new in sport

Hi

I want to start hang-gliding....since skydiving has become a bit tedious for me (I guess I'm only joking myself!!!!). Anyway...wil it be neccessary for me to get a pilot's license, like one has to get for paragliding???

And does anyone know someone I can contact in South Africa?

Thanks

WRONG.... You do not need to get pilot's license to fly a Paraglider or a Hanglider in the UK. It is just the clubs cartel and the BHPA that like to falsely claim that you need a license. They do this to sell training courses and equipment to you. Paraglider and Hanglider flying is un-regulated in the UK as is ALL other types of foot launched flying. It is also worth pointing out that these clubs DO NOT own any of the flying sites that they use and have no more right to fly them than anyone else.

wildly wibbled thus:

If you disagree with this post, rather than wasting time arguing it here send a report to:

Point out what is incorrect in it.

At least one club own a site and several more are in the process of.

Remind Energis of the (Godfrey v. Demon Internet Ltd., 4 All E.R. 342, 1999, settlement reached 11/3/00) case. In the absence of a name and address on these anonymous postings, it can possibly construed that as publisher they are responsible and will not be able to claim 'innocent dissemination'. In the Godfrey case the original poster was anonymous.

I thank you.

Ummm... if he's wrong, why not counter his claims with specifics in the group so we can all hear them rather than try to censor him?

You didn't address the second question - is a license a legal requirement in the UK or is the sport self-regulating as in the US?

You really are the first class club-man. Please don't reply to any more of posts because you are very much a waste of space.

It's not 'self-regulating' in the US. If the USHGA didn't exist, it would be the FAA controlling the sport. We have to obey laws of avaition and if we don't the FAA is going to take it over. If we get a bunch of irresponsible pilots you can bet the FAA is going to take over the sport. Just like they did with ultralite flying.

The cost of joining the USHGA is pretty damn low too. My glider cost about $3K, my harness $800, my vario $500, my parachute $500 and my USHGA membership was on the order of $65. All I had to do to get it was to be qualified.

-Rich

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

This is exactly the same situation as in the UK. The 'pilot' formerly known as squiggle is way off-base with his rhetoric. He'd be busted in 5 minutes if the CAA ran the sport & he didn't have a licence, so the best thing to do is just pay the £80 & stop bitching about it.

You are right, few clubs own the sites, but SOMEBODY does. The clubs negotiate with the landowner for permission to fly, unless the site is 'open' and the landowner is happy for anyone to use the site then, if you turn up without the clubs or the landowners permission you are tresspassing. Also you could end up p$**ing off the landowner by scaring live stock, landing in crops etc, with the result that the club may be barred from using the site. Many sites have been lost to us because of people turning up with knowing or heeding the site rules. Because of the sensistivity of many flying sites,and also because you almost certainly not be insured, most clubs will not let you join unless you are rated to fly and a member of the BHPA. Then of course there is the small matter of safety and risk of injury or death to you or an innocent party if you don't partake in some sort of training. I can think of more reasons but I can't be bothered to waste my time with you.

1 The clubs negotiate with the landowner for permission for 'BHPA members' to fly. This is just a sample of one of the restrictive practises the BHPA operates in pursuit of their profit motives in a targeted effort to force clubs to jump through hoops to join their cartel membership like lemmings. The none member may be trespassing if it is a private site, but that is only a civil matter, and only then, if the land owner himself asks him to leave his land and he refuses.

2 A club member is OK,,, but a none-club member could end up p$**ing off the landowner by scaring live stock, landing in crops etc, with the result that the club may be barred from using the site. Total bollocks to pass the blame to none club members.

3 A club member is insured,,, but a none-club member almost certainly is not. Total bollocks.

4 A club member is competent to fly safely because he has been rated,,, but a none-club member is not safe and is a danger to everyone else. Total bollocks. Why on earth would a none club member put himself at risk, he is an intelligent independent thinker and was capable of teaching himself to fly without have to become a club lemming.

5 I can think of more reasons but I can't be bothered to waste my time with you. Total bollocks because you just did.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahha...!

Oh yeah? Your mother wears Combat Boots!

; )