Paragliding is one of the most accessible forms of human flight. Paraglider’s are easy to transport, a paragliding wing and harness can pack up into a small bundle which can be carried with ease. Hang Gliders are heavy and take more effort to transport to those remote launch sites. Skydiving requires a plane and launching from extreme heights, so it’s far easier to find somewhere to paraglide than the alternative options.
So can you paraglide anywhere? While paragliding can be done in many accessible locations, you can’t paraglide anywhere. There are some places where you are not permitted to paraglide for your safety, the safety of others or for the privacy of landowners.
Hazards Which You Can’t Paraglide Close To
Paragliding in suburban, built-up areas presents hazards where paragliding must be done from a safe distance. Power lines, roads, tall trees, schools, shopping centres and large car parks must be avoided. Some countries have restrictions in place which don’t allow you to paraglide within a certain distance of these hazards. If your country doesn’t have these restrictions, it’s still worthwhile to be cautious and paraglide from a safe distance.
You Can’t Paraglide Over No Fly Zones
Many areas of government owned land are no fly zones. These include military bases, police land, and the homes of distinguished government representatives. Paragliding over and landing in these areas is not allowed due to privacy reasons, and restrictions on public access.
You also can’t paraglide over or land on designated ‘no fly’ zones. These are usually located close to popular paragliding launch and landing zones. These are usually from home/landowners who seek privacy or have had negative experiences with pilots causing damage to their property. These locations can often be seen on paraglidingmap.com or by talking to a local paragliding club or pilots in the area. Take these into account when planning your flight and look for alternative close-by bombout areas in the event you need to land unexpectedly.
It’s important to take the approach that landowners who haven’t designated their property as a no-fly zone still may not be entirely happy about paragliders flying close over or landing on their property. Don’t fly so close that you compromise their privacy. If you do need to unexpectedly land on private property, quickly pack up your paraglider, ensure you have all your belongings and leave the property at the closest exit.
You Can’t Paraglide in Flight Paths
You can’t paraglide at high altitude in commercial plane flight paths. The reasons for this are fairly self-explanatory – no one wants to collide with a plane! Most paragliding pilots won’t be at risk of flying in these high-up restricted areas, however with excellent thermalling conditions and a bit of bravery, it is possible for an experienced paraglider to reach sufficient heights.
There may be restrictions within a certain radius of airports, as planes will be flying at lower altitude when taking off and landing.
These restrictions differ from country to country, it’s best to consult your local paragliding organisation.
You Can’t Paraglide If You Can’t Launch
Another consideration when choosing where you can paraglide is the opportunities available to obtain lift. Lift is critical for launching and is not able to be achieved anywhere. Lift can be achieved in two ways, the easiest is from wind filling the wing with air. This method enables you to launch a paraglider without running, almost anywhere where wind and a lack of hazardous obstacles are present.
The second place you can obtain lift and paraglide is from a side of a steep hill or cliff. This involves the pilot running up to the ledge and obtaining lift from thermals.
You’ll need wind or thermal activity to launch your paraglider.
Conclusion
Ultimately you can paraglide in many places. It’s a highly accessible form of flight and a fun hobby which can be undertaken in many different places. There’s not too many places where you can’t paraglide, these main areas include flight paths, close proximity to airports, schools, roads, high trees and no-fly zones.
It’s recommended that you check the legalities in your country and the rules and recommendations in your local region, as these can differ greatly. Here are links to some of the national organisations:
- The USHPA in the United States
- SAFA in Australia
- The British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association in the United Kingdom
Also please remember to obey the rules and not paraglide in areas which are off-limits. Not only is yours or someone elses safety at risk, you risk giving paragliders a bad name. Paragliding pilots often depend on the generosity of private land owners who let us launch and land on their property. Let’s be grateful and respectful and not lose these privileges!
