Observe safety precautions while paragliding: Director
Given the stated concerns over safety protocols, pilot and visitor safety, the Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation has mandated that safety protocols be strictly followed throughout paragliding operations across the state.
The Deputy Directors and District Tourism Officers (DTO) of ten districts in the state have received a letter from Manasi Sahay Thakur, Director, Tourism and Civil Aviation, requiring them to make sure that the safety precautions used when paragliding comply with the Himachal Pradesh Aero Sports Rules 2022.
It has been emphasized that pilots who fly in tandem with another person—mostly a tourist—should have completed SIV training from an approved facility. She stated, “You have to educate pilots on the need to avoid falling for shady, unregistered organizations that are charging outrageous prices for this training.”
The Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Manali, is training 150 pilots, and she has encouraged the tourist authorities to inform and motivate the pilots to participate in this program at Pong Dam in Kangra.
The Tourism Department’s directions after many incidents that have occurred in Bir-Billing, Baijnath, Kangra, and Kullu-Manali. A visitor was murdered in a recent event when her harness opened while she was in a tandem flight. After this, there is a lot of criticism directed on the government for not ensuring professionalism, strict adherence to safety regulations, and pilot training.
