Went down to the Sac valley toward Chico today and found more spots than one could land in several days...I seriously need to go back...Not to mention its sea level! Plane felt like it was a rocket ship. We have a lot of members here that live in the Sac valley. Whats up with the Sac river? You can land a float plane on it and drive cars into it and on to the gravel bars...that means airplanes work as well. With the water levels currently, there are more places to land on the river than one could elaborate on...wow! Just be on look out for power lines! I also have a client that owns this little bluff...

Oh, ya. Lots of fun. Just a few words of caution. Last year (or three) the Butte County Sheriff (I am not making this up) used their helicopter to chase down someone who had flown under a bridge. Of course bridge wasn't hurt (or anybody else), but the SO forced him down on a sand bar and took him into custody on the spot.

Also, fish and game is routinely flying that river so keep an eye out for them as well.

From the pictures, I am guessing you were somewhere east of Red Bluff near 36. Good on you. I'm stuck at work.

Kevin -

Looks like another great day!!! I drove that area again today (Roseville to Red Bluff). I got to spend the day working next to the Sacramento River with this nice flat bar about 500' long. I have often thought about all the great places to play with an airplane up there. Looks like you found a few!!! The river bars definitely look good this time of year...unless you have a little wheel in the front!

MCH

Nice pics Kevin, I've seen several nice gravel bars on the Sacramento River that would be fun to land on. Just need bush wheels....

Guy- that was an ultralight and I certainly do not plan on flying under any bridges...

aktahoe1 wrote:......... and I certainly do not plan on flying under any bridges...

Did you forget to add this at the end of your sentence?

Me neither...

Gump

Is it legal to land on river bars in Cali? It's not on Oregon.

Cheers

Wow, MCH, that's a coincidence. I drove Highway 45 from Colusa up to Ord Ferry on the west bank of the Sacramento River today, headed up to Chico to meet a client. I too was looking at every bend in the river, thinking "that's too short, that's about right,....", and so on. I have made several runs up and down the Sacramento River following its meander and there are many good looking LZ's......Unfortunately those trips were done in a pantied trike. I'd sure be interested in finding out where its kosher to land and where it really isn't.

Kevin, is that spot in your photo suitable for 8.50's? I have been out on several of the bars where the cobbles are softball size and look a little big for comfort with only the 8.50 sneakers - 29's would be much preferred.

A slight thread hijack, but figured the following pic might be appreciated by another Civil Engineering geek like MCH. Fellow BCPer's may take some caution waterskiing the river southwest of Chico. My project team designed and installed a new outfall diffuser with risers that are pretty shallow at low river levels. They are breakaways, but seeing a bunch of pipes sticking up at you spewing wastewater effluent while "skiing" over might be a bit unnerving......



Flynengr

Enger- I dont think I would go with 850's unless YOU have walked it. Its borderline honestly.

Do not really know why it would not be legal to land on those gravel bars honestly. Have asked a lot of folks about it and its funny how you cannot find one person that will give you an answer but a lot that have done it.

You CAN land a float plane on the river (not that I would land one on the river in downtown Sac but that would be fun)
You CAN drive onto the river bars with a cars, motorcycle, etc
It's NOT a wilderness area, or owned by FS...in some places you can see a fence that runs down to the high water mark...(no need to land there anyhow)
I WOULD stay below the high water line just in case
I WILL continue to land there until someone tells me you cannot

Go get some!

Rob- Had not heard that about Oregon. Who made the rule about landing on river bars in Oregon? Is this published somewhere? You CAN land float planes on the rivers yes?

AKT

There's no point in flying under a bridge unless you can do it like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgEHWkKgJkQ

Yes that is very impressive. I like how there are a bunch of people on the bridge.

Zane wrote:There's no point in flying under a bridge unless you can do it like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgEHWkKgJkQ

I would be even more impressed if that pilot had dipped his vert. fin in the water. Just enough to not cause an issue

OregonMaule wrote:Is it legal to land on river bars in Cali? It's not on Oregon.

