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Paraglider critical after farmland crash
12:44am Tuesday 10th July 2007
A man is fighting for his life after crashing his paraglider into farmland.
The man lost control of his motorised glider at 8.50pm on Sunday and crashed into farmland on Barnhorn Road in Bexhill.
The Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) has sent a team of specialists to the scene to find out why he crashed.
Sussex Police received reports of the crash and sent officers and a force helicopter to the scene.
Ambulances also attended but the man was airlifted to hospital by the police helicopter.
Last night he was still battling for survival Eastbourne District General Hospital (EDGH).
A police spokeswoman said: "Police and ambulances were called to farmland near Barnhorn Manor in Barnhorn Road, Bexhill, following reports of a motorised paraglider having crashed.
"A man, believed to be in his 40s, was airlifted by police helicopter to EDGH with serious injuries.
"The air investigation board has been informed and will investigate the causes."
An AAIB spokesman said investigators will look at the wreckage, the pilot's logbook and history, weather reports and examine any witness statements.
He said: "We are investigating and will produce a report in due course.
"The investigation team will be looking at the wreckage and anything else which helps us understand the accident.
"At the moment we don't know why it happened and we need to find out."
Police have not yet released the name of the man. He is understood to be from Tonbridge in Kent.
Motorised paraglider pilots are suspended beneath a large canopy and harnessed to an engine and propeller fitted backpack.
They are able to launch from any reasonable sized open space and maintain constant flight for up to an hour at a time.
The sport is represented by the British Hanggliding and Paragliding Association but pilots are not usually associated with a paragliding club.
They often fly alone and are seen as renegades within the paragliding fraternity.
It is a notoriously risky sport because engine failure can endanger the pilots life.
In November 2004 a paraglider from Peacehaven was severely injured while taking part in a tournament in India.
Paul Holzherr was 41 when he was left wheelchair bound after damaging his spine following a crash-landing near Billing, in Himachal Pradesh.
Do you know the paraglider? Did you see the accident happen? Leave your comments below.
Your Say YourArgus
Matthew S., Scottsdale, Arizona, USA says...
7:50am Tue 10 Jul 07
Most pilots land without the engine off.
Should read: Most pilots land without the engine on.
stu, uk says...
9:20am Tue 10 Jul 07
We often fly alone, just like any other type of powered flight... we are not the red arrows.
In over 10 years of paramotoring in the UK, we have only had 1 fatality (far less than paragliding for example).
Michel, Brighton says...
9:24am Tue 10 Jul 07
Martin Hewlett, Devon says...
9:48am Tue 10 Jul 07
Martin Hewlett
Jim Carolan, Cambridgeshire says...
10:43am Tue 10 Jul 07
2/ Engine failure does not incur any risk, we are suspended under a fully deployed parachute.
3/We are not members of Paragliding clubs because they need hills to operate off, we do not, we operate of flat lands. We have our own clubs and are as well represented to the CAA as any other flying sport.
Do some research if I was as slack as this at my job I'd be out of work.
Jim Carolan
Chairman British Paramotoring Association
Murray Hay, Scotland says...
11:39am Tue 10 Jul 07
A significant number of Scottish pilots have no connection to the groups/association previously mentioned. So far over 100 days flown safely this year so it can be a very safe branch of aviation.
Barry, whitehawk says...
11:48am Tue 10 Jul 07
The Argus has never been known for letting the TRUTH stand in the way of a GOOD STORY! Most of their ex reporters do go on to bigger and better things, mainly writing childrens fairy tales!
Jim, Brighton says...
12:02pm Tue 10 Jul 07
The safety record for paramotors in the UK is actually very good and it is becoming an increasing popular form of flight.
"Flying alone" hardly makes a pilot a renegade - I fly my light aircraft alone all the time.
Andy Whelan - please do your job properly.
Remember, good research makes a good journalist.
John, Cambridge says...
12:15pm Tue 10 Jul 07
For 99% of PPG pilots, their primary concerns is their and other peoples safety.
Try understanding what you are talking about before writing about it.
Keep it real.
Karim Ahmed, Brighton says...
12:23pm Tue 10 Jul 07
They often fly alone and are seen as renegades within the paragliding fraternity.
It is a notoriously risky sport because engine failure can endanger the pilots life.
Chris, Hastings says...
12:29pm Tue 10 Jul 07
jenny, Brighton says...
12:54pm Tue 10 Jul 07
Murray Hay, Scotland says...
1:00pm Tue 10 Jul 07
Ref: "It is a notoriously risky sport because engine failure can endanger the pilots life"
If people (pilots) are to be fair this is the only part of the story that is (badly) inaccurate, the rest of the article reads as perfectly reasonable reporting especialy when taken in context of the general trend for those in the sport (PG & PPG) to resuse to talk to the 'Press'! In Scotland a couple of years ago I was involved in the handling of a 'Mayday' of a GA aircraft (ended upside down in a field/YouTube clip) the Sunday press coverage was 'poor' local CFI would not talk to press, however I spoke to my press contact (I'm a photographer) and PROVIDED correct FACTUAL information, the story run on the Monday was accurate, un-biased and looked at the positive result i.e. no injury/minimal damage to aircraft ALL OF WHICH WERE DUE TO GOOD TRAINING/emergency procedures.
So the question is if as a sport we do not assist in a reasonable manner the press are we in part at least to blame for 'negative' reporting?
Geoff_Soper, Surrey says...
7:06pm Tue 10 Jul 07
jenny, brighton says...
3:07pm Wed 11 Jul 07
Chris, West Midlands says...
10:59pm Fri 20 Jul 07
I do not believe what papers write unless I see it for my self.
Your sayYourArgus
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Matthew S., Scottsdale, Arizona, USA says...
7:46am Tue 10 Jul 07
This is inaccurate. Because paramotors use the same wings as paragliders, in the event of an engine-out the pilot just glides to a landing. Most pilots land without the engine off. The only risk would be if the pilot was over un-landable terrain, such as water or trees.
They often fly alone and are seen as renegades within the paragliding fraternity.
Many paramotor pilots are also free-flying pilots. Paramotos also enjoy a much better safety record than paragliders.
Although all personal aviation has risks, paramotors are reasonably safe, and one of the safest forms of ultralight flight.
I'm sure the investigation will show that the accident had nothing to do with engine failure.
Obviously this is a American perspective, but I do not believe that it differs much in the UK.
Please spend a little time learning about your subject before publishing a story.
Here are some good sources:
www.usppa.org
www.bhpa.co.uk/param
otor/index.php
http://www.footflyer
.com/