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If you ever want to do BASE HUCK in the US, PLEASE go and sign this petition. This would also eliminate the ability to D-Bag a paraglider or speedwing.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/tandem/

Thanks!

PS, We are looking for USHPA members (please put your USHPA #, but if not a member you may still sign it showing your support and interest in the sport).

can you try rewriting that in english please?

Paragliding rulemakers want to make it against the rules to drop people off of tandem paraglides. The petition opposes making such rule.

Nope. There isn't any 'P' for para glider or 'H' for hang glider in "BASE".

Skydiving from something like that might be fun but it's not a "BASE HUCK."

Drew, semantics mean nothing. Loss another aspect of jumping & flying is significant. Insurance/litigation/fun police are chipping away at us. Signing the petition has the potential to change the minds of the opposition.

The poor United States Hang Gliding Association. They resisted as long as they could the paragliding movement until they realized it was embrace it or perish. They became the United States Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association so they could keep collecting some dues.

Compared to the 1970s it almost amazing how the sport of hang gliding dried up. We actually witnessed the birth and death of a sport. Yes, I know there are some hang gliding diehards still out there, but not many.

Sometimes I think the USPA should have scooped up the paraglider pilots. It would have done wonders for their bank account. After all paragliding descended more from skydiving than hang gliding. I remember running (and mostly falling) down hills with skydiving seven cell canopies back in the early 1980s. We called it slope soaring.

NickD

Seriously? Dude, whats your issue?

Not to mention this is one of the few forms of aviation in the US that is still unregulated enough for us to still fly unTSO'd gear from. And it's super fun and relatively safe. It took me 30 seconds to sign a simple petition because it's important to the small community I identify with. By saying you refuse to sign it because the OP used the word BASE when bringing it to your attention is ridiculous. Don't be a tool!

Besides, if you don't sign it the terrorists will have won. Just sayin...

Have a good day.

the FAA does not recognize BASE as aviation.
the FAA does recognize (and regulate) paragliding.

using non-TSO'd equipment from a paraglider is not allowed by the FAR's.

thus, signing the petition fails to ensure the legality of using a BASE rig from a paraglider. it only shifts the regulation one breaks.

Paragliders (and paramotors) fall under the category of Ultralight Vehicles and are goverened by part 103 of the federal regulations. They are not considered civil aircraft in part 91 (which contains the stuff about parachuting) if they are operated in accordance with part 103. *So I conclude that you are on your own if you want to parachute from an ultralight vehicle with no regulation.

Part 103 simply states that pilots will not drop any object that could endanger others (paraphrased).

There is an exemption for tandem operations but states nothing about parachuting.

*If the USHPA changes their regulations for the allowance to use their exemption to perform tandem flights then you are in violation of part 103 for having more than one person in the vehicle.* (this is what we want to petition as we can't use their tandem exemption without their consent)

All that aside, if you let your passenger get out, you are now back inside the rules of part 103 since you are now a single occupant.

I wouldn't be surprised if I have the interpretation wrong and I am sure that someone is going to flame me for this response but look it up and post your thoughts.

*edit to add that the USPPA (powered paragliding folks) also have an exemption for tandem operations that can be used if you don't like the USHPA. Of course you need a paramotor for this.

Matt
SBC

And when BASE jumpers ask for help on the paragliders forums....

http://paraglidingforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=p273165

Like it or not we're all lumped in the same "sport" for the most part. To us, the participants, the differences are dramatic, to the ones make the rules... I think it's just a big grey area.

These pity little feeling of, "my sport is way better than yours" is pretty ridiculous. In the climbing world there is an organization called The Access Fund. It covers all forms of climbing, and they have done WONDERS to help maintain access to many climbing areas and have even been able to open perviously restricted areas. For those of you who have not been involved in climbing scene.. try to tell a hardcore big wall climber that your a hardcore boulder'er. In person he would probably be nice.. but in the "forums" he would laugh in your face. Go to rockclimbing.com and see for yourself..

Is one more right? No... they both climb rock. We both use nylon canopies to help us go from A. "High Place" to B. Safely on the ground in a low place.

Support the paragliders, hangliders, speedwings, skydivers, and BASE jumpers. We want to jump in Yos.. this would probably mean that the paragiders could squeeze in as well. The paragliders want to let us jump out of their rig. I see nothing but gain for us! If we don't want an "overall" organization, then we actually HAVE to work together.

Don't bash them..stay positive and if you feel like helping.. then do so. No need to be negative.

Peace, love, and all that hippie shit.

Svin

well... the parachuting provision applies to pilots, regardless of airframe. since part 103 exists at all, it is safe to conclude the FAA recognizes paragliders as aircraft, and the people who fly them as pilots.


the main enforcement tool of the FAA is by revoking a pilot's certificate. like parachuting, the FAA appears to stay out of that process. thus it lacks a solid method of enforcement (and probably lacks any interest in enforcement).

will directly violating 91.307(b) matter? probably not. but posting offers to violate it seems akin to poking a sleeping lion...

