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Displaying page 18 out of 53
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The UK Government has confirmed that Step 2 of its roadmap out of lockdown will take place in England no earlier than 12th April. The BHPA has determined that at this point, its pilots holding the appropriate rating can undertake cross country flight if the activity complies with the UK Government's/applicable Devolved Administration or Crown Dependency restrictions on travel and social contact.
In order for an XC flight to take place, the rules restricting non-essential travel must have been lifted. As the countries that make up the UK are easing their "stay at home" and "stay local" restrictions at different rates, our guidance is as follows:
From 12th April, pilots in England and Wales will be able to make XC flights and travel across the England/Wales border when flying, or in order to fly.
For pilots based in Scotland: when travel restrictions are lifted, XC flights outside your local authority area can be made.
Currently, people are not permitted to travel to or from Scotland without reasonable excuse. Leisure flying is not a reasonable excuse.
In Northern Ireland the current restriction limits travel to local only. This precludes XC flying, however a review is due on 15th April.
General advice for cross country flying: Although it appears that COVID 19 cases are generally on a downward trajectory, the virus has not gone away. There are still restrictions limiting people coming together in groups both inside and outside. Every BHPA member carries an individual responsibility to abide by the rules governing the locality in which they intend to fly, and bear in mind that when crossing a border you may be subject to different restrictions. When involved in any flying activity, be it local flying or cross country, please respect social distancing and follow national advice about the protection measures you should be using when outside your home. Plan your retrieve options as well as your flight where possible. Follow national guidance about the use of public transport and use an appropriate face covering and hand sanitiser.
The timetables for the easing of restrictions can be accessed via the links below:
England
Northern Ireland
Scotland
Wales
Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey: Please refer to each government's website and liaise with the local BHPA club.
When the easing of restrictions permit you to travel outside the UK to fly, follow the Foreign and Commonwealth Office guidance for travellers. Bear in mind that travel disruption is still possible and a resurgence of the virus may bring about national control measures at short notice. Make yourself aware of the flying situation in the country you are travelling to by visiting its national association's website (available for participating European countries through www.ehpu.org).
Posted: 10 April 2021
By: Paul Dancey
including BHPA registered Air Experience schools and schools providing tandem flights
The UK Government has confirmed that in line with Step 2 of its roadmap out of lockdown, GA training flights with an instructor can resume. This is currently planned to be no earlier than 12th April in England. Further information can be found on the Government's General Aviation guidance page.
The BHPA has determined that at this point, tandem licence holders can fly with passengers who are not from the same household. The UK Government's/applicable devolved administration's restrictions on travel, social contact and group sizes must be adhered to. The BHPA's currency requirements for dual licence holders is in the Instructor and Coach Newsletter No. 27 on page 5.
Many ground-based aspects of dual hang gliding and paragliding can be conducted whilst maintaining social distancing. This will require careful thought and some pre-planning by the licence holder. Time spent standing directly upwind or downwind of a participant (even if over two metres away) should be minimised or avoided when possible. Side-to-side interaction should be used in preference to upwind/downwind. During the flight and in other situations when social distancing cannot be maintained, participants must wear a face covering.
There is a possibility of transmission of COVID 19 from handling equipment and documents touched by an infected person. You should evaluate the risks and take sensible precautions including frequent hand sanitising and limiting the sharing of equipment that cannot easily be sanitised. You are advised to use appropriately certified passenger helmets that can be cleaned in-between use by different people (following the manufacturer's guidelines) and make available a facility for hand washing with soap, or hand sanitiser. Ask your passengers to inform you if they develop symptoms and follow Government guidance for disinfecting in the case of contact with a person suspected or confirmed to be infected.
Advice on protective measures can be found via the links below (specific to the country you are in):
English Guidance
Northern Ireland guidance
Scotland guidance
Wales guidance
Posted: 8 April 2021
By: Paul Dancey
As part of a wider plan to reduce fly-tipping and manage the area, access to Merthyr Common is now restricted. The site can only be accessed through a locked barrier to the south. A restricted number of keys for the lock are being issued to members of the South East Wales Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club. Visiting pilots are advised to contact the Club or its members for further information.
