SHPF Blog

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Hang gliding and paragliding is once again under serious threat. Eurocontrol, the "European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation" has produced for consultation its draft version of its proposed Standardised European Rules of the Air (SERA).

Whilst the aim of having one single set of Rules of the Air that applies right across Europe may seem attractive, unfortunately whoever has written the draft has clearly not given a single thought to hang gliders and paragliders. Some of the proposed rules will have a massive detrimental impact on our ability to go and fly. (E.g. 4.6 bans flight below 500 feet ? so ridge soaring will be effectively outlawed!)

4 consultation documents.
http://www.eurocontrol.int/enprm/public/standard_page/enprm10002.html

Here are the BHPAs suggested response guidelines ....
BHPA-Comments.pdf

Choose some of the points outlined and, in your own words, complete the "Consultation Response Sheet ? Enclosure 3" that you downloaded. Ideally you should express dissatisfaction with the SERA proposals along the lines of "the current safe, entirely legal activity would be made illegal by this change". (The BHPA response will suggest alternate wordings ? and it may be counter-productive if you try to create "in your own words" alternatives to our proposals.)

1. Send your completed comments to Eurocontrol before the closing date of 12th April 2010:
   Mr Olivier MROWICKI
   SES Mandate Manager SERA
   EUROCONTROL
   Rue de la Fusée, 96
   B-1130 Brussels, Belgium
   sesframework@eurocontrol.int or Fax to +322 729 5190

Labels: 2010, action, bhpa, flight, free, SERA, threat

Please find below a link to the SHPF committee meeting for the meeting held on the 8th Feb 2010.

SHPF-Meeting-Minutes-February-2010.docx

Labels: 2010, committee, February, meeting, minutes, SHPF

Please find below a link to the 2010 SHPF AGM minutes.


SHPF-AGM-Minutes-Jan-2010.docx

Labels: 2010, agm, minutes, SHPF

Just a reminder regarding the forthcoming paragliding events - Scottish Open 2010.pdf at the end of May - register here. And email Naomi if volunteering to help here : secretary@shpf.co.uk
May - Scottish Nationals series commences.
April - X Scotia - new format more details to come soon.
As usual events should all be on here as well :- http://www.shpf.co.uk/shpf-events.php

Labels: 2010, nationals, open, Scottisn, Tibbieshiels, x-scotia

xscotia3.pdf

Labels: 2010, April, venue, x-scotia

My name is Tina Fure Hayes and I am currently in my final year studying Festival and Event Management at Edinburgh Napier University. I am currently working on my honours dissertation concerning the feasibility of creating an extreme sports festival in Scotland. As part of the research for my dissertation I have developed a short questionnaire to investigate motivation for participating in an extreme sport festival among potential participants.
In order to get a sufficiently large number of responses I hope that you will send a copy of this mail to the members of your club/organisation. In addition it would be very useful if you can advise me approximately how many people you have sent this mail to.
If, however, you feel that an extreme sport festival is not relevant for your members please disregard this mail.

Following is the link to the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YH59Y5B

Kind regards
Tina Fure Hayes

Labels: dissertation, extreme, sports, survey

Labels: 2010, nevis, paragliding, range, speed, videos

Please find below a link to the proposed timetable for the Scottish Nationals Paragliding Series, X-Scotia (in a different format - mored details to be advised) and the BPC as prepared by George. These dates will all be added to the SHPF Calendar in due course.


Diary-2010-Scottish-Nationals.doc

Labels: 2010, date, nationals, paragliding, series, SHPF, x-scotia

Please find below a link to the slides prepared by Mike for use during the recent SHPF Gathering.

SHPF-AGM-10-slides.pdf

Labels: 2010, agm, Jardine, Mike, SHPF, slides

SHPF-Constitution-Jul-97_001.pdf

To see the constitution and goals of the SHPF as stated way back in 1997 please click the link above which will open in a new window.

Labels: 1997, constitution, pdf, SHPF

Please find below links to the various videos Robert Veitch took at the recent SHPF Gathering 2010. These show paragliding reserve deployments in the afternoon of the 16th January 2010.
All videos were taken from the top of the facility - nearly 100 feet up. This is probably as close as it is possible to get to being the perfect setup for testing out paragliding and Hang-gliding (though none this year) reserve deployments. Missed it this year then why not pencil this into your diary now for a similar weekend in January 2011 when it should next be run.

The SHPF Gathering consists of a mixture of acitivities - obviosly starting with the deployments shown here, followed by repacking in a large heated space below launch!. This is then followed by the SHPF AGM and a talk by a sky god - last year John Sillvester and this year Eddie Colfox. The Sunday - following some more social activities - usually consists of more technical talks and activities. This year talks were by Dave Thomson, Tony Spirling - really excellent re pyschology, and Cliff Smith re avalanches - especially pertinent as one of the pilots present had been caught in one very recently in the nearby Pentlands .....

