Liri Take-off
Altitude: 2320 m - Landing: 900 m - Difference in altitude: 1420 m
Orientation: SW - Coordinates 31T299043E/4711961N
Distance to La Lleba landing: 5.5 km
The most emblematic take-off in Castejón de Sos and the most used. Large and always grassy.
You will have to pay attention during the central hours of the day, due to the possibility of very strong thermal conditions, especially in the summer. You may also experience a take-off and a flight with good conditions and a landing with strong breeze.
Flying is not recommended with North winds. Take off only in mild conditions and knowing the conditions at the landing. When the wind blows from the North, the wind can increase unpredictably and can be very dangerous.
Access: 19 km from Castejón de Sos. The first 4 km are paved and the following 15 km are on a dirt track that is not always in good condition.
Access time: 45 minutes in 4x4 or van. It is not recommended to go up with a car.
Dates of use: May to November. The rest of the year access is difficult due to snow.
Pedras Blancas Take-off
Altitude: 2090 m - Landing: 900 m - Difference in altitude: 1190 m
Orientation: ESE, SW, W and NW - Coordinates ESE: 31T297972E/4711400N
Distance to La Lleba landing: 4.3 km
The East take-off is widely used in the early hours of the day, taking advantage of the first upslope breezes. Grassy take-off. Careful if you have to run a lot because there are rocks after the take-off.
Caution with strong East wind, possible strong dynamic lift and turbulence caused by the nearby mountain. Once in the air, it is advisable not to drift westwards in these conditions without adequate clearance from the terrain.
The South take-off was the best known take-off in Castejón de Sos before the Liri take-off was opened, which is easier, safer and with more possibilities. Now it is used very little, but it comes in handy when access higher up is shut off due to snow or there is low visibility at the higher take-offs. Special attention must be paid in the central hours of the day or in thermal conditions as it can be very turbulent just in front of the take-off.
The WNW take-off is also used very little, although more than the South one, sometimes in the morning and sometimes in the afternoon. Attention must be paid to the breeze at the landing as there may be a slight N-NW breeze at the take-off and a strong north breeze in the valley.
Access: 19 km from Castejón de Sos. The first 4 km are paved and the following 15 km are on a dirt track that is not always in good condition.
Access time: 45 minutes in 4x4 or van. It is not recommended to go up with a car.
Dates of use: May to November. The rest of the year access is difficult due to snow.
Touch & Go Takeoff
Altitude: 2250 m - Landing: 900 m - Height difference: 1350 m
Orientation: SW, NW and NE - Coordinates 31T298321E/4712184N
Distance to La Lleba landing: 4.8 km
This takeoff is truly versatile as it covers numerous orientations. It is a large, grassy takeoff, and the most used in the mornings, when the breeze has not yet picked up.
Special care must be taken when the wind is moderate from the NE as it increases the probability of encountering strong northerly winds in the valley, which can be dangerous.
Beware of stones in some areas relatively close to the takeoff.
Access to the takeoff: 18 km from Castejón de Sos. The first 4 km are paved and the following 14 km are on a dirt track that is not always in good condition.
Access time: 45 minutes in 4x4 or van and 5 minutes walking. It is not recommended to drive up in a regular car.
Dates of use: May to November. The rest of the year access is difficult due to snow.
Rials Takeoff
Altitude: 1200 m - Landing: 900 m - Height difference: 300 m
Orientation: SW - Coordinates 31T294782E/4711069N
Distance to La Lleba landing: 1 km
This is the second most-used takeoff after Liri. It is a wide, grassy takeoff. Despite being a low take-off, with good conditions, it is common to climb up to the Liri takeoff. With no breeze, the flight is short. Top landing is possible here, but be careful at midday and when the wind is very strong. It is not forgiving with crosswinds, it can become dangerous.
Access to the takeoff: 4 km from Castejón de Sos on a paved road plus a 5-8 minute walk. Very popular with pilots who walk up from Castejón via a marked path.
Dates of use: all year round.
La Lleba Landing
Dimensions: 150 m x 50 m - Altitude: 910 m
Orientation: SE, NW - Coordinates 31TE293809E/4710419N
(Suitable for all types of vehicles).
Dates of use: all year round, even with snow.
This landing area is the smallest in Castejón de Sos, but is covered with pleasant grass all year round. When the wind is strong, this is the place with the least intensity. It is surrounded on the N and E by a 1.5m fence that separates the runway from the El Ral meadow. Be sure to leave enough margins in your approaches and be careful with the wind gradient that can play tricks on your calculations. If you are too low, land in the El Ral meadow to the N.
In fact, the El Ral meadow can be used as an alternative landing area.
Respect the livestock and the uncut grass. Beware of electric fences.
El Raso Landing
Dimensions: 600 m x 100 m - Altitude: 905m
Orientation: SE, NW - Coordinates: 31T293050E/4710968N
Distance to Castejón de Sos: 2.3 km (suitable for all types of vehicles)
Dates of use: all year round, even with snow.
This is an extremely large and easy landing area. In the mornings the wind usually comes from the NW until the SW breeze sets in and dominates, and towards the afternoons the SW breeze reverses and becomes a descending NW wind.
During the hours of maximum sunshine in the summer there can be strong breezes of more than 30 km/h. Of the landing areas in Castejón de Sos, this one always has the strongest wind.
Beware of N winds, that get channeled and affect this landing area first.
In Castejón de Sos we share the airspace with ultralight aircraft. We have a good and positive coexistence, but for this to continue to be the case, we must respect certain rules.
EL RASO IS AN AIRFIELD FOR ULTRALIGHTS.
The runway is marked with white cones. Landing should be done in the meadows adjacent to the runway. If you land on the runway, clear it as soon as possible.
DO NOT PACK YOUR PARAGLIDER OR WING ON THE RUNWAY.
It is very dangerous to occupy the runway and its edges. Ultralights nowadays are very quiet and cannot be heard. If you need to cross the runway, look to the right and left to check that there are no aircraft on approach.
Training hill
Height difference: 15m - Altitude: 905 m
Coordinates 31T293050E/4710968N
(Suitable for all types of vehicles)
Dates of use: all year round, even with snow.
Located on the north side of the El Raso landing area (hangar area), our training hill is an artificial ramp used by schools for the first days of practice.
In the early hours of the morning it is common for the wind to be variable or katabatic. After this the ramp is usable until midday, when thermal activity makes it dangerous to use. In the afternoons when the breeze subsides it is also common to use it until the end of the day, when the katabatic breeze settles in the valley.
Any ground handling practices should be performed away from the hangar area. Pay close attention to the passage of ultralights from the hangar area to the runway and vice versa.
