Bierbach Startplatz Ost

Bierbach Ost is a practice slope for paraglider and hang glider pilots at about 253 m, catching wind from north through northeast, east and northwest. Flying here only happens by prior arrangement with the site holder — this is not a walk-up, fly-anytime hill. The area is under species protection for a local little-owl population: the site holder has to arrange monitoring surveys each October–November and February–March and report the results to the nature protection authority, and if the surveys show the owl population declining further, flying stops immediately. Bierbach Ost itself is capped at a maximum of 10 flying days per year for nature-protection reasons, the slope can't be used more than two days in a row, and there must be at least a two-week gap between practice sessions. A neighbouring area, Bierbach West-Northwest, runs under a different rule: it's only open for flying from September to the end of February.

Launch & conditions

Practice slope at about 253 m for wind from north through northeast, east and northwest — contact the site holder to arrange flying before you go, it isn't open access.

Getting there & local rules

Flying only happens by prior arrangement with the site holder.

Local rules & hazards

This is a species-protected area for a local little-owl population, with monitoring surveys required each autumn and late-winter; if the population is found declining further, flying stops immediately. Bierbach Ost is limited to a maximum of 10 flying days a year, no more than two days in a row, with at least two weeks between sessions. The neighbouring Bierbach West-Northwest area is only open for flying from September through the end of February.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Bierbach Startplatz Ost, 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 Bierbach Startplatz Ost with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.