WARNING: Please note that the suggested Lampson Field field left traffic pattern and lower pattern altitude (above) are not the standard right traffic pattern, and we are presently checking with the airport manager on suitability, noise abatement, or other issues. Left traffic for slower moving skydivers, ultralight, PPG, and PPC aircraft ( while keeping clear of the runway's takeoff and final approach line) would make more sense for overall air safety. Grass fields PPG1 to PPG5 have multiple wind socks, airport lighting, signs, flood control ditches, and areas of uneven ground but do make nice, grassy areas for minimizing parachute & line abrasion. Keeping clear of air traffic and runways is FAA recommended skydiving, ultralight, and PPG/PPC procedure. Stay tuned for updates!
LAMPSON FIELD (K102) & AREA INFORMATION
Places for Paramotors in Lake County! PPG 1, 2, and 3 sites are the most ideal. (Stay tuned for additional sites to land and visit around Lake County. We are also talking with local businesses about use of takeoff & landing areas on private lands near their dining, lodging, and other establishments. Most restaurants along the shoreline, for example, have boat access for float plane ultralights. Some have adjacent areas ideal for PPG.)
General Information:
Airport Information (SkyVector)
Public Use airport. Uncontrolled. OAKLAND ATC has air authority, and Airport Manager governs ground.
Coordinates: N38°59.44' / W122°54.04'
Traffic pattern altitude is 800' AGL (2180' MSL), but may have air traffic above or below on descent & climb.
PPG traffic & ops: Stan recommends the areas noted on the chart for overall air safety. While some PPG pilots may object to keeping below 500 feet AGL until 1/2 mile away from Lampson Field, most the regular air traffic will be above 500 feet except on Base and Final Approach for runways 28 or 10. Where you are below their horizon, however, your PPG can be concealed by terrain clutter, so you will need to spot air traffic which will generally be easier to see against the sky's backdrop. Where operating at 800 feet pattern altitude, other aircraft may see you better against the sky but you are also at their elevation and moving at 24 to 40 MPH versus their 70 to 150 MPH. PPG operation in Lampson Field traffic and surrounding areas anywhere above 500' AGL without radio is highly stupid (avoid use of your I Pods!). REACH often comes in low along the Final Approach path to 28, or offset from the South East approaching their helipad. REACH typically departs to the north side of the runway and climbs out on either left or right-hand traffic or 270 overhead turns. The copters are typically along a North-South run between Lampson Field and Sutter Lakeside Hospital over the shoreline, and also along lower altitude corridors to Ukiah, Sacramento, Napa, Santa Rosa, Vallejo, etc....often on direct paths with Lifeflight priority. REACH and CAL-STAR constitute the heaviest air traffic out of Lampson Field usually multiple times daily by day and night. Their routes can also take them in straight paths and radials from Lampson and below 500 feet dealing with area emergencies and landing near anywhere. Remember, visibility of approaching copters is often inattentive above -- largely focused and angled on descent. Remember, airplanes are the same on descent, but have worse downward visibility on climb. Outside of Lampson Field, VFR air traffic can come from all directions, but will generally be above 500 feet AGL, though some do enjoy buzzing the coastline along Lakeport to Upper Lake, and along the south shoreline just north of Lampson Field. The REACH pilots are very friendly. They have usually 1 to 2 copters on the field. If seeing 2 on the ground, you know one isn't likely inbound to Lampson. Where none or one are present on the pad, the other copter could be coming in at any time from any direction, but usually from the North and South East. PPG pilots can always give their main office a call at (707) 324-2400 to brief them on your flight operations. That way their base station can alert their pilots into and out of the areas to be on the lookout for a PPC or PPG. Their main office usually knows exactly where the copters are at any time, and a PPG pilot can usually dial through cell towers while in the air. Also monitor the CTAF / UNICOM.
Special Hazards: All water. Mountainous terrain & rotors. Wind velocity over the shoreline usually from the NW, sinking into valley areas and lake, picking up speed, developing updraft on the west side of Konocti, and rotors/ turbulence over all hilly terrain. The narrows between north and south lake are a particularly strong wind area, which can be misleading to PPG pilots because also apparently the shortest & safest crossing point down low. Afternoon to evening gusts over the hills can be very high. Summertime thermals and low-level turbulence from farm fields are plentiful. Early spring, winter, and summer evening water can be sufficient for exposure issues. Migratory birds along the shoreline at PPG heights are common. Area has ample remote terrain (usually in the hills) with poor GPS and no cell signal. Survival methods and gear are advised anywhere a few miles outside of Lampson Field. Reserve chute and higher altitude advised over terrain where & when turbulence is likely.
Surveyed Elevation is 1380 feet MSL.
Magnetic Variation from 1990 is 16° East
(Aircraft often fly IFR approaches in VFR conditions -- practice, etc. Beware! Look for them. REACH helicopters commonly fly these routes in VFR day/ night.)
Temporary Flight Restrictions Check
CTAF:122.800
UNICOM:122.800
AWOS-3:118.35
Tel. 707-262-0380
ASOS at UKI (16.2 NW):119.275 707-462-7343
ATIS at STS (29.2 S):120.55
AWOS-A at 85CA (32.2 SW):707-884-1416
Remarks:
APCH/DEP SVC PRVDD BY OAKLAND ARTCC ON FREQS 127.8/353.5 (UKIAH RCAG).
Fuel Services: 24-hour Self-Service 100 LL is available on the north side of the runway. Nearest gas station (Westgate Petroleum) is ~ 1 mile north of airport at intersection of Hwy 29 and Highland Springs road. Sufficient PPG emergency landing area also exists nearby Westgate Petrol.
Local Knowledge: The REACH medical transport helicopter is based on the north side of the approach end of Runway 28, near the fuel pumps. Be alert for frequent jet helicopter activity by the REACH crews responding to emergency medical situations.
Rental Cars: Enterprise Car Rental is available from nearby Lakeport. Enterprise has a call box in the Pilot's Lounge or call (707) 262-5555.
Transit Parking: Visitor parking is located on the south side of the runway in front the Sky Room Restaurant and Lake Aero Styling and Repair (look for the "Mooney" sign).
Overnight tie-down fees are $5.00 for singles and $7.00 for multi-engine. The County has a payment box mounted on the front of the Pilot's Lounge building.
Lodging: Skylark Motel (707) 263-6151 5 miles. The host facility for the annual Splash-In float plane week-end. Anchorage Inn (707) 263-5417 5 miles. Clear Lake Inn (707) 263-3551 5 miles.
Terrain & Wind Patterns (mid-January). Run the VentusSky modeler and cross-reference with real-time weather for your typical date and month of interest. These slides illustrate how the course of a winter calm day can change with time, area, terrain contours, and elevation. More will be added by month illustrating one annual pattern of surface to ~1,500 foot AGL models. These are computational fluid dynamic (CFD) models extrapolated from true weather data and overlaid upon terrain.
