The UK Civil Aviation Authority has published the Paramotor Code, a ‘guide to safe practice’ for paramotor pilots, which ‘includes detail on aviation regulations’.
The British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (BHPA) describes a paramotor as ‘the simplest of all powered aircraft’ consisting of ‘a small motor driving a propellor, worn like a backpack under a paraglider wing and providing thrust to take off, climb and maintain level flight’.
However, although flying a paramotor in the UK does not require a formal license, the CAA explains that ‘a paramotor is legally considered an aircraft and therefore subject to certain aviation restrictions’ (classified as a category of non-Part-21 gliders in the Air Navigation Order 2016). With this in mind, The Paramotor Code ‘highlights the key points to aware of and details to find out more information and where’.
Michael MacDonald, Co-Head of General Aviation and RPAS Unit at the CAA, explained: “Pilots must comply with rules of the air such as keeping above the minimum heights / distances from people and property, taking off / landing well clear of congested areas and not operating in controlled airspace. We have published The Paramotor Code in cooperation with the paramotoring community to guide pilots on these requirements”.
The CAA has also launched a new ‘Hang gliding and Paragliding’ category on its Skywise website, a facility aiming to help keep pilots up to date with ‘the latest CAA aviation news, safety alerts, consultations, rule changes, airspace amendments and more’. Interested users can register for the Skywise website here.
More information about paramotoring can also be found on the BHPA’s website.
IMAGE: AIRWORKS PARAGLIDING CENTRE
