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Displaying page 20 out of 52
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The tenth Red Bull X-Alps event is scheduled to start at Salzburg on June 20th, 2021. 33 pilots from 17 nations will complete in paragliding's toughest event.
Entrants include six-times winner Chrigel Maurer, 2019 runner-up Maxime Pinot, and Tom Coconea who was second in 2009 and 2011. Patrick von Känel was 8th in 2019; in August he beat Maurer into second place at the DolomitiSuperFly and might have something to say about another Chrigel win.
Among a total of 14 new entrants is British Open regular Steve Bramfitt, 35, originally an accomplished acro pilot but more recently an exponent of hike-and-fly.
Red Bull publicity will ramp up as the event approaches. Behind the razzmatazz, the pilots know they will have to travel 1,000km by foot or paraglider through often-inhospitable alpine terrain. They will endure pain, fatigue and possible injury to avoid elimination and reach the finish.
Although consummate flying skill and ultra-fitness are required, in the end the high cards are strategic thinking and mental fortitude. The X-Alps 2021 route will be announced on March 16th.
Posted: 1 December 2020
By: J. Schofield
Yorkshire pilots Ric Womersley (top) and Richard Shaw (bottom), both BHPA paramotor instructors, are planning to set off on a long distance charity flight on the first possible day after Christmas - covid restrictions and weather permitting.
The 'Ric's Coast to Coast For Cancer Research' route will be between Withernsea on the east coast near Hull, and Southport, on the west coast north of Liverpool. Whether the flight is east-west or west-east will depend on the weather.
Ric will be flying a Parajet Polini 250 kept aloft by an Ozone Speedster 3. Richard, former British team leader, will be aboard a Fly Products Eclipse Atom 80/BGD Luna 2 outfit.
Their 200km route will roughly follow the Humber estuary and M62 motorway, with waypoints at the Humber Bridge and the Emley Moor, Pole Moor and Winter Hill communication masts.
To contribute via JustGiving click here.
Posted: 30 November 2020
By: J. Schofield
The Model Ridge, main site of the North Yorks Sailwing Club, is under threat of closure.
The owners, the Urra Estate, have invested heavily in upgrading facilities at the site. After several meetings between the NYSC committee and the Estate it was agreed that if the club policed flying at the site they could continue to fly there.
The owners requested that anyone who flew the site must be registered with the club and also carry BHPA insurance, and that pilots would use the café.
Recently a group of hang glider pilots are said to have caused obstruction to members of the public, been rude to Estate staff and avoided using the café. The committee was given time to educate the miscreants - it turns out most of them were not NYSC members.
The threat of closure was raised. Following further discussion the club is still able fly there, subject to these reasonable demands:
Pilots must be members of both NYSC and BHPA, be polite and courteous to both staff and general public, only use available parking (not grass verges with double yellow lines), and use (and be seen using) the cafe. If these rules aren't respected the club, and the BHPA, face losing one of the finest sites in the north of England.
If you are not a NYSC member and choose to fly the Model Ridge, Carlton Bank or Cringle Moor, please go to the club website and visit the Join-Us link. Please fill in and return the application form - the club allows payment by Standing Order.
NYSC members are asked not to let their membership lapse unless they no longer wish to fly these sites. Pilots may be asked to confirm their ID.
Posted: 16 November 2020
By: J. Schofield
England entered into a four week period of lockdown restrictions on Thursday 05 November.
The Regulations covering this latest lockdown period in England can be found on the UK Government website, and the associated guidance from the Department of Transport (DfT) can be found on the DfT Website.
The basic principle is that in England, we should stay at home. That is set out in Regulation 5. However, there are exceptions to Regulation 6 and these are set out in Regulation 6. The eagle eyed amongst you will have noticed Regulation 6(2)(d)
to visit a public outdoor place for the purposes of open air recreation—
(i) alone,
This exception would appear to allow hang gliding and paragliding. Indeed, elements of the previous guidance are not contained in the Regulation, such as the requirement to remain local when exercising and undertaking open air recreation. I have raised the discrepancy between the DfT position and guidance and Regulation 6 with the Officials from the DfT and received the following response:
"Thanks for getting in touch. I do understand the frustration but to confirm our position, as you have seen DfT's guidance is that aviation for sports and leisure purposes in England should not take place during the lockdown. Neither DfT, nor the CAA, will seek to monitor or enforce the activity of the BHPA or its members as enforcement of the lockdown is a police and public health matter.
However, I'd also advise that if DfT or the CAA were asked to input into any police enforcement action against persons conducting leisure aviation of any type, we would be obliged to advise that DfT guidance to such persons is that in order to comply with the law (Statutory Instrument 2020 No.1200, 'The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No.4) Regulations 2020'), and notwithstanding Regulation 6(2)(d), such activities should not be undertaken. Such persons may thus make themselves liable to prosecution. Therefore, should the BHPA decide to advise it members in contravention of the guidance published by DfT, it is possible that it could also make itself liable to prosecution or the recovery of damages from persons who follow that advice and are subsequently prosecuted."
Whilst I regard the veiled legal threats against the BHPA as entirely laughable, I think the only advice the BHPA can give is to obey the law.
Marc Asquith.
Chairman
Posted: 5 November 2020
By: Paul Dancey
Due to restrictions on personnel numbers imposed by COVID19 measures, the UK Low Flying Booking Cell has reduced it's opening hours. And from Monday 2nd November will only be manned Monday to Thursday 7.00am - 5.00pm and Friday 7.00am - 3.00pm.
The reduced opening hours will be in place until further notice, but will be reviewed on 30th Jan 2021.
