Sun 18th December 2022
Hi All, the oldies (mostly hangies!) are having their Christmas Gathering in their old haunt, The Lincoln Inn, D2 at 3pm on Sunday, 18th December. It's at the back of Trinity College at the eastern end of Nassau Street - just down the road from Westland Row Station. Everyone is invited and it would be great to get a good turnout. Hope to see you there. Cheers, Dara.
Covid-19 Return to Flight Guidelines
Update - December 2020
Following the Government’s introduction of a phased lifting of Covid-19 restrictions the IHPA have Issued 'Return to Flight Guidelines' as our interpretation and recommendations for how flying activities may resume.
To download a PDF of the Guidelines CLICK HERE
We ask all members to continue to adhere to Government/HSE restrictions as they are eased in a phased manner and together as a society help minimise the risk of accidental transmission of the Covid 19 virus.
Sincerely,
IHPA Committee
The Irish Aviation Authority has issued the following COVID-19 notice
This notice applies to all sport aviation including Hang Gliding and Paragliding
Important COVID 19 Reminder
NOTICE TO: General Aviation Aircraft Operators
Operators and Pilots are reminded that the Public Health Measures introduced by the Irish Government on the 25th of March 2020 are applicable to all individuals regardless of their mode of transport. These Government measures require that except for essential service providers, everyone else in Ireland has to stay at home, only going out for a few key reasons, such as shopping for food or for exercise within 2km of your place of residence.
In keeping with these measures, aircraft should not be operated unless the movement of the aircraft conforms with government advised exceptions. As a rule of thumb, recreational or private transport flights should not be undertaken in the State. Any such, unnecessary flights in the State are considered to be the same as unnecessary journeys by car and may therefore be subject to a law enforcement investigation. Additionally, it is possible that any unnecessary flights that experience an emergency situation may divert emergency services from other necessary tasks.
There are exceptions for some workers in key essential services but for most people, the rule is simple: Stay at Home
Essential service provider information can be found at www.gov.ie
Detail of the Public Health Measures can be found on the Department of Health website www.gov.ie
Stay Safe, Stay Home
12 May 2019 - New All-Ireland 217.2km XC Record!
Bogdan Bailka (Bodzoi SkyMaster)
On Saturday the 11th, Bogdan broke Rafal Obora's brand new 202.1km XC record (set just the previous weekend!) by flying 210.3km from north to south... and the following day, broke his own record again by flying 217.2km from south to north!! These three flights are genuinely historic on our tiny island - WELL DONE BOGDAN!!!
Click here to go to the Irish Record Flights page.
11 May 2019 - New All-Ireland 210.3km XC Record!
Bogdan Bailka (Bodzoi SkyMaster)
Click here to go to the Irish Record Flights page.
05 May 2019 - New All-Ireland 202.1km XC Record!
Rafal Obora
Rafal Obora took off from Slieve Cuilcagh (County Leitrim) and flew 202.1km, landing near Carrick-on-Suir 7 hours later.
This is a personal best for Rafal and a new Irish record.
Congratulations Rafal - a fantastic and inspirational flight that demonstrates just what is possible even in our little country! Well Done!!
New Hang Gliding School in France - La Deltisterie
FFVL licensed instructors, Sam Duprat and Hervé Duplan have teamed up to offer both tandem experience flights and full courses hang gliding instruction in one of the finest hang gliding locations in the world. Irish hangies have been spending the summer months in Laragne since the early 1980s, flying some of the most spectacular Alpine scenery you can imagine. Can there be any better place to start your hang gliding career?!
During its recent Autumn meeting, CIVL Bureau reviewed reports from accidents, some fatal, in Category 1 and 2 events.
From these reports, a recurrent problem was identified. In degraded conditions (stall, spin…) some pilots were unable to reach and use their reserve parachute and fell to the ground. CIVL Bureau believes that these accidents might have been avoided if these pilots had been equipped with a second reserve deployable with the opposite hand compared to the main reserve or with both hands. This analysis is in line with the analysis of the Paragliding Competition Safety Task Force report (published in December 2011) concerning Piedrahita 2011 World championship accidents.
Read more: Mandatory 2nd reserve parachutes required for Cat 1 PG Comps
