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Skywings news stories are available for the following publication years:

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There are 419 news stories for all non archived years in our database.

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Skywings News - all non archived years

CANP stats

CANP app usage over the past two years Pete Logan has produced data showing CANP app usage over the past two years. Total CANP reports have doubled to 1210 for the past year, from 624 in 2020. The Cumbria club leads the way in reports posted with 282; the next highest reporting club is North Devon with 190. But note - it's not a competition: these numbers mostly reflect site usage and local perceptions of military traffic. They also reveal how much 2021 began to approach normality compared with the year before.

The graph shows 2020 and 2021 stats and mirrors, to a degree, the amount of flying done through the year. Currently the CANP app covers 57 clubs and 505 sites. To see how this system works to help de-conflict our activities and military traffic, and to learn how easy it is to use, get up to speed on the CANP for free fliers website.

Posted: 20 December 2021
By: J. Schofield

Brits win Worlds – Russ Ogden is World Champ

In a tense final task at Loma Bola in Argentina, Russ Ogden held off Frenchman Honorin Hamard, 2015 World Champion, to secure the individual Gold medal. Strong backup from the British team saw Seb Ospina in 6th overall, Theo Warden 15th and Martin Long 54th, securing team Gold over the Swiss and Czechs. Switzerland's Yael Margelisch was top woman in 18th place, ahead of France's Seiko Fukuoka.

Loma Bola, known for stable conditions and sometimes very short tasks, proved to be a very challenging playground. Seven tasks were flown of around 50-80km, with pilots reaching goal on only four tasks.

Huge respect to Russ, to the British team and to master tactician Jocky Sanderson. This was no pushover; there were some very strong teams and individual pilots present. The French in particular, and the Germans, finished 10th and 9th; both started well but suffered heavy setbacks on the 5th task and could not recover. Russ and the British team were ahead from that point on and did not let up.

Hats off to all involved in the Argentina success, including the British Paragliding Racing Academy who have been leading up to this moment for the last five years. 

Posted: 12 November 2021
By: J. Schofield

Will the British Team take Gold today?

Hope you have been following the exciting developments of the World Championships this week?

Jocky Sanderson has been sending out some excellent reports and photos/videos on his page, and we have been sharing things to Instagram and other outlets as the week has progressed.

Well, here we are. The last day!!! How are we doing?

Well, Russ Ogden is currently winning the Individual. Mathematically, his worst case scenario is Silver medal, but as we stand right now, he is sitting on Gold!

And the team? Well, again the are sitting on Gold, but we still have to get through today. It is anywhere from Gold through to 20th place. Lets show our support and watch, and share, the day as it develops.

You can expect the pilots to be Airborne for around 4pm maybe, and the results could be in as soon as 8pm (UK times). Here are a few links to help you follow the developments:

Official page for tracking and news

Facebook Team group

Jocky's blogging page

Instagram: @british_pg_comp

Airtribune 17th FAI World Paragliding Championship Tucumán - Argentina - 2021 31 Oct, 2021 - 13 Nov, 2021 | Yerba Buena, Argentina

Bill Bell

Posted: 12 November 2021
By: Paul Dancey

British Aerotow Revival!

Deenethorpe Airfield, CorbyThe first UK aerotow competition for more than half a decade will be held at the former WWII bomber base at Deenethorpe, near Corby - away from busy airspace ... and where the UK airmass starts to become continental!

Dates are May 7th-13th 2022. Practice days - for those needing to get current with aerotowing - will be May 4th-6th. The meet director will be 'hang gliding royalty' Jamie Sheldon.

The organisers aim to have five tugs available, limiting numbers to 50 competitors. Sign up early to avoid disappointment. Further details can be found on the British Aerotow Revival 2022 website; registration will open in December.

Posted: 10 November 2021
By: J. Schofield

COP 26 Airspace Restrictions Update

Airspace restriction have been put in place for the Conference of the Parties 26th Summit (COP 26), which is taking place at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC), Glasgow between the 30 October and 13 November 2021.

These have now been extended to 11.59pm on Sunday 14th November 2021 due to the conference over running.

A copy of the relevant Aeronautical Information Circular can be downloaded using the following link:

AIC M 091/2021

Posted: 2 November 2021
By: Paul Dancey

BHPA insurance document

Those who may need to confirm, for their own satisfaction or perhaps to reassure a landowner or potential customer, just what the BHPA's 3rd-party insurance covers are reminded that the Association's 'Evidence of Insurance' document is available in the documents section of this website.

Posted: 5 October 2021
By: J. Schofield

Bird sanctuaries: avoid!

North Norfolk's Blakeney Point nature reserve has reported numerous paramotor pilots flying low over the beach. Such activity puts wildlife at risk. With local seals about to pup, disturbance from paramotors may cause havoc in a birthing seal colony.

Bird sanctuaries are marked on quarter- and half-mil Aeronautical charts and online airspace tools. They are usually circles of 1 or 1.5nm radius, although some are larger. Upper limits may be as low as 500ft but can go to 2, 3 and even 4000ft asl. The UK Air Pilot lists 16 of these; all but three have permanent year-round protection. As well as bird life, they are often breeding grounds for other aquatic creatures.

Flying is not prohibited in these areas, but pilots are specifically requested to avoid them, especially during any stated breeding season. BHPA members or not, paramotor pilots low flying in the area give our sport a bad name! 

Posted: 5 October 2021
By: J. Schofield

British Hang Gliding Competition Panel Vacancies

Two valued competition panel members and the scorer have announced a decision to retire from the competition panel.

The panel would like to thank Tim King for 12 years service on the panel and Phil Chettleburgh for over 10 years as our scorer. Both have given a large commitment to British hang gliding and have conducted a multitude of other competition related tasks.

Additionally the panel would like to thank Jenny Buck who has not only been a panel member but has done an excellent job directing their national competitions for a number of years.  Jenny will continue meet directing but must retire from the panel in order to become our BHPA representative.

This leaves the panel with vacancies for two panel members and a scorer.

The competition panel has a number of duties and as a member you would be expected to contribute to some of the following tasks:

If more than the two volunteers are received, then pilots who participate in the BOS / Nationals will be given a vote as to who to elect to the panel.

Expressions of interest for panel members and scorer should be sent to Darren Brown at darrenbrown50@hotmail.com

DEADLINE: 1st October 2021

Posted: 15 September 2021
By: Paul Dancey

last updated: 10 March 2025

Skywings News Feed

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