What you need to know before flying Babadağ
Takeoff sites, landing patterns, local traffic rules, how the weather works and how to get up the mountain. Written for free flight pilots arriving in Ölüdeniz for the first time or planning a season here.
Six steps for your first time in Ölüdeniz
Babadağ is not technically demanding, but heavy tandem traffic, a strong sea breeze and limited landing options make it a site that rewards discipline. This is the order to work through before your first flight.
Sort your documents
A valid pilot licence, insurance and what foreign pilots need. Documents and permits
Get a local briefing
Do not fly before someone who knows the site has walked you through takeoff and landing. Local rules
Read the air
The sea breeze sets the rhythm of the day here. The hour matters more than the forecast. Local weather
Get up the mountain
Cable car and shuttle options, pilot fees and equipment transport. Getting there
Pick the right site
Wind direction decides which site is open. Queue and takeoff discipline matter here. Takeoff sites
Plan the landing first
The Belcekız approach, the areas and your alternatives. Landing areas
Babadağ is one of the busiest tandem sites in the world. On peak days there can be a large number of wings on the takeoff and in the landing area at the same time. For a free flight pilot the main risk here is not the weather, it is the traffic. Read the local rules before you fly.
What is in here
Takeoff sites
Coordinates, aspect, usable wind range, surface and the queue rules for all five sites.
Landing areas
The Belcekız approach, the four landing areas, alternatives and the SIV and speed fly zones.
Local rules
Licence and insurance requirements, wind limits, traffic priorities and mandatory equipment.
Weather
The sea breeze cycle, the rhythm of the day, thermals, inversion and the early warning signs.
Live wind
Readings from the weather stations at the takeoffs and the landing area, plus the official flag status.
Safety
Emergency numbers, how to report an incident, giving your position and tree landings.
The season at a glance
Babadağ can be flown all year, but each season offers a different kind of flying. The table below gives the broad picture.
| Period | Typical conditions | Type of flying | Crowds | Who for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December to February | Calm, clear days between frontal systems | Morning glass air, short soaring flights | Low | Anyone looking for calm air |
| March to May | Thermals build, sea breeze not yet established | The most productive period for thermals and XC | Moderate | XC pilots, experienced free flight |
| June to August | Strong, regular sea breeze and high temperatures | Morning and evening windows, midday often closed | Very high | Early risers who can handle traffic |
| September to November | Sea breeze eases, the air settles | Long glides, a second XC window | Easing | The most balanced time of year |
These are general tendencies, not a description of any single day. Month by month season guide
Current conditions on WhatsApp
There is a WhatsApp channel for the conditions on the day: wind at the takeoffs, how the sea breeze is building and whether the sites are open. It is a broadcast channel, so you only receive, and your number stays hidden from the other members.
Open the WhatsApp channelThe channel is for a quick read of the day. The binding flag decision comes from the Slot Service Centre, and the station readings are on the live wind page.
Save these before you fly
After a tree landing, a water landing or coming down in difficult terrain, the first minutes decide everything. Learn how to read coordinates off your flight instrument before you need them.
Safety procedures| Emergency call centre | 112 |
|---|---|
| Gendarmerie | 156 |
| Coast guard | 158 |
| Forest fire | 177 |
| Slot Service Centre | shmfethiye@kapadokya.edu.tr |
A radio is mandatory on every flight, but there is no common frequency agreed for the site. If you fly as a group, agree one beforehand. Accidents and incidents are reported to the Slot Service Centre.
If you are not licensed yet, or want to move up
This guide is written for licensed pilots and does not teach flying. Schools in the area run everything from the first course through to advanced SIV and XC clinics. See the ratings page for what each level covers and what Babadağ requires.
Training and ratings