Economy Mountain

Economy Mountain is an east-facing thermal and soaring site in Nova Scotia with real potential on the right day — on light, clear mornings with a very light westerly flow, convergence often kicks in by mid-morning. Launch is a reasonably wide 60-foot slope that runs back over 100 feet, but the front drops away quickly, which makes a clean run-off tricky if you hesitate. Landing is where this site asks the most of a pilot: the small paraglider bailout zone right in front of launch sits on a slight downhill, and the main landing field, while an easy straight glide for a modern paraglider from launch height, still calls for good judgment and solid landing skills — this isn't a site to fly on autopilot. Hang gliders can't use the bailout option and must land beyond the road instead. Watch for power lines in the landing area, and stay well clear of one landowner's field near the site, which is off-limits except in a genuine emergency.

Launch & conditions

Launch is about 60 feet wide and runs back over 100 feet, but the front drops away quickly, so a hesitant run-off is difficult. It's a walk-up from the east side.

Getting there & local rules

Reach launch on foot from the east side of the mountain. The small paraglider bailout LZ sits directly in front of launch on a slight downhill and isn't usable by hang gliders, which must land beyond the road in the field bordered in green instead. The main landing field is an easy straight glide for a modern paraglider from launch height, but check it isn't in crop before committing — there are alternatives nearby if it is.

Local rules & hazards

This site expects real landing skill and good judgment, not just a Novice HPAC rating on paper — power lines run through the landing area, and one landowner near the site is unfriendly to the sport, so avoid landing on that property except in a genuine emergency.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Economy Mountain, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Economy Mountain with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.