I don't know if the British are overreacting because it comes from Brussels - Europe, but at least we should take notice of their panic.
It is all about some new regulations quoted, that aircraft is not allowed to fly under 300 m AGL, only if taking off, landing or having special authority. So ridge soaring could be prohibited .... can't believe it.
I think it is just a British allergic reaction to anything that comes in from Brussels - Europe.
Knowing Britian is so overruled, and Britain is lobbied so anti-Europe, it is easy to understand that there is paranoia. I think we still have margin to believe in common sense on the continent.
For instance, a paraglider is not a registered aircraft. But anyway, if interested study it yourself.
Please find the letter of the chairman of their federacion, asking for urgent help.
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Standardised European Rules of the Air
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!)
Unfortunately, the consultation period is very short, hence this email direct to each member.
The BHPA will submit a response and the EHPU is also submitting a response both directly and through
Europe Airsports. But we feel that Eurocontrol should also get a feel for the strength of our feelings on this
matter – and therefore ask each of you to make your own response to Eurocontrol.
Depending upon the outcome of this consultation, we always have the alternatives of going down the political
(MEP etc.) route. But at this stage we just want members to complete and return consultation response
sheets.
ACTIONS:
1. Go to this Eurocontrol webpage and download a copy of each of the four consultation documents:
http://www.eurocontrol.int/enprm/public/standard_page/enprm10002.html
2. Refer to the document attached to this email entitled ‘BHPA Comments on SERA Draft - V 1.0
3. 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.)
4. Please email us any further issues that you identify in the proposal, for possible inclusion in the BHPA’s
final submission. Use the subject line SERA.
5. Send your completed comments to Eurocontrol before the closing date of 12th April 2010
to;
Mr Olivier MROWICKI
SES Mandate Manager SERA
EUROCONTROL
Rue de la Fusée, 96
B-1130 Brussels, Belgium
E-mail to sesframework@eurocontrol.int or Fax to +322 729 5190
Martin Heywood
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