Hang-gliding rules to be prepared

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33626, 30 August 1974, Page 10

Hang-gliding rules to be prepared

The Canterbury Hang-Gliding Association will call a special meeting next week to discuss ways of establishing rules to control the activities of its members and to increase the proficiency of its pilots.

Th? association’s president (Mr T. Brian) said last night that since the accident when a hang-glider landed on power lines on the Port Hills on August 4, two committee meetings had been held to! discuss the general safety! and control of hang-glider! pilots.

He said that last month ; representatives of hang-glider associations throughout the ! Dominion met those of the I Civil Aviation Division in Wellington to discuss all aspects of the sport. As a result, the division (was formulating regulations ; which would control where ; hang-gliders could fly and (how high; and would also ! impose safety standards. Mr Brian said the club was ! powerless to control hangi glider pilots who were not [club members, although the ; Civil Aviation Division was ; prepared to deal with them 1 if they flew over areas where they should not. Last night the Heathcote I County Council, upset by reicent hang-glider crash landings at Heathcote Valley, decided to ask the Civil Aviation Division if regulations existed, or were proposed, to control the sport. IThe council also sought to

know whether local authorities should take the initiative in control measures.

The council decided to ask the Canterbury Hang-Gliding! Asociation whether it carried insurance cover for damage, and loss of revenue as a result of damage done to the council’s electric power lines: because the council was considering making a claim against the pilot of the glider that landed in the lines on August 4. Mr Brian said the association carried no insurance cover, but this would be discussed at the special meeting.