Australia is the birth place of practical modern hang gliding. It was in Australia that the first modern hang gliding wing was designed and flown. It was designed by John Dickinson and was first flown at Grafton, New South Wales, Australia in 1963. The wing which had a flexible sail supported by a rigid structure, introduced the A-frame and placed the pilots weight suspended from a single point, at the centre of lift, which with appropriate wire bracing provided the essentials of the practical, controllable modern hang glider. In later years the design was promoted to the world through the travels and exploits of Bill Moyes and Bill Bennett.

The FAI acknowledged this contribution to aviation by John Dickinson by awarding him the FAI World Gold Air Medal in 2012.

It was in Australia that the first hang gliding soaring flights were achieved and where the sport of hang gliding received its first official sanction in international competition. The realisation of the dream to fly like a bird was delivered to the world.

Australia's continental climate offers ideal soaring flight opportunity all year round. Hundreds of overseas based pilots visit Australia each year to compete in the Australian competitions or to simply experience the awesome flying conditions this continent has to offer.

Visiting pilots are welcome to Australia but there are a few things the visiting pilot needs to know and abide by while flying in this country. Please read the following advice regarding Australian flight operations.

LEGALITIES of FLYING in AUSTRALIA

Australia is an independent first world country with its own aviation laws and they are good laws which help to protect the interests of its citizens, their safety and their property from those that would disregard them.

Australian Law requires visiting pilots and local pilots to have a current HGFA membership and the 3rd party insurance it includes to legally fly in Australia. The inclusive insurance is compulsory and not optional. This insurance is required to keep Australia�s existing flying sites open to our pilots. Regional, City and State Governments require this insurance to be in place to protect their interest; otherwise they would shut down the sites.

The HGFA has to ensure VPM's have Insurance coverage that can be accessed for claims in respect of accidents in Australia and in legal proceedings in Australia. The only feasible means of ensuring appropriate and accessible insurance is in place is for the HGFA to contract for coverage of it in Australia

VISTING PILOT MEMBERSHIP

Visiting pilots must be sure they have a HGFA Visiting Pilot Membership (VPM) or HGFA 12 months membership before flying in Australia (preferably organised before arriving in Australia).

The following HGFA Visiting Pilot Memberships are available for overseas pilots who hold a current license from their home organisation:

• 2 months for $49
• 4 months for $69
• 6 months for $89

This form of membership is only renewable once in any 12 month period from the date of the initial application.

日本人 (Japanese)

オーストラリアの法律は、訪問パイロットと地元のパイロットが現在HGFAメンバーシップ

、それが合法的にオーストラリアに飛ぶことを含むサードパーティの保険を持っている必

必要があります。

海外のパイロットのために用意されています。 49ドルのための•2ヶ月パイロットメンバーシップを訪問、次HGFAは自分のホーム組織から

から現在の免許証を持って 69ドルのために•4ヶ月 89ドルのために•6か月 メンバーシップのこの形式は、当初適用日から12ヶ月の期間に1回のみ再生可能です。

Francais

Australien Law exige que les pilotes et les pilotes locaux qui visitent d'avoir un abonnement en cours HGFA et l'assurance 3rd party il comprend à voler légalement en Australie. La visite suivante HGFA Membre des pilotes sont disponibles pour les pilotes étrangers titulaires d'une licence en cours de leur organisme d'attache:

• 2 mois pour 49 $
• 4 mois pour 69 $
• 6 mois pour 89 $

Cette forme d'appartenance n'est renouvelable qu'une fois par période de 12 mois à partir de la date de la demande initiale.

Facts:

1. Under Australia law your pilot licence lapses if you are not a current financial member of the HGFA. Flying without a current recognised pilot certificate is an offence against Federal law and is referred by CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) for prosecution by the Australian Federal Police.
2. Visiting Pilot Members (VPM's) must comply with federal aviation law. The HGFA Operations manual is a part of Federal Aviation Law.
3. Access to most sites in Australia does not require local site/club membership with notable exceptions in Australia being Mystic at Bright and also Canungra because access at these sites is through local leases or local ownership of land the high cost of which is reasonably borne by the users because without those revenues to support that costly investment these sites would be nonexistent; these are exceptions.
4. Insurance costs money and the premiums paid by the HGFA are based on the HGFA's total membership numbers which includes the number of visiting pilots; and the charge is the same per member whether they fly for one day of the year or every day of the year. The 3rd party insurance alone cost for each visiting pilot and for each local pilot in the last financial year was $64, The HGFA spends many 10's of thousands of dollars on other insurance to protect its operations.
5. The average Australian pilot pays $307 odd per year for HGFA membership and compulsory state levy to fly in Australia and many would only fly 10 days a year. Most VPM's fly intensely when visiting and pay $49, $69 or $89 for 2, 4 or 6 months respectively while the administration of the membership of VPM's per head is as costly as that of a local pilot.
6. The HGFA made a policy decision about five years ago to reduce the VPM fee to support International competition, and pilot tourism in the interests of supporting the concept of the International sport aviation community. Revenue from VPM's is now about half of what they were per VPM 5 years ago where costs have increased for everything. The HGFA makes a loss on visiting pilot memberships (VPM’s).