Hamas attack spurs DGCA hang-glider curbs
NEW DELHI: After Hamas terrorists used paragliders to enter Israel by air to launch their deadly attacks on October 7, India has tightened the rules for operating hang gliders. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on October 16 revised its rules for powered hang gliders. Now, no person can fly these “without being authorised by a DGCA approved examiner/instructor.”
“The examiner/ instructor shall be a person who has done 50 hours on powered hang glider and has at least 10 hours on dual machine. Such approved examiner/ instructor shall check out and authorise other persons to fly. No person shall carry out test flight on a powered hang glider unless the person (is either) a pilot holding valid commercial pilot licence with 25 hours of flying experience on powered hang glider; or (holds) authorisation with 50 hours of flying experience on powered hang glider,” the revised civil aviation requirement for “manufacture, registration and operation of powered hang gliders” issued by DGCA chief Vikram Dev Dutt stated.
While these changes on who can operate them have been introduced now, there is already a security protocol for acquiring powered hang gliders. They “shall not be sold… without production of a certificate issued by DGCA. The certificate shall be granted by DGCA after verifying the antecedents of the prospective buyers from the ministry of home affairs,” the requirement states.
“The examiner/ instructor shall be a person who has done 50 hours on powered hang glider and has at least 10 hours on dual machine. Such approved examiner/ instructor shall check out and authorise other persons to fly. No person shall carry out test flight on a powered hang glider unless the person (is either) a pilot holding valid commercial pilot licence with 25 hours of flying experience on powered hang glider; or (holds) authorisation with 50 hours of flying experience on powered hang glider,” the revised civil aviation requirement for “manufacture, registration and operation of powered hang gliders” issued by DGCA chief Vikram Dev Dutt stated.
While these changes on who can operate them have been introduced now, there is already a security protocol for acquiring powered hang gliders. They “shall not be sold… without production of a certificate issued by DGCA. The certificate shall be granted by DGCA after verifying the antecedents of the prospective buyers from the ministry of home affairs,” the requirement states.
