British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association

FAI Statement on the situation in Ukraine

The military conflict taking place in Ukraine is of grave international concern. The FAI are deeply saddened by the inevitable human cost of war and the humanitarian crises that will be created because of this conflict.

The FAI's fundamental aim is to maintain the integrity and support the development of air sports across all nations in line with a set of values that nurture inclusion and transcend national differences.

To maintain that aim under the circumstances created by the military conflict in the Ukraine, the FAI Executive Board has unanimously decided to implement the following extraordinary measures:

To suspend the members of Russia and Belarus with immediate effect and therefore removing all rights as listed in FAI Statutes 2.4.2.1.

In making this decision, the FAI Executive Board has taken note of the considered actions being taken by the International Olympic Committee and other international sporting organisations.

In addition to the above measures, the FAI Executive Board will:

1. Engage with FAI Members, FAI Air Sport Commissions and other stakeholders to ensure that the situation is carefully, and regularly monitored and further decisions taken as to current and future measures.

2. Ensure that the organisers of all FAI sanctioned events due to take place in Europe between now and April 2023 are consulted with to consider the direct and indirect impact of the conflict in the Ukraine, any mitigation measures that might need to be considered, and what forms of assistance the FAI might be able to provide to maintain the integrity of such events.

This is a very difficult situation. Our thoughts are with those that are being most directly impacted, and we all hope for a swift resolution.

FAI Executive Board
28 February 2022

Download a copy of the FAI Statement

Posted: 28 February 2022
By: Paul Dancey

Safety Notice - NEO String 3.0 harness (sold 2021)

Following a flight incident, Neo have discovered a structural weakness in the String 3.0 harness and have asked pilots not to fly with harnesses with Serial numbers beginning with I13 (followed by 3 digits) sold in 2021.

All pilots with an affected String 3.0 are asked to return their harness to the NEO workshop (ZA des Vernays, 74210 Doussard) or to contact their dealer.

A reinforcement eliminating this risk will then be carried out. The original safety notice can be found on the manufacturers safety notices page of this website, and on the Neo Team website.

Posted: 23 February 2022
By: Paul Dancey

EC Rebate scheme is closing soon

The CAA Rebate scheme for Electronic Conspicuity devices, intended to accelerate the take-up of EC across the recreational flying spectrum, closes on March 31st. It's open to all BHPA pilots of CP level or above. In our case qualifying devices are mostly instruments with a FLARM element: Naviter, Skytraxx and XC Tracer.

Search 'CAA electronic conspicuity rebate' to find the relevant CAA page outlining the application procedure. You'll get 50% of your expenditure back, up to a limit of £250. If the CAA pages don't explain the potential gains of EC clearly enough for you, it's time to re-read Steve Uzochukwu's Electronic Conspicuity - the next stage article from October 2020 Skywings. 

Posted: 26 January 2022
By: J. Schofield

RAeC Trust bursary scheme

Final call for the Royal Aero Club Trust's 2022 bursary awards scheme for young people, which closes on March 31st. A financial leg-up early in your career can have immeasurable positive effects, and the bursary scheme represents, pretty much, free money at a time when you don't have much. 

Several young BHPA pilots have benefited from the Trust's largesse, one of whom is now the current European Paragliding Champion. Full details and application forms are available at www.royalaeroclubtrust.org.

Posted: 26 January 2022
By: J. Schofield

Great British Aerotow Revival

Within 72 hours of going live on Airtribune in December more than 50 pilots had registered for the Great British Aerotow Revival, scheduled for Deenethorpe near Corby in May. Recreational flying places are still available but all 50 initial places for the competition have been claimed.

The organisers are currently looking at ways to increase the number of pilots without detriment to launch efficiency and safety. The Revival is fundamentally a competition, but is intended to be much more, with training, social events and recreational flying. One thing is certain: the event will be an exciting gathering of people passionate about hang gliding! The official webpage, with further links to the Airtribune page, is here.

Posted: 26 January 2022
By: J. Schofield

Forbes Flatlands

Seven tasks at Forbes in January saw Attila Bertok take the win from longtime sparring partner Attila Bertok. The pandemic caused a low turnout, with only three non-Australian pilots among the 14 entered for the Open class. Tasks varied in length from 125 to 202km. Everyone flew the Moyes Rx except third-placed Scott Barrett (Aeros Combat). Seven pilots, including one from Japan, contested the Sports class, with Richard Hughes taking the win. Equipment was split between Moyes' incomparable Gecko and Wills Wing's Sport and U2 models. 

Posted: 26 January 2022
By: J. Schofield

BHPA 2022 AGM

The Association's 2022 AGM will take place at the Nottingham Belfry Hotel (NG8 6PY) on Saturday 12th February at 10.00am.

BHPA Exec members Marc Asquith, Martin Baxter, Bill Bell, Martin Heywood and Angus Langford are standing for re-election by rotation; sadly no volunteers have stepped forward to join the Exec and the election will thus be uncontested. Nevertheless the AGM offers an opportunity to quiz Exec members on their achievements and on the future direction of the Association; all are welcome.

The 2022 AGM pack is available in the documents section of this web site. The pack includes formal notice of the meeting, details of members standing for election, and a proxy voting form. Completed proxy voting forms can be returned to the office by post or scanned and emailed to office@bhpa.co.uk. Completed proxy voting forms must be received at the office by 10.00am on Thursday 10 February 2022.

It is still hoped to run this year's AGM as a face-to-face meeting, but it will also be available to watch and contribute online via the BHPA Facebook page. If conditions or government advice changes it will revert to a Zoom-type meeting.

Any last minute changes to arrangements will be posted on this website and our Facebook page.

Posted: 11 January 2022
By: Paul Dancey

Brian Milton on screen?

Reports reach us that Danish film producer Niels Juul is planning a feature film based on former BHGA member Brian Milton's 1998 round-the-world microlight flight. Juul, executive producer of Martin Scorsese's The Irishman, aims to subvert the Hollywood finance model by funding the film - provisionally titled A Wing and a Prayer - entirely by non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Under the frustrating Hollywood system, he says, smaller productions can take years to reach cinemas. To bypass this bottleneck he has set up NFT Studios to fund a series of films, hoping to raise up to £7m through the sale of tokens to institutional investors and the public.

A Wing and a Prayer is said to be ready to go, with a big-name star and director lined up, with shooting planned for April and a transatlantic premiere in September. Those undeterred by the bubble aspects of NFTs may wish to have a punt, while wondering which current actor has been lined up to play the grizzled, hard-driving, never-say-die Milton.

Posted: 20 December 2021
By: J. Schofield