Cheers

http://www.leg.state.or.us/ors/837.html
OREGON REVISED STATUTES
837.090 Landings on public highways and grounds prohibited. Except in an emergency, no person shall land aircraft on highways or public parks or other public grounds without permission from the authorities in charge thereof. [Formerly 493.180]

I would say river bars would be "other public grounds"

Cheers

No argument from me Rob- Oregon rules are all over the net. Cannot find any or the same for CA. No matter who you ask 99% of the time, know one knows the answer. Kapatin K here (our very own CA law enforcment officer) has provided some good insight for certain around here in the Tahoe / Truckee area for certain.

Seems like there are a lot of videos out there (no names need to be mentioned) with guys landing in Oregon with big rocks OR maybe its all Washington. Guessing all of the Oregon stuff was on private land wth permission...

No matter where one chooses to land I would make certain about the altitude minimums, city ordinance, FS, Private, Indian land, etc on the ownership. Many of the river beds in CA dont fall under these, however, A LOT do. Thankfully, where I live in CA, we are very close to BLM land and very close to NV.

Kinda hard being a BCP living in Oregon with those rules...

I'm ready...

We have a lot of emergency's in Oregon!

aktahoe1 wrote:No argument from me Rob- Oregon rules are all over the net. Cannot find any or the same for CA. No matter who you ask 99% of the time, know one knows the answer. Kapatin K here (our very own CA law enforcment officer) has provided some good insight for certain around here in the Tahoe / Truckee area for certain. Kinda hard being a BCP living in Oregon with those rules...

Your fun is over!

California Code of Regulations
Title 21 Sections 3525 through 3560
AIRPORTS AND HELIPORTS

(b) No aircraft takeoff or landing may be made at a site that is not permitted, exempted, or authorized in accordance with these regulations

3532. TEMPORARY AIRPORT AUTHORIZATION
(a) No person may make aircraft landings and takeoffs from a nonpermitted or nonexempt site without first applying for and

(v) Site Approval Permit: A written approval issued by the Department authorizing construction of an airport in accordance with approved plans, specifications, and conditions.

(b) The following classes of airport are exempt from the permitting requirements of these regulations pursuant to PUC Section 21661:
(1) Agricultural airports;
(2) Seaplane landing sites;
(3) Personal-use airports in unincorporated areas which meet the requirements of Article 5 of these regulations;

(d) The Department shall evaluate temporary airport sites on the basis of the airport design standards in Articles 3 and 4 of these regulations. Variances may be granted from design standards when safety of flight or the interests of the general public are not jeopardized.
(e) Temporary airport authorizations are for specific events and specified time periods

OregonMaule wrote:Your fun is over!

California Code of Regulations
Title 21 Sections 3525 through 3560
AIRPORTS AND HELIPORTS

(b) No aircraft takeoff or landing may be made at a site that is not permitted, exempted, or authorized in accordance with these regulations

3532. TEMPORARY AIRPORT AUTHORIZATION
(a) No person may make aircraft landings and takeoffs from a nonpermitted or nonexempt site without first applying for and

(v) Site Approval Permit: A written approval issued by the Department authorizing construction of an airport in accordance with approved plans, specifications, and conditions.

(b) The following classes of airport are exempt from the permitting requirements of these regulations pursuant to PUC Section 21661:
(1) Agricultural airports;
(2) Seaplane landing sites;
(3) Personal-use airports in unincorporated areas which meet the requirements of Article 5 of these regulations;

(d) The Department shall evaluate temporary airport sites on the basis of the airport design standards in Articles 3 and 4 of these regulations. Variances may be granted from design standards when safety of flight or the interests of the general public are not jeopardized.
(e) Temporary airport authorizations are for specific events and specified time periods

Rob...... The Grinch who stole Christmas

Way to go, Rob