I was actually looking at this part:

(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section and §§91.701 and 91.703, this
part prescribes rules governing the operation of aircraft (other than moored balloons, kites,
unmanned rockets, and unmanned free balloons, which are governed by part 101 of this chapter,
and ultralight vehicles operated in accordance with part 103 of this chapter) within the United
States, including the waters within 3 nautical miles of the U.S. coast.

in the part 91 Section 1 - Applicability when I interpreted ultralight vehicles as not being considered aircraft and therefore exempt from the parachuting portion of FAR91.307

Again I may be looking at it wrong and if I get caught doing something, the FAA won't care if I misunderstood it. I'm not an expert on all of this stuff.

SO...as always
YMMV

Matt
SBC

*edit, i added the bold highlight to the font but the words and parenthesis were already there.

also, ultralight vehicles are classified different than ultralight aircraft (differentiated mostly by weight and number of occupants)

Drew, when was the last time you stood on the passenger harness of a tandem paraglider set up, jumped off at 500' and pitched below 300' with your skydive rig? I do it all the time in my backyard. I don't care what you call it, but the athletes and pilots I know, that do it, and are involved deeply in BOTH sports call it a BASE Huck. We use BASE gear and pitch at BASE altitudes bro. FYI, I don't log it as a BASE jump OR a Skydive.

Outtaboundz, Well said! We need more people involved like yourself. Come out and play in the NW any time!

Wwarped, I am very sorry you interpret the regs that way. If, in the future, you choose to interpret them differently, I would love to huck your ass off my tandem.

Cheers everyone! Thank you so much for the support. We all need to come together and grow these sport we love in a very positive way. If this rule passes, we will no longer be able to tow up 4k' above the Columbia River Gorge and huck wingsuits. Think about the possibilities! We have 2 Cloud Street Winches with 6k' of spectra line on each of them and have developed a training program where you can come stay at the Ranch, fly a variety of Speedwings and Paragliders at our 30+ sites, obtain your P2 rating AND Huck off paragliders (if you come us as an experienced jumper). Can you say 'wingsuit RW training in one of the most beautiful scenic places in the US'?

You all can analyze this till the end of time, meanwhile a group of paranoid USHPA boardmembers plan on ruling against all PG jumps instead of the current rule against doing jumps at insured sites. It would be nice if the rulemakers could just mind their own damn business, what a guy does at an unregulated site is his own business. The FAA only gets involved if someone intentionally gets them involved, naturally some paracrats will make the call using the excuse that it is "their responsibility". Things just keep getting more and more restrictive, condoning this behavior tightens the noose around all our necks.

I love BASE hucks from the tandem. Thats the main reason why I bought that AWAK 33 from you guys. I'm super glad you guys get involved with the politics surrounding the sport. And glad to help, even if it is only taking 15 seconds to sign a petition.

me too brother. those BASE hucks are fun as hell, and anything to help out some fellow betheryn who embrace an amazing sport and go so far out of their way to make it a better, more evolved activity..............
cant wait to come see you guys again

probably a bit wrong, and a bit right.

FAR91 provides the basic operating rules for General Aviation.

On-Demand Carriers, Airliners, and others have regulations in other parts. apparently, 91 does not apply to paragliders either!

technically, it seems that the FAA still considers paragliders aircraft... if not, why Part 103?

it is good you found that. keep it handy. if you meet a FAA Inspector, they may make the same mistake I did. while I can be an a$$, they can make me look warm and fuzzy.

*****

I'm still not convinced publishing this "exception" is in paragliding's best interest... that is up to you folks.

if I were closer, I might visit. the ground is rather flat around here...

My 2 cents!
From everyone I've talked to the FAA doesn't want to govern it unless its forced to! I.E. don't invade restricted airspace and make jumps! Dont make them have to shut you down. Jumps from the paraglider in locations where the chance of hurting innocent bystanders and you should be left alone! I have several jumps from a PPG all over the place! I have hucked right in front of Law enforcement only to receive cheers and high fives from them not a ticket! Just don't be stupid about it, but what do I know...

I'm Goinin

It's not really pushing and publishing an exemption, the idea is more of reminding pilots what the SOP is since these are the regs that govern what we do and it us stuff that should be known by all pilots of ultralight vehicles. It's not a secret.

Wait a second, theres paragliding rules??

I thought it was self governing, like BASE. What are they gonna do, take your cliffs and parachute away?

>.. " Wait a second, theres paragliding rules ?? ".
-
not for all you kids, with your pumped up kicks .
.

I'm quite content to continue stamping on your lawn, gramps.

would that be Stamping threw for pleasure or exercise ?. How about picking-up some of the Dog Poo on your way threw .
,

I signed it, however I can see how this rule could affect the fly style but for us and I bet a lot of others, regardless if it is passed, it wouldn't change or stop a thing! We're still going to jump.