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47.1 Mb

21.2 Mb Steve Durkin

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54.7 Mb

27.8 Mb

17.3 Mb Cliff Smith

18.8 Mb

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20.5 Mb

16.6 Mb Richard Vereker

30.0 Mb Richard Vereker

17.8 Mb Bob Veitch

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13.9 Mb Julian Robinson

Labels: 2010, deployment, parachute, paraglider, Ratho, reserve, Robert Veitch, route, SHPF, videos

Please click the link above to see the status for all the paragliding reserve deployments made at the EICA at Ratho - within a spreadsheet - throughout Saturday 16th January 2010.

To see a scan of the original document click the document below. Thankyou Gordon.
SCN_0001.pdf

Labels: 2010, deployment, Gathering reserve, pdf, SHPF, spreadsheet

SHPF-Meeting-Minutes_December-2009.pdf

Labels: 2009, committee, December, meeting, minutes, SHPF

Seasons greetings to you.

Please find below a collection of links to websites as featured in the latest BHPA Skywings Dec 09 magazine.

The first thing to bring your attention to is that the first few back issues of Skywings are now available electronically and if you are a BHPA member you can subscribe here ...

BHPA Safety notices.
BHPA licensed reserve parachute re-packers.

Morillas at 7800m paramotor video
St Hilaire (2009) photos by Ilan Ginzburg
Acrox air games 3rd - 6th June 2010 - Manisa Turkey
A little on Ozone`s Baby HPP
CAA Future Airspace Strategy 5.45Mb pdf
Link to interactive Airband radio guide 9+ mb
Formal investigation reports including that for Gordon MacGregor
USHPA 2010 Calendars
Hang gliding calendar from the Netherlands
New Zealand Paragliding Open - Nelson Round 1 and Rotorua Round 2
Video - The Birdman of the Karakorum - On John Silvester`s website - £22.95 and Youtube trailer
Adrenaline & Turbulence £22.95 video.
French 3D GPS moving map Airspace software
"My brilliant idea" - Squash Falconer - more details from her trip and techical info from Irwyn Jehu.
"Paragliding photography explained" - which I came across having searched on Felix Woelk who wrote the article on flying the Marmolada.

Labels: 2009, bhpa, December, links, Skywings

Please find below links to the latest details about the 2010 SHPF
Gathering and the Booking Form

Labels: 2010, EICC, Gathering, Ratho, SHPF

I have just noticed that XC magazine are doing a special offer here for the electronic version - perhaps an idea for that special pilot who has evertthing else!.

Labels: offer, XC magazine

The 2010 SHPF Gathering is scheduled for 16-17 January.

The format will be similar to 2009 ie:
Saturday - Reserve deployment and repacking, AGM followed by evening talk by a suitable sky god (Probably at EICC, Ratho)
Sunday - Skills and technical training sessions.

Labels: 2010, agm, deployment, Gathering, repack, reserve, SHPF

For all files below the best way to work with them is probably to right click and save as ...

KMZ files
Adrian Smith
David Thomson
Iain Wallace
Mark Robson
Paul Myerscough
Scott Rigg
Steve Nash

GPX files
Adrian Smith
David Thomson
Iain Wallace
Mark Robson
Paul Myerscough
Scott Rigg
Steve Nash

IGC files
George Mcghee
Nick Ogden
Adrian Smith
Text
Bob Matthews
David Thomson
Iain Wallace
Mark Robson flight 1
Mark Robson flight 2
Mark Robson flight 3
Mark Robson
Paul Myerscough flight Tarmachan
Paul Myerscough
Scott Rigg
Steve Nash

Labels: 2009, gpx, igc, kml, kmz, tracks, x-scotia

Please find here a link to the most recent committe meeting minutes.

Labels: 2009, committee, meeting, minutes, SHPF

Labels: book, flying, paragliding, photos, scotland, SHPF, sites, submit

Good evening, earlier today I spent a little time updating the page about flying sites in Scotland. I would appreciate it if you have any comments you add them here ...

Labels: hang-gliding, paragliding, scotland, sites, webpage

X-Scotia 2009 Matt Church	X-Scotia 2009 by Mark Robson
X-Scotia 2009 R Veitch

Labels: 2009, Mark Robson, Matt Church, photos, Robert Veitch, SHPF, x-scotia

The winner of X-Scotia 2009 the incredible Steve Nash. From 07:33 until 21:14 on the 30th May 2009 Steve left from The Watersports Centre and then ran/ flew round Meall nan Tarmchan, Ben More and Ben Vorlich - 2.5 hours faster than last year and in completely different conditions.

