KATHMANDU, Jan 11: The solo flights of paragliding, which have been closed for almost three months, have not yet resumed. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the regulatory body of the aviation sector of the country, banned solo paragliding flights in Pokhara from October 16 last year. Although CAAN said that it will find a new place as soon as possible and open solo flights, it is yet to give the green signal.
Paragliding pilots have not been able to practice since solo flights were banned. Pilots entering the paragliding field should fly solo to gain more experience. However, CAAN has not designated a place for solo flights.
Apart from that, the tourism entrepreneurs complain that even the foreign pilots who came for solo paragliding have not been able to fly.
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After a paragliding accident in Sarangkot on October 16, all types of paragliding flights were banned, but commercial (tandem) flights were later opened. However, the solo flights have not been able to resume as there is no proper space.
Not only the CAAN but also the paragliding professionals themselves have not been able to designate a certain place that is suitable for solo paragliding flights. CAAN had assigned the task of designating a suitable place for solo paragliding to Nepal Air Sports Association (NAA), the umbrella organization of paragliding professionals. NAA had formed a study team under the chairmanship of former president Rajesh Bamjan to recommend a suitable place for solo paragliding. However, even that team has not been able to identify a suitable place.
Due to the closure of solo paragliding flights, some foreign pilots have not been able to fly, and tourism entrepreneurs complain that the production of new pilots entering the field of paragliding will also be affected. According to Krishan Bhandari, outgoing president of NAA, there is currently place for solo flights. Since Pokhara Regional International Airport (PRIA) came into operation, commercial paragliding flights have moved from Sarangkot to Mandredhunga since January 1. However, he said that the space for the solo flight has not yet been decided.
According to Bhandari, it has also been proposed that solo paragliding would be suitable for Putalibazar and Swarek Maidan in Syangja. Similarly, Ghachok of Machapuchchhe Rural Municipality of Kaski is also a possible place, he said, but no decision has been taken yet.
Rajesh Bamjan, the coordinator of the research committee of NAA, CAAN has said that paragliding is allowed only 10 nautical miles outside of PRIA, so there has been difficulty in finding a suitable place.
“We have not been able to recommend a suitable place. We cannot only send proposal without conducting proper study. It is not possible to decide where and how to do it," he said. Swarek ground in Syangja is for Paragliding School.
Similarly, Bamjan also said that the authority is also losing revenue due to lack of solo paragliding at present. According to him, foreign pilots coming for solo paragliding flights used to stay in Pokhara for two weeks. However, now they are not allowed to fly. Apart from that, he said that even the pilots flying in tandem fly alone in their free time to increase their experience and now this opportunity has also been lost.
