Naughty Neightbourhood Pilot

Today I was spending some more time configuring my laptop, when I heard some strange buzzing outside. My first thought was, “paramotor!”, but then I thought that would be rather strange, especially being in the middle of a Calgary suburb.

I looked outside, searching the sky, when sure enough, I saw an orange paraglider in the air. I grabbed a camera, and took this photo through a window:


Bad boy! I felt bad a few months ago for doing some groundhandling and low flying at Nose Hill Park, but jeez, this guy obviously doesn’t care about flying in controlled airspace. He should also know that the HAGAR states,

No person shall fly an aircraft:

a. over the build-up area of any city, town or other settlement or over any open air assembly of persons except at an altitude that will permit, in the event of an emergency, the landing of the aircraft without creating a hazard to persons or property on the surface of the earth, and such altitude shall not in any case be less than 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a radius of 2,000 feet from the aircraft;

No, I’m not anal. In fact, I probably shrug off more than I should. I just hope that the Calgary Airport Authority doesn’t hear about this guy – I don't think the paragliding community needs any more problems.

Going back to the HAGAR, if you’re bored, you can read my HAGAR complaint letter to HPAC and TC. Yes, I’m a fighter.

Hopefully by Friday I’ll have my flights booked to France and the UK – better start practicing mon Francais.