Skywings news stories are available for the following publication years:
If you're looking for news stories published before January 2016, please visit the Skywings News Archive.
Skywings news stories published in 2019 are displayed below.
News stories published in the years listed above can also be searched by post date or headline (title).
To search by post date, please enter the month and year numerically as mm-yyyy (eg. 03-2016).
There are 42 news stories for 2019 in our database.
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French paraglider pilot Antoine Girard recently returned from Chile having completed the first ever paraglider crossing of the central Andes. In doing so he became the first ever paraglider pilot to fly above the summit of Aconcagua, at 6,962m the highest peak in the Americas.
Antoine's 100+km flight from Argentina to Chile took three and a quarter hours and reached 7,200m. During his expedition he also claimed Rob Whittall's 25-year-old world height gain record and recorded Chile's biggest-ever FAI triangle at 129km. In 2016 Antoine soared to over 8,100m in the Karakoram and in 2107 was nominated National Geographic magazine's Adventurer of the Year.
Posted: 28 April 2019
By: J. Schofield
The Last Glaciers
A few years ago filmmaker Craig Leeson, and Malcolm Wood of LevelWings paragliders, released a film raising awareness about the problems single-use plastics cause to the environment.
Screened in more than 60 countries and translated many languages, it was supported by environmentalists including Sir David Attenborough. A Plastic Ocean helped change government, business and UN environmental policies and garnered many documentary awards.
The same team is now working to bring a similar awareness to climate change. Mounting evidence of global warming still brings heated debate among politicians and the public.
To represent visually the changes taking place, The Last Glaciers follows a group of paragliders and extreme speedwing pilots as they access previously-impossible filming opportunities to highlight climate change and reveal how mankind is affecting the future.
Glaciers melt and millions of people are at risk of natural disasters such as floods, droughts and landslides. Communities face uncertain futures as our changing climate impacts ecosystems, agriculture, water systems, infrastructure and human health. The film's message is a wake-up call - see the Last Glaciers Instagram page for further details.
If we don't address global warming now, we will not survive the changes that will occur on earth.
Posted: 5 April 2019
By: J Schofield
British acro star and all-rounder Jack Pimblett has been invited to become an Advance Team pilot.
Flying from a young age, Jack finished 7th at the 2018 Acro World Tour final.
He joins fellow Advance neophyte Victor 'Bicho' Carrera, the Chilean acro and professional tandem pilot who finished two places above him at the World Tour final.
Posted: 5 April 2019
By: J Schofield
This year's BHPFC human powered aircraft competition will be held at Lasham from July 20th July to the 28th.
Any volunteers interested in helping to marshal the event over the week should email Tony Prentice, or phone him on 01474 706405 (onsite camping is available).
The RAeS will shortly announce a new competition aimed at first-time builders and flyers, to encourage new entrants to the human-powered flying world. More details here soon.
Posted: 5 April 2019
By: J Schofield
CIVL's Aerobatic Committee has organised a seminar for candidates to become competition judges, to be held at Organyà in Spain on May 12th - 16th. It will be led by top acro pilots Théo de Blic and Horacio Llorens.
The aim is to form a team of highly-qualified judges from as many nations as possible. Acro is the most complex discipline to score and a new 'battle' format has made it even more so.
To register your interest, please complete this on-line form ASAP. A selection will be made by the committee and elected candidates invited to the seminar. Travel and accommodation will be jointly funded by CIVL and the national aero clubs.
Posted: 5 April 2019
By: J Schofield
The UK Department for Transport are seeking to appoint a General Aviation Champion to assist the department to effectively take into account the specific needs of the GA sector.
The post will be based in London, and will involve two days per month with a remuneration of £350 per day.
The closing date for applications is the 19 April 2019.
For further information please visit the UK Government website.
Posted: 2 April 2019
By: Paul Dancey
Finsterwalder and the BHPA have issued a safety notices regarding the Finsterwalder Quick-Out Carabiner.
When Finsterwalder set up their production of the Quick-Out release buttons in January 2015, about 20 release buttons were produced incorrectly; and at least one such faulty Quick-Out carabiner was put into circulation.
The error eliminates one of the 4 security levels: To open the carabiner, it is sufficient to press only the correct release button instead of pressing both release buttons simultaneously.
At the final inspection, every single Quick-Out carabiner undergoes a load test of 2,000 DaN. However, the error was not noticeable, since the stress test is also passed with only one release button intact. If the Quick-Out is operated in accordance with the current version of their operating instructions, downloadable from the Finsterwalder website, the error will be noticed immediately.
All Finsterwalder Quick-Out users are therefore urged to check their carabiners before they next use them.
For further information about this issue, and how to spot a faulty carabiner, please download BHPA Safety Notice 034, or a copy of the Finsterwalder Safety Notice.
Posted: 2 April 2019
By: Paul Dancey
The General Aviation Alliance is involved in a significant and increasing amount of regulatory engagement and response activity, including that related to airspace modernization.
To provide professional support to its engagement and response activity, the GA Alliance is seeking a contracted Programme Manager.
The scope of the task includes the management of;
This remunerated contractor role, that is initially likely to require the around 10 hours per week, will suit a person with a formal qualification in business administration or significant business administration experience, and who has knowledge of general aviation as well as a desire to learn more.
The closing date for applications is 29th March 2019.
Please submit a CV and application letter via email to pete@gliding.co.uk or by post to;
Pete Stratten, GA Alliance Secretary, Lower Floor, 8 Merus Court, Meridian Business Park, Leicester, LE19 1RJ
Posted: 13 March 2019
By: Paul Dancey
last updated: 29 March 2025
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