Well done Steve - more details to come later ....

Labels: 2009, Steve Nash, winner, x-scotia

Pilot No.	Pilot	Pack weight Kg
3	Julian Robinson	12.5
7	Iain Wallace	18.87
8	Paul Myerscough	11.95
9	Nick Ogden	11.4
12	Adrian Smith	15.54
16	Paul Midgely	16.5
18	Scott Rigg	12.48
19	Bob Matthews	15
20	Mark Robson	12.57
21	Steve Nash	9.3
22	Gordon Smyth	20.2
23	George McGhee	20.91
24	Dave Thomson	16.97
25	Jitka Polechova	16.94

Labels: 2009, list, pack, paragliding, pilots, weight, x-scotia

X-Scotia 2009 photos by Matt Church

Labels: 2009, Matt Church, photos, x-scotia

The second ever X-Scotia event is happening this weekend the 30th and 31st May 09. This is a Paragliding and hiking adventure race, based at Loch Earnhead and involving rounding the 3 Munros of Ben Vorlich, Ben More and Meall nan Tarmachan.

The prize list has been mounting and we are really grateful to the following
for their support of of this event:-

Basse Beaumettes - Ruth and Ulric Jessop
Border Crossings - Dave and Beth Thomson
Northern Paragliding - Neil Cruikshank
Cross Country - Bob Drury

The main (but not all) of the prizes for this event are ....



1st Overall - Week in Les Basse Beaumettes

2nd Overall - Weekend with Border Crossings

Northern Paragliding are supplying a raft of prizes:-
3rd Overall - Charly Hotliner Flying Gloves, 1st Female - Ozone Saucisse Sack and for the Longest Flight - Jetboil Personal Cooking system.

Heaviest Pack - Cross Country Magazine Subscription

Red Bull will also be there with rocket fuel and their inflatable start
arch, so no-one can miss the start or finish.

Labels: 2009, basse, beaumettes, borders, crossings, Earnhead, Loch, May, northern, paragliding, prizes, sponsor, x-scotia

Apologies for the delay in getting this information relayed out - however...
Sundays brilliant task to Hawick 46km was won by Chris Harland with another 15 pilots getting into goal. Full results and track logs etc should all be available in due course here.

Monday - no task set as winds too strong for local hills though. Group decision made to not travel further North where it would have been epic.

Labels: 2009, 9th May, BPC, paragliding, status, Tibbieshiels

12:00 Window opened for a race (starting at 12:30) to Goal which is a 3km cylinder around Hawick from a 2km cylinder around Broughton.

Labels: 2009, 9th May, BPC, broughton, hawick, race to goal, task

Well there was a quick briefing and advised leaving from here at Tibbieshiels base camp at 08:45 heading for Broughton.

Labels: 2009, BPC, May, status, Tibbieshiels

Well the rain has stopped and the wind has eased markedly - so much so that kite flying has become difficult. Dinners have been ordered and the beer is now flowing very nicely ...!


As an aside there are quite a few other attractions in the area that you should probably need to know about ..

http://www.roxburghe.net - Floors Castle South of Kelso

http://www.teviotwatergardens.co.uk and http://www.teviotgamefaresmokery.co.uk - for a tranquil garden and fine smoked food - located about half way between Kelso and Jedburgh on the A698

http://www.rbge.org.uk/dawyk - These lovely Botanical Gardens located 8 miles SouthWest of Peebles and near Stobo are well worth a visit.

For a multiplicity of other links the try http://www.visittweedvalley.co.uk

Labels: 9th May, BPC, links, paragliding, status, Tibbieshiels

I have just received more information for those people who may be interested in fishing on St Mary`s Loch - a good place to look is by clicking the above link ...

You may also contact the Loch keeper (Harry Brown) on 01750 42243

Labels: fishing, Loch, St Mary`s

Hello All

As usual I have opened both windTalkers up for free access over the BP Cup /
Scottish Open period.

Tinto LiveUpdates are on
http://windtalker.co.uk/LiveUpdates/Tinto/default
and Broughton is on
http://windtalker.co.uk/LiveUpdates/Broughton/default

You can also phone in on 0796 4446105

Please remember though the Tinto Talker does under-read when the wind is not
from the North or South because of the trees. (Well that?s my theory
anyway)

Now lets hope the wind drops off enough to let us get out flying again.

