Ultralight Plane Rules to Be Studied by County

San Diego County supervisors Wednesday ordered a six-month review of ultralight plane activity to determine whether further rules are needed to cover landing and take-off sites.

The board established a dusk to 8 a.m. curfew for the ultralights and barred the planes from taking off or landing within 1,000 feet of homes or areas of public assembly.

Supervisor Brian Bilbray said the study period before the board decides in March whether to require administrative use permits will give ultralight pilots an opportunity “to prove that we don’t need a big brother to come in and regulate.”

Steven Newton-Reed, president of San Diego Ultralight Assn.-Experimental Aircraft Assn. Chapter 27, said he believes that requiring an administrative permit to establish sites to land and take off is a form of taxation, not regulation. He said the permit, which would cost $359 and affect 60 or so pilots of ultralight planes in San Diego County, is not a way to assure public safety.

“If they’re going to impose a tax on us, why don’t they just call it a tax?” Newton-Reed asked.

Supervisor George Bailey, who favored the permit requirement, said the intention was to secure a means of control that would allow the county government to learn about sites where the planes are landing and taking off.

During the six months, the Planning Department will review complaints involving ultralight planes made to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, Federal Aviation Administration and Zoning Department.

“I don’t anticipate any problems, and any problems that do arise we are ready to deal with,” Newton-Reed said.

According to Newton-Reed, there are 25 ultralight planes on a site in the Barona Indian Reservation and 20 on a site in Otay Lakes. He said there also is a site in Ocotillo Wells but no planes stationed there.

He said the local chapter has been looking in North County for possible new sites and that, depending on county regulations, the organization might lease a field between Rancho Bernardo and Rancho Santa Fe.