The PM has spoken but, as always, the devil is in the detail. While we wait for some flesh to be wrapped around the bones of Boris’s statement, below is the BHPA’s road map for a possible return to paragliding, in case you’ve missed it on their website. BHPA themselves are waiting for the response to their submissions to government and are hoping to hear today or tomorrow (Tuesday 12th May).
The PSC committee has been communicating with the United Utilities, National Trust and other landowners and managers relevant to our sites, as well as talking to our neighbouring clubs to coordinate our approach.
While you get ready for a return to the skies, please take a moment to read carefully the BHPA proposal below and remember this is just a POSSIBLE route. Please wait for clarification and a go-ahead from BHPA. Also please check in every time to the website and site guide for updates on any restrictions and conditions that may be placed by the relevant bodies who own or control the land we use.
COVID 19 - BHPA recovery plan for flying activities.
This recovery plan sets out guidelines which the BHPA believes will allow a resumption of the sports of Hang Gliding and Paragliding, including powered variants, in the UK.
Pilots should be aware that it only becomes effective when the prohibition on non-essential travel is lifted and consequently, the CAA directive to cease recreational general aviation is also lifted.
It must be borne in mind that with 4 governments over the home nations, it is entirely possible that flying will be possible in some parts of the United Kingdom before it is possible in others.
The BHPA will make an announcement at that time that flying can be resumed if conducted in accordance with these guidelines.
The Association anticipates a three-phase restarting of its activities, beginning with an initial phase of flying activity by qualified pilots only (Club Pilot and above). Phase two will be solo training at BHPA schools. Phase three will be dual air experience flights and dual flights for passengers who are not members of the pilot’s household. Phase 3 will only be authorised upon the issuing of guidance on proximity between members of the public, that can be applied effectively to dual flying.
OVERARCHING PRINCIPLES
• Stay at home if you are showing symptoms of C-19 or should be self-isolating having had contact with someone suspected to be infected with C-19.
• If you are in a high-risk group consider carefully if you wish to risk infection through joining others, even though it is outdoors and with special measures in place.
• Bear in mind that you may be asymptomatic - act accordingly, maintaining social distancing and be vigilant with hand hygiene when touching surfaces.
• In general, a two-metre distance must always be maintained. Only in specific situations can this distance be reduced. In these situations, effective measures must be taken to ensure the protection of those involved.
SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR INDIVIDUAL PILOTS
General
• Every member carries individual responsibility for adhering to the rules to minimise the risk of infection or transmission of the disease.
• Maintain a two-metre distance in all situations, unless required to provide essential first aid.
• Carry hand sanitising gel.
• Inform yourself of your club and any site-specific guidance before traveling to fly.
Access to the flying site
• Club members should travel to and from flying locations individually in separate vehicles until Government advice changes to allow sharing. When this is not possible, club members must follow the guidance from UK Government on distancing in vehicles / on public transport.
• Before and after contact with any surfaces outdoors (stiles, gates and gate latches, etc), the BHPA recommends the use of hand sanitising gel.
On the site
• Only unpack and set up your equipment if intending to fly. On landing, immediately clear the landing area and carry your equipment to an appropriate unoccupied area to pack up.
• Use your own equipment. Try not to come into contact with another pilots’ equipment. If you are required to touch a piece of equipment that comes into contact with others, the BHPA recommends the use of hand sanitising gel applied before and after use (however this may not be appropriate for application on certain types of equipment).
• Providing assistance to a pilot - hang check. Avoid “hands on” contact and check remotely from a two-metre distance, allowing extra time to perform the checks.
• Providing assistance – e.g. pull-starting another pilot’s paramotor. Do not undertake this activity as it is not possible to maintain a two-metre distance.
• Dual flights are only allowed if both pilot and passenger live in the same household. In the current situation, dual pilots are strongly advised not to operate in conditions where a launch assistant may be needed.
• Providing assistance – launch assistant for dual paragliding. It is impossible to undertake this role and maintain a two-metre distance. As well as the usual requirements for launch assistants, the launch assistant must be a member of the same household as the pilot and passenger.
• In general terms, you should not be flying cross country – any “retrieve” journey may not adhere to COVID 19 travel guidelines. For the time being, only undertake flights local to your site.
• Do not share food and drinks and dispose of waste at home.
After flying
• Upon arrival back home, decontamination should take place by washing hands and quarantining any equipment for as long as possible, either outside or in a dedicated separate space indoors.
Protect the NHS
The inherent risk to aviation participants has not changed because of COVID 19, however there are measures that individuals can take to further reduce the risk of an incident whilst allowing activities to re-commence.
• Undertake any flying activity at a level well within your ability. Normal springtime conditions and currency precautions apply.
• Low airtime pilots and those recently qualified are advised to seek advice from a Club Coach before re-commencing flying.
• All pilots are advised to re-acquaint themselves with their flying equipment by setting it up in an isolated outdoor space and checking it (e.g. in garden), before resuming flying.
• All pilots are advised to initially undertake flight activity in light wind to minimise the need for another pilot to intervene.
GUIDELINES FOR GROUP ACTIVITIES SUCH AS TOW AND AEROTOW GROUPS AND FOR COACHES AND OPERATORS.
Any club member organising a coaching session / towing activity is advised to inform club members who are planning to take part about these guidelines at least one day before the start of the coaching / activity.
Any club official or licence holder organising a coaching or training session must ask club members at the beginning of the coaching session if they feel ill or have symptoms of COVID 19. If necessary, they must be excluded from the activity.
If a club member who has taken part in the coaching session subsequently falls ill, he/she must immediately inform the club official / licence holder who conducted the coaching / activity. This official will check which other persons in the coaching session he/she has been in contact with and will inform these people immediately.
General.
• Maintain a two-metre distance in all situations, unless required to provide essential first aid.
• Carry hand sanitising gel.
• Physical intervention on launch / landing should be avoided unless required in an emergency to prevent an incident.
• Restrict access to club buildings to essential personnel only.
Briefing / debriefing.
• Use a “hands-off” manner. Allow extra time to conduct demos, and brief/debrief maintaining 2m distance.
• Be aware of positioning – avoid standing directly upwind/downwind of a pilot (even when briefing from two metres away).
Specific guidelines for Coaching.
• First refresh your coaching basic skills by using guidance material / coaching resources.
• Encourage Club Pilots you are coaching to initially undertake tasks that involve flying in the local area (avoid supervised cross country flights for Club Pilots for the foreseeable future).
• Encourage Club Pilots you are coaching to initially undertake flights in light winds to reduce the need to physically intervene.
Specific guidelines for tow / aerotow operations.
• Segregate the launch queue to allow social distancing to be maintained.
• All winch / tow vehicle controls and ancillary equipment (e.g. signal bats) to be thoroughly sanitised before and after use. Avoid user changes if possible. If the user changes, the equipment must be appropriately sanitised when changing user.
• If radios are used, they should be sanitised with suitable wipes when changing user.
• The Launch Marshal should conduct verbal checks from at least 2m and to the side of the pilot.
• The Launch Marshal is advised to hold the end of the hang glider keel instead of the nose (for example to position the glider on the aerotow trolley).
• Tow group must agree and write down a procedure to minimise person-to-person contact with the tow rope, connections and glider launch trolleys, ensuring that appropriate sanitation is carried out on all surfaces to minimise risk of transference of COVID 19. The procedure is to be circulated and followed by all pilots, operators, tug pilots, launch marshals and coaches involved in the activity.
Guidelines for solo training and dual flights will be released in the forthcoming weeks.
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