By Margaret Maccoll
The Hang Gliding Federation of Australia (HGFA) will conduct an investigation into the paraglider accident at Sunrise Beach last week which cut power to more than 2000 homes.
The Coolum-based paraglider was preparing to take off from the cliff at a popular launch site when a gust of wind propelled him back and over the powerlines.
A resident said while the parachute was caught in the powerlines, the pilot ended up close enough to the ground to free himself from the harness and step down.
Sunshine Coast Sports Aviators (SCSA) president Paul Green, who is also president of HGFA, said the paraglider was taken to the Sunshine Coast Hospital for precautionary observations but was “fine”.
He said he was very regretful and apologetic to the residents who lost power, but it was fortunate there had been no injuries.
“There was damage to the wires and likely some to the paraglider.
“I’m told it was a vicious gust of wind,” he said. “If he’d launched 10 seconds earlier or later it would have be fine.”
Paul described it as a major incident and said the investigation would be quite thorough and look at different variables including the pilot and the weather conditions.
“As with all incidents of this kind, it is subject to investigation and the circumstances will come out,” he said.
“I believe he was an experienced pilot. I cannot say for certain whether the unusual weather circumstances played a part.
“We try to gain from the experience, to find out what could have been done better.”
Paul said people sometimes raised concerns about the flying of paragliders in the populated region, but there was also support for the sport and many people find the aircraft “aesthetically pleasing”.