Cheers
Stephen

Labels: broughton, Pegler, Stephen, Tinto, windtalker

Well over 50 pilots already arrived and registered with lots of waypoints downloaded. Campsite filling up and Dave Thomson gave a talk on general flying points in the Scottish Borders. Imaginery task set and GPS button pressing session followed. Current weather close to attrocious with rain and strong winds ... but the forecast is looking very good for flying on Sunday and Monday 10th and 11th May 09. Live music by "Closer than you Think" scheduled for 9pm.

Labels: BPC, paragliding, St Marys, status, Tibbieshiels

Just to advise that the above page has been updated with some more detail on what is happening over the coming week. Various media organisations have also been advised of what is happening with a short press release etc copied below...

Flying high over Tibbieshiels

Have you ever fancied flying high in the sky like a bird, well this week (9th - 16th May) you may well see some world class paragliding pilots doing just this. They will be up in the air just above Tibbieshiels by St Mary's Loch and maybe flying 50Km or more over the Borders. The British Paragliding Cup/Scottish Open and British Open Championships will be taking place from 9th -16th May. These top championships are weather dependent and so if the wind is too strong then these human birds may not fly. However here is hoping that there will be a very competitive and enjoyable event, with some spectacular flying. The Borders will be well represented with some excellent pilots who hope to do well in these competitions. You never know you may well be inspired to join these top fliers in the future.


For more information

What:
British Paragliding Cup (BPC) and Scottish Open 9-12th May, followed by the British Open Paragliding Championships13-16th May 09

Where:
Based at the Tibbieshiels Inn at the end of St Mary`s Loch

More detail :
The BPC is held at various locations throughout the UK during the year but this is the only round being held in Scotland this year. For more details please see http://www.bpcup.co.uk/borders.php or http://www.shpf.co.uk/shpf-British-Championships-09.php Scottish pilots competing in this competition can also opt to be considered for the Scottish Open. Currently there are 104 pilots registered for this event http://www.bpcup.co.uk/pilotlist.php

Some photos and links from last year :-
http://groups.google.co.uk/group/LLSC/browse_thread/thread/93817c7ee02b9b5e/cad783b2abc45b29?lnk=gst&q=scottish+open#cad783b2abc45b29
http://picasaweb.google.com/BobVeitch/BPCBordersRoundScottishOpenJuly13th2008#
http://picasaweb.google.com/BobVeitch/ByRikMcHargBPCScottishOpenParaglidingBroughton13thJuly08#
http://picasaweb.google.com/BobVeitch/BPCBordersRoundScottishOpenJuly12th2008#

British Open Paragliding Championships
This is the highest level free flying competition to come to Scotland for 12 years - (a FAI Category II competition) where pilots are competing for World ranking points. A competition of 3 rounds with the other rounds being held this year in July: Piedrahita - Spain and in August: St Jean de Montclar in France.
Currently there are over 50 pilots registered for this event.
http://www.pgcomps.org.uk/

There are a number of Scottish Pilots from the Borders area - perhaps one of the most significant being David Thomson who will be heavily involved in both events especially with respect to weather and flying site choice each day.

As paragliding is such a weather dependent activity if it is bad then all these people will be looking for other activities to do in the Tibbieshiels area - if you have a website to which you might want a link then please feel free to email it to webmaster@shpf.co.uk

To learn to paraglide in Scotland there are 2 schools to choose from - Cloudbusters and Flying Fever links here :-
http://www.cloudbusters.co.uk/
http://www.flyingfever.net/index.html

A Borders pilot who will be heavily involved in the site selection and or weather related decision making activities during these competitions will be David Thomson at http://www.bordercrossings.co.uk/

Regards,

Robert Veitch for the SHPF

Labels: 2009, borders, BPC, championship, May, paragliding, SHPF, St Marys, Tibbieshiels

By clicking the above title you can get to the list of entrants to the X-Scotia Paragliding and Hiking Adventure 2009 event as of 5th April.
Applications for entry will still be accepted despite what some application forms may say.
More details on the event are available here and an application form is available here.

Labels: 2009, entries, entry, hiking, list, paragliding, pilot, race, The Adventure Show, x-scotia

Please find in this link the most recent minutes of the committee meeting held in Edinburgh on 19th March 09.

Labels: committee, march, meeting, minutes, SHPF, x-scotia

Steve Durkin has prepared a summary of the work he and others have been doing on our behalf with respect to Airspace within the Glasgow / Edinburgh region.
For his full final report please click this link.

Labels: airspace, Gargunnock, NATS, SHPF, summary

Just to let you know of the revised but hopefully final dates for this year's Nationals -

23/24 May - SMPC - May change as too close to an X-Scotia weekend but fingers crossed
20/21 June - Aberdeen
04/05 July - Arran
11/12 July - Highland
25/26 July - Borders
08/09 August - Tinto
05/06 September - Ochils

George