Rules guiding aero sports in Himachal have been revised with a focus on paragliding, a pursuit that continues to draw thousands of travellers to valleys such as Bir-Billing, Kullu, and Manali. A notification issued by the Department of Tourism and Civil Aviation on 20 September confirmed amendments to the Himachal Pradesh Aero Sports Rules, 2022. Suggestions and objections have been invited within thirty days, and the updated guidelines will be known as the Himachal Pradesh Aero Sports (Amendment) Rules, 2025.
The key adjustment lies in clause j of sub rule (3) of Rule 5, which now requires every pilot applying for a tandem licence to complete a simulation exercise as part of a paragliding safety course. The provision ensures that no pilot can apply for a tandem licence without passing through this stage of training. Those already listed with the Department have been given until 31 August 2026 to finish the mandatory simulation course.
Adventure flights in Himachal, particularly tandem paragliding where a visitor flies with a trained professional, have faced repeated mishaps. Kullu has seen several accidents in recent years where tourists on tandem flights lost their lives despite being accompanied by trained pilots. Such incidents underline the need for preventive systems, especially where the commercial activity directly involves the safety of paying visitors.
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Under the existing 2022 framework, only those registered with the Tourism Department can conduct aero sports. A technical committee examines training records and checks the condition of equipment before a licence is issued. Yet, enforcement gaps remain. Instances have surfaced of unregistered individuals offering such services outside the formal system, which heightens risks.
While even experienced pilots have at times been involved in accidents, officials have pointed out that tandem flights carry greater exposure to danger since they involve inexperienced passengers placed entirely in the care of the pilot. The new amendment therefore centres on enforcing structured safety training to reduce the scope for such mishaps.
By introducing a deadline-bound safety course through simulation, the state aims to create an additional filter of readiness before pilots carry visitors into the air. The revision is less about reshaping the sport and more about placing non-negotiable checks where lives are at stake.
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