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News
Updates from the Tasmanian free-flight community.
Safety Committee News
Hey Pilots, A few weeks ago the safety committee got together for a meeting. We welcomed Stu Ednie and Sean Green to our small group of Safety Officers with Simon A, Brad H, Cyril, Ramon and myself in attendance. For your infor
12 May 2026
Emergency Contact spreadsheet
Hey team, New emergency contact spreadsheet here. This is for members to see who to contact or what your wishes are in the case of an accident where you might not be contactable or able to share this info. We have changed its l
9 Dec 2025
Carlton and Primrose dunes update
I realise it's been a while since any news went out about this. For those just arriving, here's the back-story: Some "helpful" General Aviation pilot spotted a PG flying and reported it to Hobart Tow
13 Nov 2025
SAFA Renewal due Aug 31st
Only a few days left to renew your SAFA membership!!! Do it easily online https://members.safa.asn.au/hgfa-login.ph Don't be left standing on the hill ;-)
27 Aug 2025
Gaffs Hill, Tunbridge - New access arrangements
I’ve been speaking with Chris Hedlam, owner at Gaffs, about simplifying the access. He has been so impressed by pilot behaviour that he is happy to trial “notification on the day” style access. The process will be that
6 Jun 2025
Single Hill radio reminder and other stuff
Hi everyone. I’m afraid I have to put on my serious “president’s hat” here. I’ve heard that there have been some pilots flying at Single Hill without a radio. In the online induction form - that ho
16 Dec 2024
Temporary closure at Single Hill - Dec 2 until further notice
Hi everyone. CASA have just informed us that because of staff shortages and workload they won't get our exemption renewal through their legal department before our current (very short 9-month) exemption expires at midnight on 1 December.
29 Nov 2024
No flying at EHN during PWS controlled burns - 20-22 November this week
PWS have informed us that burns will be happening around Prates Bay area 20, 21 and 22 November (Weds to Friday this week) No flying is allowed during this time as helicopters might be operating and embers might be airbo
18 Nov 2024
ANNUAL Single hill Induction
It’s that time of year when to fulfil our agreement with CASA we all need to re-do the Single Hill online induction. There are a few minor adjustments so please read through… it only takes 10 minutes. Please take a screensho
17 Nov 2024
Lambing Closures 2024
LAMBING CLOSURES 2025 Gaffs - August 1 until Sept 20 Lemon Hill - August 5 until Sept 23 Little and Big Green - Sept 5 to November 30 Rose Hill - August 1 until Oct 30 Bells Bare Hill -
2 Aug 2024
Changes to Foot and Mouth measures for travelling pilots
After consultation with authorities, veterinarians and landowners, it seems the threat of Foot and Mouth being brought in from overseas – Bali in particular – is not as high as first thought when the outbreak happened a couple of
24 Jul 2024
SAFA renewal update
Sorry for the mess on this one! There was some mis-communication during resetting the Regional Development Levy (RDL) but it's all hopefully cleared up now. You can go ahead with paying using the link you were emailed
12 Jul 2024
Reduction of fees for the coming year
Hi everyone. You might get reminder from SAFA today to renew your licence. The committee decided to reduce the Regional Development Levy, that you pay within that fee, but due to a mis-communication that didn’t get throug
12 Jul 2024
THPA Business License to take off and land on Tasmania’s Reserve Estate
Where the land is part of the Reserve Estate, which is 40% of Tasmania, then the following applies: Unpowered paragliders and hang gliders who are members of the THPA will be treated like walkers when on the grou
17 May 2024
Questions, thoughts, feedback?
The recent “blow-up” on WhatsApp regarding the EHN weather station reveals the need for a structured approach to airing any dissatisfaction members might have with the Association or the committee. We, the committee, know tha
10 May 2024
Correct single Hill induction form
Hi all, I stuffed up the last Single Hill induction link (copied the link while in Edit Mode), so please use this one instead. If you had trouble filling it in last time please go back and do it again with this one. Since you've
8 Apr 2024
Single Hill news - MUST READ to fly there!
