Paramotor question
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2014
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From: EGMH
Paramotor question
Hello,
I'm not sure if this is the appropriate forum so please forgive and disregard if not.
I was driving with my son today on a small road close to the sea, and we had been aware of a chap in a paramotor who had been flying over the sea for quite a while. I'm not familiar with these machines and it looked like he was going in spirals and upside down quite a lot; basically it seemed rather uncontrolled to my untrained eye, but perhaps that's how it's supposed to be done.
Anyway, as I was driving I was suddenly aware that he was right overhead, perhaps about 20ft above the road, and for a second I was afraid he was going to come down on top of us or other nearby vehicles.
Thankfully he went over us and landed seconds later in a private piece of land that is fenced off as it's under development. I thought I heard a loud exclamation, and I presume that meant the location of the landing site wasn't intended. But I don't know so don't want to assume anything. I did think he might have some trouble getting out of the fenced-off area, but again, perhaps it was all planned.
Obviously no one got hurt, and one would hope he had full control at all times. But from my perspective, it was problematic because it alarmed and distracted me as I was approaching a tight bend in the road, and I lost concentration for a few seconds as I tried to establish whereabouts he was heading and whether I needed to react.
Looking at the CAA guidance it seems that there is an exception to the rules about clearance from people and vehicles when it comes to landing. But is it right to fly so close above a road?
If he did nothing wrong then it's all good and I can stop feeling so jittery about it.
Susier
I'm not sure if this is the appropriate forum so please forgive and disregard if not.
I was driving with my son today on a small road close to the sea, and we had been aware of a chap in a paramotor who had been flying over the sea for quite a while. I'm not familiar with these machines and it looked like he was going in spirals and upside down quite a lot; basically it seemed rather uncontrolled to my untrained eye, but perhaps that's how it's supposed to be done.
Anyway, as I was driving I was suddenly aware that he was right overhead, perhaps about 20ft above the road, and for a second I was afraid he was going to come down on top of us or other nearby vehicles.
Thankfully he went over us and landed seconds later in a private piece of land that is fenced off as it's under development. I thought I heard a loud exclamation, and I presume that meant the location of the landing site wasn't intended. But I don't know so don't want to assume anything. I did think he might have some trouble getting out of the fenced-off area, but again, perhaps it was all planned.
Obviously no one got hurt, and one would hope he had full control at all times. But from my perspective, it was problematic because it alarmed and distracted me as I was approaching a tight bend in the road, and I lost concentration for a few seconds as I tried to establish whereabouts he was heading and whether I needed to react.
Looking at the CAA guidance it seems that there is an exception to the rules about clearance from people and vehicles when it comes to landing. But is it right to fly so close above a road?
If he did nothing wrong then it's all good and I can stop feeling so jittery about it.
Susier
Joined: Dec 2005
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 4,974
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From: Hong Kong
He may have been perfectly legal, they have a lot of exemption, he may not. The most important thing is that you should not allow yourself be distracted when operating a motor vehicle on a public highway.
Fleet Manager
Joined: Aug 2006
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
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From: Ontario, Canada
The most important thing is that you should not allow yourself be distracted when operating a motor vehicle on a public highway.
As for low flying, in Canada, I'm not aware of any allowance for civil low flying, and it is certainly not permitted to allow your piloting to create a hazard for people on the ground. While out for a bimble one day, I observed a paramotor pilot low flying the lakeshore, and buzzing people swimming. I followed him for about half an hour as he worked his way along. He eventually landed at a small runway I knew, from which he had obviously departed, so I landed behind him and sternly informed him that his violation of low flying regulations had not gone un noticed. I was not convinced that he had any qualifications as a pilot - 'doesn't mean that he did not have to abide by regulations though...
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 220
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From: EGMH
Thank you for saying that about being distracted, Pilot DAR. I feel a bit better about it now. And I liked your story. That sounds like quite egregious behaviour and I'm glad you said something to the person concerned.
Turin, I'm not sure. I'm thinking it probably wasn't running as it was loud enough from a distance away, and would have been very noisy close up, so I think I'd have heard him coming before I saw him if it had still been running. As it was he just sort of appeared.
Turin, I'm not sure. I'm thinking it probably wasn't running as it was loud enough from a distance away, and would have been very noisy close up, so I think I'd have heard him coming before I saw him if it had still been running. As it was he just sort of appeared.
Tabs please!
Joined: Jun 2004
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 1,098
From: Biffins Bridge
An airfield not far from me requires an approach which is a tad low over the traffic. The joke is to look out for any double decker buses when using that runway.
Joined: Nov 2005
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
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From: Wildest Surrey
Try landing on runway 02 at Halton; the bus companies only run single deck buses during summer and even then a bus once got cable from the winch wrapped round it.(Had a 'D' Notice slapped on it so you won't find any newspaper reports about it)
