Babu Adventures, which has been providing commercial paragliding flights in Sorek VDC of the district, has obtained the license from the government on Tuesday to operate the paragliding school.
“Up until now, paragliding pilots were being produced through informal trainings only. Now, people can actually get an education and training about paragliding through an official school,” said Sano Babu Sunar, operator of Babu Adventures. “We are the first paragliding school in the country authorized by the government,” he claimed.
According to him, Babu Adventures Paragliding School would run with direct supervision from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN). “Being an authorized company, we will produce able paragliding pilots in the country with direct supervision from the CAAN,” Sunar stated.
Pilots would be given trainings at Sorek-1 and all the infrastructures have already been prepared for it, according to Sunar. “We started working on necessary procedures three years ago. Hence, we are able to complete all the required infrastructures for the school,” he further added.
The school would only accept applications from those students who have met the government-set physical criteria. The course would begin with basic knowledge for 15 days. Scientific knowledge and practical would start following the completion of the basic course, informed the school.
“Students would enter advance course after learning the basic for 15 days. Flights would be taught within 35 hours of starting the advance course. They would also be taught to use alternative glider and to land safely in case of any unforeseen accidents,” said Sunar.
Pilots completing advanced course would then begin tandem paragliding, a form of commercial paragliding where two people paraglide together, usually one client and another one pilot. Sunar said pilots would be given scientific and practical knowledge of tandem paragliding in 10 days.
“It would take two years to complete the full course, which costs Rs 800,000. Students should manage their own gliding equipments and glider by themselves for the course duration,” he added.
Buddi Sagar Lamichhane, joint-secretary at the aviation department of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation confirmed that Babu
Adventures is the first one to obtain license to operate a paragliding school.
“Now, only authorized institutes can produce pilots. Unauthorized institutes doing so would face closure if they don't obtain the permits,” said Lamichhane. The paragliding courses have been designed by the ministry and the CAAN, he further informed.
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