As per the guidelines of the Aero Sports Authority of India, new safety rules were being framed and these would be sent to the Tourism Department for approval.
. Besides, copies of the proposed rules had been given to all members of the association to seek their objections.
. A per the proposed rules, the pilots will have to carry a reserve parachute with them so that in case of an emergency they could land safely with the co-flier.
. Every flier has to sign an indemnity bond along with a dual insurance cover before flying.
. To seek licences, the pilots would have to present an evidence of 500 flying hours to their credit before the five-member committee of the Tourism Department.
. Besides, every pilot had to adhere to the tariff fixed by the association or the Tourism Department.
. Bir Billing Paragliding association has also requested the Tourism Department that only those pilots who had been given licences for tandem flying by the Deputy Director Tourism, Dharamsala, should be allowed to fly at Billing because they are well versed with the difficult topography of the area, particularly the high mountains of Dhauladhars.
. It had also requested the Tourism Department to depute at least four persons to inspect the documents of the pilots at the landing and takeoff points everyday to curb illegal flying.
BANNING PARAGLIDING
Most pilots involved in tragic accidents lacked experience and had incomplete documents.
. Many pilots lack dual insurance cover, which has been made mandatory by the state government.
. The failure of state agencies to check their documents and equipment has made the matters worse.
. Even the gliders being used by the pilots did not qualify the safety standards.
. Besides, there were reports of pilots fleecing tourists. The pilots reportedly did not adhere to the tariff fixed by the Tourism Department.
. In such circumstances, the tourists fell in the hands of inexperienced pilots, who charge less amount. This has led to rise to fatal mishaps.
. It was decided to enforce the international SOPs for paragliding.
. Inexperienced pilots would not be allowed to fly solo or undertake tandem flights. Both the officers also sought the cooperation of paragliding associations functional at Bir Billing. The state government was also considering imposing a complete ban on paragliding in Bir Billing, keeping in view the rising mishaps.
. Siblings Pavi Sareen and Naveen Sareen, who introduced paragliding in Billing in the 1990, said flying in high-altitudes areas, such as the Dhauladhar hills, without the required experience could be dangerous. Most mishaps occurred as pilots lacked training. They asserted that the Tourism Department should either ban paragliding in the state or implement rules strictly.
(HAS/ Economy/ Tourism)
(HAS/ Economy/ Safe Adventure Tourism)