SHPF Blog

Hang gliding and paragliding is once again under serious threat. Eurocontrol, the "European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation" has produced for consultation its draft version of its proposed Standardised European Rules of the Air (SERA).

Whilst the aim of having one single set of Rules of the Air that applies right across Europe may seem attractive, unfortunately whoever has written the draft has clearly not given a single thought to hang gliders and paragliders. Some of the proposed rules will have a massive detrimental impact on our ability to go and fly. (E.g. 4.6 bans flight below 500 feet ? so ridge soaring will be effectively outlawed!)

4 consultation documents.
http://www.eurocontrol.int/enprm/public/standard_page/enprm10002.html

Here are the BHPAs suggested response guidelines ....
BHPA-Comments.pdf

Choose some of the points outlined and, in your own words, complete the "Consultation Response Sheet ? Enclosure 3" that you downloaded. Ideally you should express dissatisfaction with the SERA proposals along the lines of "the current safe, entirely legal activity would be made illegal by this change". (The BHPA response will suggest alternate wordings ? and it may be counter-productive if you try to create "in your own words" alternatives to our proposals.)

1. Send your completed comments to Eurocontrol before the closing date of 12th April 2010:
   Mr Olivier MROWICKI
   SES Mandate Manager SERA
   EUROCONTROL
   Rue de la Fusée, 96
   B-1130 Brussels, Belgium
   sesframework@eurocontrol.int or Fax to +322 729 5190

Labels: 2010, action, bhpa, flight, free, SERA, threat