is planning information only. It is not physical check-in, eligibility, access permission, site opening, flight authorization, or a safety decision.
TODAY'S ENTRY POINT
Check before you fly.
RAF’s new-pilot training hill, with west, northwest, north and east launch options.
Good direction rangeW/NW/N (270–360°) or E (60–90°)
Best directionW/NW/N (286–360°) or E (70–90°)
Controlled guidanceStatic outage fallback
Pilot requirementH2/P2/H1; H0/H1 students under direct RAF HG Instructor supervision
LaunchStudents follow instructor direction. Published geometry includes W/NW/N launches and an east launch; select the active face from current conditions and the day’s briefing.
LandingFarmed field can contain plow ruts and stones; inspect it before launch. PGs may use the grass below the W/NW/N side without entering crops.
STRUCTURED SITE BRIEFING
Know the whole site.
East Padgham is open. Access remains seasonal and entirely at the resident owner’s discretion; current blackout periods control.
Weather + terrain
- Guide target is 6–10 mph; table ideal is 6–8 mph; maximum 15 mph with a 5 mph/5-second gust factor.
- Published direction references are W/NW/N 270–360° and east 60–90°.
- Rotor can develop along tree lines and in west/east landing areas.
Access + stewardship
- Current RAF and USHPA membership required.
- At least one other person capable of calling for help must be present.
- Use Bowerman Road access and the worn path across the farm field; students park on the road.
- No spectators are encouraged, dogs are excluded during operations, and access is limited to training, skill refresh or club-property work.
Hazards
- Tree-line rotor, scrub vegetation, uneven farmed LZ and seasonal crops.
- Conditions above 15 mph or beyond the published gust factor are generally discouraged.
- Owner blackout periods override forecast alignment.
Pilot requirements
- Students must obey instructor direction; tandem is prohibited.
- Mini-wings require M1, or P2 under M1 supervision.
- Observe the LZ before operations and do not enter during a blackout period.
Landing facts
- Use grassy PG area where appropriate and avoid crop damage.
- Position gliders according to instructor guidance; permanent tie-downs are not required.
- Site address for responders: 455 Bowerman Road, Farmington.
Source control
This summary supports planning. The current controlling-club guide, officers, landowner permission, site briefing and conditions in the field remain authoritative. Do not fly in rain or thunderstorms.
Read the complete official guide ↗DRIVE / MEET / RETRIEVE
Directions for Padgham Hill.
Directions do not grant access. Verify current RAF status, permission, briefing, parking and vehicle procedures before traveling. East Padgham is open. Access remains seasonal and entirely at the resident owner’s discretion; current blackout periods control.
Padgham Hill access
455 Bowerman Road, Farmington, NY
Padgham training-field LZ
455 Bowerman Road, Farmington, NY
EMERGENCY
Call 911 and give 455 Bowerman Road, Farmington; identify the side of the hill and send someone to meet responders.
Give the site name, exact location, access route, number of patients and known hazards. Emergency details must also remain printed at the physical site for use without cellular service.