Ahornach (Acereto)

Ahornach (Acereto) launches from 1,410 m in South Tyrol's Ahrntal valley, on a broad shoulder used for thermal and ridge flying as well as cross-country and hike-and-fly outings once conditions line up. Getting to launch is straightforward without a hike: cars, taxis and a shuttle bus run up from the landing zone, so most pilots skip the climb entirely. Takeoff is more structured than a typical Alpine ramp — pilots are asked to launch only from the marked-out paddock area rather than picking their own line, and flying from the site comes with a small fee, payable at the center near the landing zone; flight schools additionally need to register with the site in advance. Landing is in a large meadow with a windsock visible from takeoff, which makes the final approach easy to read, though the source is explicit that the surrounding cultivated fields are off-limits for landing and need to be avoided. The source also flags this as a north-wind site — worth cross-checking against the day's actual forecast rather than assuming the mapped launch direction alone tells the full story.

Launch & conditions

Launch only from the marked-out paddock area rather than picking your own line; flying here carries a small fee, payable at the center near the landing zone, and flight schools must register with the site in advance.

Getting there & local rules

Reachable by car, taxi or shuttle bus from the landing zone — no hike required to get to takeoff.

Local rules & hazards

The source flags this as a north-wind site — check that against the day's actual forecast. Landing is in a large meadow with a windsock visible from takeoff, but keep well clear of the surrounding cultivated fields.

Check conditions before you fly

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