I would like to provide the community with a more informed perspective from within the local paragliding community.

The principal flying locations in the area are Bartlett’s Reserve, Grants Beach headland, and North Brother Mountain. These three locations provide ideal conditions for flying but are flown under different wind conditions.

Laurieton residents and certainly visitors to the North Brother lookout are delighted by these colourful aircraft taking off and soaring or turning in thermal updrafts. 

Residents will note that it is only when conditions are perfect for this type of flying that the paragliders turn out in force. If the wind is too strong or from the wrong direction it becomes unsafe to take off.  If the wind is just slightly stronger it is likely that conditions at Bartlett’s Reserve may be more suitable for coastal soaring. In the summer months the on-shore winds are commonly suitable for flying at Bartlett’s but not at North Brother. 

Foot-launch flying has been a feature in the Laurieton district for some 30 years, providing the Camden Haven with a financial return.

I and a number of other pilots now own residences in the local area because of the excellent flying opportunities afforded here. We have seen many visitors over the years from intra-, interstate and from overseas. Quite often these visitors stay in the local caravan parks for weeks at a time. 

The sport may be classified as an extreme sport, but it is subject to strict regulations by CASA and directives by the Hang Gliding Federation of Australia (HGFA). All pilots must be licenced after completing a course of instruction by a certified instructor.

Laurieton district is the home to a two paragliding schools and students complete their courses here each couple of weeks during the flying season from about September to May.

Before being issued a licence by the HGFA the pilot is required to demonstrate practical proficiency in flying and a good knowledge of the rules and regulations as well as some aeronautics and meteorology. Their flying during the student period is controlled by the instructor by two way radio communication until the student demonstrates he can handle a safe flight by himself.

After obtaining the license a novice is assisted/monitored by more advanced pilots. Each local club appoints safety officers to oversee flying sites whenever possible. In the case of the Laurieton area the safety officers are also certified flying instructors who have hundreds of hours of flying and superior skills in the sport.

A normal take-off and landing is done into wind and as a result the speed relative to the ground is very low and mostly achieved by the pilot moving towards the prevailing wind direction. Landings are precise, into wind and therefore low speed (less than 7 metres per second and down to zero typically).

Our public safety record is unblemished and I would like to point out that licenced pilots have considerable Third Party Indemnity for which we each pay an annual fee to the HGFA.

The concerns expressed in the pamphlet should not form any basis for complaint to the PMHC regarding flying at Bartlett’s Beach Reserve. 

Howard Kay

Laurieton