NB. CANPs should be submitted one hour before closing time to ensure publication.
Posted: 4 November 2020
By: Paul Dancey
Following the Prime Minister's announcement on Saturday 31 October, England will enter into a four week period of lockdown restrictions commencing on Thursday 05 November.
Whilst the initial announcement outlines the Government's intention, the details of how this will affect hang gliding and paragliding in England is not yet clear.
The BHPA is engaging with the relevant Government departments and awaiting further detail.
We will update our guidance for BHPA members, clubs, schools and instructors within England as soon as we have further clarity and ask for your patience at this time.
The advice and guidance for Scotland will no doubt be updated by the SHPF to reflect the new tier system. There are no changes to the guidance for Wales and Northern Ireland.
Please be assured that we will continue to work with the relevant authorities to represent the interests of the free flying community.
Marc Asquith
Posted: 2 November 2020
By: Paul Dancey
Prior to the EC rebate scheme launch (5th October 2020) the CAA advised the BHPA that devices transmitting FLARM would be eligible for rebate. FLARM is incorporated into several free flight devices from Naviter, Skytraxx, XC Tracer and Flymaster. When the scheme launched on October 5th we were surprised to see no mention of FLARM in the CAA's landing page. Only Power FLARM, more suited to aircraft with cockpits and power supplies, was mentioned.
The CAA has since confirmed that the FLARM-transmitting Skytraxx Beacon is eligible for rebate under the scheme. Further, the general rule of thumb is that if a device transmits FLARM, Pilot Aware or ADS-B it is valid - any other functionality is a welcome addition. As we go to press we await the CAA publishing a Q&A document to clear up many of our queries.
Having processed a rebate application, we now know what is involved. After purchasing an EC device from a retailer you must register an account on the CAA portal, linked from the rebate scheme page. Submit your identity details (e.g. passport and driver's licence scans). An 'account approval' email should follow - current indications are that this takes about a week.
You then log into your account. Under the 'Your Services' section fill out the online form to apply for a rebate for your device, providing your bank details, a scan of the EC device receipt and your BHPA membership number and rating (Pilot or above). Assuming you meet the eligibility criteria and your application is successful, you can expect a payment to your bank account after 28 working days.
Note the 50% rebate is on the ex-VAT amount. The rebate on a £500 device is thus about £208 - a substantial discount on the cost of an EC device. Further details are available on the CAA website.
Posted: 13 October 2020
By: Paul Dancey
The Department for Transport (DfT) rebate scheme for purchasing an Electronic Conspicuity device goes live.
As we have previously reported in Skywings, there is growing evidence that transponders - Electronic Conspicuity (EC for short) - are going to play an increasing part in our sports, and the DfT is intending to make it even easier for all aircraft to be "electronically visible" by helping UK flyers purchase an EC device. Earlier this year the CAA announced a scheme to assist pilots holding CAA licences with the cost of adopting EC. The criteria have been expanded to include current BHPA "Pilot" rated members.
The scheme went live on the 5th October 2020. 50% of the cost of an EC device (up to a maximum rebate of £250) can be claimed from funds made available by the DfT. You need to hold a current BHPA rating (minimum "Pilot" level) or an appropriate national pilot licence to be able to apply for the rebate. The CAA website does not yet make it clear that BHPA members applying must hold "Pilot" rating or above - an update of its page is anticipated.
What can you buy?
ADS-B is the CAA's preferred EC system. There are very few ADS-B devices that are small and light enough to be potentially compatible with our ultra-light aircraft, the "SkyEcho 2" being one that is readily available in the UK. Some FLARM devices (for example the FLARM equipped "FANET+ Beacon") can easily be carried on a hang glider or paraglider. The CAA has confirmed to us that devices such as the Beacon are eligible for the rebate scheme, even though they are not specifically mentioned on the CAA's EC rebate scheme page.
Who is it for?
If you are encouraged to purchase and use an EC device, make sure you understand its limitations. If you are using a screen to avoid mid-air collisions with other ridge soaring hang gliders or paragliders, you are at greater risk of hitting another pilot by not practising good visual situational awareness using your Mark-1 eyeball. An EC device may be an additional tool for your awareness of other types of aircraft, but the greatest benefit is likely to be in broadcasting your location to faster moving aircraft that can display potential conflicts on their screens, and have the ability to manoeuvre quickly to avoid a collision.
Of course, you not only become visible to other aircraft with a compatible EC system, you are detectable to ground stations. An infringement into controlled airspace is likely to be seen and acted upon. Aerial infringements (depending on their seriousness) usually require the infringer to attend an aerial version of a speed awareness course for the initial infringement. Subsequent infringements will undoubtedly incur more severe penalties.
The aspect that hasn't yet been fully addressed is what will happen at the time when all of these EC devices are switched on. The BHPA continues to highlight the unique nature of our sports in meetings with CAA and DfT, however, some in the aviation industry struggle with the concept that we don't fly in straight lines. It is yet to be seen whether chaos will ensue if 8000+ HGs and PGs go "live" and start flashing on aircraft and controllers' screens. However, cross country pilots may see this rebate scheme as an opportunity to acquaint themselves with a system well in advance of any requirement to be electronically visible.
We recommend a thorough reading through of the information on the CAA's website, in particular the section on maintaining the correct WTA licence to use an EC device.
Further news of the CAA's EC rebate scheme (and a link to the rebate application form) can be found on the CAA Website
To apply for the rebate, you will need to register for an online account with the CAA. This involves providing a scan of identify documents, for example a passport and driving licence.
Posted: 6 October 2020
By: Paul Dancey
last updated: 13 January 2025
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