Well, we have good news and bad news. Instrument of Exemption: The good news is that CASA are renewing our airspace exemption to fly at Single Hill. It should be through before the March 31 expiry but we’ll
26 Mar 2024
Airspace reminder
Hi all THPA members. Hobart Tower have informed us that a paraglider was photographed flying near Carlton Beach within the Hobart Control Zone and the tower was not aware of the operation. This occurred on Saturday 10th Feb at approximat
23 Feb 2024
Safety thoughts from a senior pilot - #1
Following on from the NZ Safety Taskforce findings, we will present some thoughts on safety and progression from our most experienced pilots. These guys have seen a lot of pilots come through the ranks and can offer some sage advice to all of us w
4 Feb 2024
NZHPA Safety taskforce summary - #8 EQUIPMENT CONSIDERATIONS
?Equipment is a tricky subject within free flying safety because it is clearly integral to flying (and flying well) but also often contributes to incidents and accidents in obvious and subtle ways. AIRS reports show that accidents caused by modern
12 Nov 2023
NZHPA Safety taskforce summary - #6 HUMAN FACTORS & #7 REPORTING
#6 HUMAN FACTORS IN FREE FLYING Human factors (HF) are poorly researched and infrequently (if at all) discussed in free flying literature internationally. There is some useful information coming from othe
21 Oct 2023
NZHPA Safety taskforce summary - #5 WEATHER

“Weather” is used here as a term to cover all aspects of the environment in which we fly – including large scale metro conditions as well as micro-scale local conditions like wind, turbulence, rotor, cloud-suck etc.
14 Oct 2023
NZHPA Safety taskforce summary - #4 PROGRESSION AND TRAINING
PROGRESSION TRAINING AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT This issue is linked to currency but is distinct in that above we refer to currency as skill maintenance and here we use progression to refer to further skill development - a
5 Oct 2023
NZHPA Safety taskforce summary - #3 WING HANDLING & LANDING
WING HANDLING 
 The data shows that many accidents and incidents have a contributing factor where pilots were unable to maintain control of their wing, pointing to potential deficiencies in their wing handling skill se
22 Sep 2023
NZHPA Safety taskforce summary - #2 LAUNCH
More from the NZHPA findings #2 LAUNCH Launch and take-off run related incidents made up 28% of all incidents for 2020. Launching is the second most common phase of flight where incidents are r
14 Sep 2023
NZHPA Safety taskforce summary - #1 GROUND HANDLING
A SUMMARY OF FINDINGS FROM THE 
NZHPA FREE-FLYING SAFETY TASKFORCE 
 The NZHPA (New Zealand’s version of SAFA) commissioned a safety taskforce to look into the safety of free flying in NZ. Their
8 Sep 2023
Updated Farm Etiquette Policy with new WhatsApp protocol
When visiting farms, or any other land from which we have been granted access for the purpose of flying activities, please keep in mind that access is a MASSIVE privilege. We must do all we can to avoid anything that might cause us to lose the gen
14 Aug 2023
Single Hill - new voluntary no-fly zone
I received a call yesterday from a CASA representative about a complaint made by a resident of Kirra Road near Single Hill about low-flying paragliders. The complaint states that the pilots are so low as to be able to talk to kids in the
12 Oct 2022
Little Green - change of protocol
From Ramon: Reminder to leave gates as you find them. Will at Little Green has sent me a message saying he has found the gate at the bottom of the hill open a few times after we have been flying. IMPORTAN
26 Jul 2022
Dealing With Wake Turbulence
The safety committee would ike to share this information with members (written by Brad Harris). Wake turbulence As we all learnt during our PG course, wake turbulence is the disturbed air left behind after a wi
13 Jun 2022
Crescent Bay access from Remarkable Cave only after incident.
Last weekend some of our pilots were accosted by a Crescent Bay local while using the long-established shortcut access via the track at the end of Dog Bark Road. It's probably best for now to only use the official (albeit longer) PWS
13 Dec 2021
Update on kunanyi/Mt Wellington launch project from Ben Veasey
6/11/2021 Kunyani / Mt Wellington Launch site planning update As some of you may already know I made the difficult decision to not submit the grant proposal this year
23 Nov 2021
THPA PG4 Hike & Fly Endorsement
On behalf of the THPA safety committee, we have the great pleasure to announce that Tasmania now has an endorsement for PG4 pilots to fly hike & fly sites! Flying hike and fly or unrated sites i
10 Aug 2021
Mt Wellington/kunanyi launch - information and update
Mt Wellington launch info sheet A Brief history People have been flying the mountain since the 80’s There has been talk of an established
9 Aug 2021