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 ground and must adhere to the ‘Leave No Trace’ trekking principles.
These can be found here: https://parks.tas.gov.au/leave-no-trace .
THPA members may take off and land on reserved land using unpowered hang gliders or paragliders.
Takeoffs should be from locations that are within the capabilities of the pilot and should not be altered in any way.
Landings should be close to roads or tracks if possible and should not be altered in any way.

This License confers NO SPECIAL PRIVILEGES, it simply allows for an exemption to section 25 of the National Parks and Reserves Management Regulations 2019 for members of the THPA. The THPA as holder of the license will rate sites and ensure safe practices are adhered to.

We have a huge privilege as the only state in Australia that this is possible, so PLEASE RESPECT IT!

What is notable about the “leave no trace” principles is that the onus is on you as an individual (regardless of whether you are a free flyer) to ensure you only visit places where you have gained appropriate permission. Anywhere that allows walkers is accessible to free flyers if an appropriate launch and landing can be found. Please make yourself familiar with the Leave No Trace principles.

For this to work the THPA will now develop relationships with key PWS staff just as we do with any other landowner’s agent. At an organisation level we get to tell our story to PWS to keep them on side. Our challenge as 100 pilots (plus visitors) is to be invisible on the ground relative to the many million visits annually to PWS managed land. When we are in the air of course we want to be noticed, but for the right reasons!

So where does all the above leave THPA members? Maybe some examples would help:

The Sentinels? Go Flying if suitably graded and experienced.
Carlton Beach? PWS have no objections, but we must negotiate with CASA before flying can be legal there.
Ocean Beach, South Arm Dunes, Low Head? Go Flying.
South East Cape Beach? Go Flying.
Mount Wedge, Quamby Bluff, Mount Ossa? Go Flying if you have your HnF endorsement or are PG5 and can find a launch within your abilities.
Scary new peak off the track that has never been flown before? Go Flying if you can find a suitable launch without modifying the site, can identify a suitable landing, and you have your HnF endorsement or are PG5.

Probably the best starting point for land ownership/status is the LISTmap (https://maps.thelist.tas.gov.au/listmap/app/list/map) with the added layer of ‘Public Land Classification.’

PWS’s main concern is the impact on the environment and other users. Be mindful of these and don’t do anything stupid that could cause a member of the public to complain. Let’s not fly the Historic Sites like Port Arthur! Be mindful of any cultural significance a site might have. Maintain separation from bystanders. Don’t use wind-streamers where you can’t retrieve them and may be seen by the public as “left behind”. Don’t launch right near lookouts… find somewhere more discreet.

Let’s also be self-reliant and carry a suitable first aid kit, tree rescue kit and EPIRB. We don't want to end up as an eye-rolling, head-shaking news story.

Simon Allen, SSO

Brad Harris, President: The credit for this iteration of a Parks Agreement goes to Simon Allen, but recognition should also go to all people involved in the previous work to get us this far, especially Luke Dennis and Cyril Scomparin.