The parliament adopted a law regulating paragliding flights.
The new law defines the issues determining the suitability of paragliding equipment, as well as the certification of the paraglider operator and the issuance of the paraglider pilot’s license.
In particular, paragliding is allowed only in the airspace designated by law.
Paragliding regulation, certification of the flight location and operator, issuance, suspension, cancellation of a paraglider pilot’s license/category, and determination of paraglider suitability is to be carried out by a legal entity determined by the Government of Georgia, which meets the following criteria:
- Has at least 10 years of experience in the field of paragliding, including cooperation with international organizations working in the same field;
- At least 50 people are members of the public body;
- Has the appropriate technical equipment and appropriate software for paragliding suitability checks, with the help of which it produces relevant registers in accordance with the rules established by the law.
“We are sure that by adopting this legal framework, we will jointly be able to reduce to a minimum the accompanying risks, which, unfortunately, accompany paragliding flights, and thus we will be able to save the lives and health of many people,” said Deputy Minister of Economy Mariam Kvrivishvili.
Talks about regulating this area in Georgia began in the summer of 2022, after a crash in Gudauri, as a result of which a rescue helicopter also crashed and 8 crew members died.
The helicopter was on its way to rescue a paraglider and his companion who had hit a rock.
After this, paragliding of any kind was banned in Georgia and work on the regulations began.
Paragliders have been demanding the resumption of flights for months.
By Ana Dumbadze
Related Story: Tragic Gudauri Crash Claims 8 Lives, 1 Tourist Dead in Paragliding Accident