Posted: 1 April 2021
By: J. Schofield
With the UK and other countries opening their flying sites, after a long lockdown, Jocky Sanderson has posted a video on Utube, sharing some simple safety reminders to help you keep safe while also protecting your gear.
Jocky's Back in the Air: Paragliding Safety Tips video
Posted: 18 March 2021
By: Paul Dancey
The BHPA guidance on applications for inclusions in the AIP (e.g. permanent permit to tow at a particular site to above 60m agl) has been revised.
The revised document is available in the documents section of our website.
Posted: 17 March 2021
By: Paul Dancey
An updated copy of the 2021 AGM Reports document (AGM Pack) is now available on the AGM Minutes page of this website.
This includes two additional reports and a clickable index to aid navigation.
Please use the following link to join and participate in the BHPA AGM from your computer, tablet or smartphone at 11.00am on Saturday March 13:
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/188019045
You can also dial in using your phone. United Kingdom: +44 20 3713 5028
Access Code: 188-019-045
The AGM will also be live streamed on our Facebook page
Posted: 12 March 2021
By: Paul Dancey
We are pleased to report that as a result of our lobbying, the Department for Transport has amended its guidance on flight training such that the vast majority of our schools in England can commence training two weeks earlier than previously stated, i.e. from 29 March 2021. The Guidance for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland can be found on their websites.
Please note the requirement to remain socially distanced. This change only permits students to engage in solo flight. We would remind schools of the guidance that we issued when training resumed after the first lockdown:
"The BHPA Flying and Safety Committee (FSC) sees there are two main issues with solo beginner training. Firstly, there is the issue of handing out flying equipment to students, and the risk of transmission of COVID 19 from handling gear touched by an infected person. We think this can be reduced by sensible precautions - ones that your students would expect, such as cleaning of helmets between use, asking students to inform you if they develop symptoms, and following government guidance for disinfecting in the case of contact with a person suspected or confirmed to be infected.
Secondly, there is the issue of adhering to the social distancing advice whilst conducting your activity. This will require careful thought and some pre-planning. If you normally have a 'hands-on' approach to teaching (e.g. putting controls and paraglider risers in your students' hands) you will have to change your technique to avoid the close contact. It can be done from two metres away - the process takes longer and requires an additional degree of care and prudent selection of conditions. You will probably find yourself having to perform more demos. The FSC acknowledges that commercial pressures may push you or your instructors towards taking the maximum size group allowed. You are advised to resist this - at least until familiarity has been gained in the necessary adaptions to instructional technique to accommodate these exceptional circumstances.
There may be some situations where it is necessary to break the 2m distancing 'bubble'. This could be an emergency intervention to prevent a student being dragged on a paraglider. It could be to double check a student's pre-flight check or to perform an emergency shutdown of a power unit. During the initial phases (including first hops), the student and instructor should wear a disposable mask or covering over the nose and mouth during periods in the training when there is a risk of possibly needing closer proximity than two metres. At all times, being closer than two metres to another person must be kept to a minimum amount of time.
There may well be some situations where it is impossible to adhere to the two-metre distancing principle, for example to provide HG hang checks, nose wire control and launch assistance. In these circumstances the instructor and student must wear a disposable mask or covering over the nose and mouth. Please perform tasks with the usual diligence but endeavour to minimise time within the two metre 'bubble'."
Marc Asquith
BHPA Chairman
Posted: 12 March 2021
By: Paul Dancey
It has been found that older Gravis 1 wings can suffer from a shortening of C and D lines, adversely changing take-off and flight characteristics including entering deep stall when using big ears.
As a precautionary measure, Icaro is ordering a check on all Gravis 1 gliders last inspected more than 12 months ago, or that have been flown for more than 75 hours, or displaying unusual behaviour such as deep stall and/or hanging back on launching.
These gliders must be subjected to a check by the manufacturer, and possible line replacement, before being flown again. Ascent Paragliding will be dealing with all contact and corrections within the UK. The Icaro Safety Notice can be downloaded from our Importers & Manufacturers Safety Notices page.
Contact aidan@ascentparagliding.co.uk, tel: 07921811800.
Icaro Paragliders, March 9th 2021
Posted: 10 March 2021
By: J Schofield
last updated: 2 July 2025
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