Welcome to the Skywings news archive.
Skywings news stories posted online in Oct 2012 are displayed below.
Please use the left hand menu to select a different month, and the right hand menu to select a different year.
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If you're looking for stories posted after December 2015, please visit our Skywings News page.
A copy of the tasks for "Advanced Pilot" Rating is now available for download from the Documents section of our website.
This is provided for information only. Members wishing to take their "Advanced Pilot" exam are advised to consult the Pilot Task book, which is available from the BHPA Office.
Posted: 6 October 2012
As the 2012 tow season draws to a close it`s now time to start thinking about next year!
All Paragliding and Hang Gliding* tow operations are reminded that in order to comply with CAA regulations they must inform the BHPA Tow Panel of the intended status for their tow sites for the coming year i.e. 2013.
Please contact Russ Hicks confirming on-going usage or cancellation of your site for 2013. Tow operators are also reminded that tow permits are valid for a maximum of 3 years, and when renewing a permit operators must also supply a Letter of Agreement (or Email) from their site owners indicating continued permission to operate on their land.
Please reply no later than Friday November 2nd 2012, as failure to respond will cause your current permit to lapse on 31st December 2012 – whatever the expiry date.
* This does NOT apply to aerotow
For further information please contact: Russ Hicks
Posted: 6 October 2012
Jon Chambers top lands Mont Blanc!
On August 18th Red Bull X-Alps pilot Jon Chambers landed his lightweight Ozone M4 on the summit of Mt Blanc - the first top landing of the highest point in Europe by a British pilot.
It was a challenging day, with moderate winds blowing along the summit ridge making relaunching very difficult, says Jon. "I was first to land on the summit; four other pilots landed about an hour later."
After relaunching Jon flew back to his starting point at Champex in Switzerland. "It was a very technical and challenging flight and quite scary relaunching from the summit," he reported, "but I'm over the moon to have finally completed this long-standing ambition!" The superb weather persisted; the following day about 50 pilots landed on the summit in even better conditions.
More detail and photos are on Jon's blog.
Posted: 6 October 2012
Early next year Wessex Club pilot Daniel Von Mutius will join a group of adventurers to climb and fly from Mt Kilimanjaro (19,341ft) in Tanzania. The Wings of Kilimanjaro expedition, organised by a team led by Australian pilot Adrian McRae, is intended to raise over a million pounds for the One Foundation and Plant with Purpose charities.
Both are involved in providing Tanzania and other developing countries with much-needed humanitarian and environmental aid. Other high-profile mountaineer-pilots participating include the UK's Squash Falconer, Austria's Mike Kung, and Sherpa Babu Sunuwar who flew from Mount Everest last year. Several other British fliers are among the 50-plus pilots already signed up for the expedition.
The Government of Tanzania, which has strictly enforced a 20-year ban on the use of paragliders, hang gliders and mountain bikes in the Kilimanjaro National Park, is to lift the restriction just for the expedition. Daniel, who learnt to fly in Tanzania, is seeking to raise a minimum of £4,000 to assist the two charities. You can follow him on Facebook at "Danny von Mutius wings of kili fundraising page" where there is news of his upcoming fundraising efforts.
He has already received generous support from Dorset firms Osprey (backpacks) and Morgan & Hampton (estate agents), but he still needs your support. Monetary donations can be made online on the Wings of Kilimanjaro website.
Posted: 6 October 2012
No Brits at European hang gliding champs
Last month's hang gliding European Championships (Kayseri, Turkey, August 26th - September 8th) was the first-ever FAI Category 1, Class 1 hang gliding championship that did not feature a GB team.
A number of issues have been cited including uncertainties over funding, the availability of leave for certain pilots, and the very bad weather at last year's pre-Europeans at Kayseri.
A further difficulty is that both the Europeans and the World Championships (at Forbes, Australia in January) fall in the same financial year. All the same, it's a far cry from Team GB's individual and team Golds in 1990 and 1992, or Gold at the 2007 World Championships!
Posted: 6 October 2012
Applications are invited for the RAeC Trust bursary scheme for 2013. These are awarded annually, aimed at facilitating young fliers to advance their existing qualifications to the next level.
The bursaries include the Peter Cruddas Foundation Scholarship worth up to £1,000, and several other awards of up to £750. Last year saw a record total of over £11,000 allocated. Applicants must be UK citizens; training and flying must be conducted at UK clubs or training establishments. Applications must arrive at the Trust by March 31st 2013 and should be submitted through a sponsoring organisation (eg the BHPA).
Recent winners have included BHPA members Idris Birch and Katie Lawrence, and William Lawrence who is using his award to continue his paraglider training. Those interested in applying a bursary for 2013 should visit the Royal Aero Club website.
Posted: 6 October 2012
Further information about the British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association and skywings magazine can be found on the about the BHPA and Skywings magazine pages on this website.
