In response to a recent aerial attack carried out by Hamas, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has swiftly implemented rigorous regulations governing powered hang gliders.  DGCA also made it clear that no person shall carry out test flight on a powered hang glider without a commercial pilot licence with 25 hours of flying on powered hang glider.

The move comes as part of a concerted effort to bolster aviation safety and security measures in the aftermath of the unprecedented incident.

The Hamas terrorists used motor-powered hang gliders to infiltrate Israel has become a symbol of the October 7 terror attack, which has shown that even the mightiest military can be caught off guard by unconventional means of infiltration.

The Hamas attacks mark the second time that Palestinian terrorists have used paragliders to invade Israel. In 1987, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command launched two paragliders from Lebanon, one of which landed in Israel.

The revised regulations read that no person shall fly a Powered Hang Glider without being authorised by a DGCA approved examiner or instructor.

“No person shall carry out test flight on a powered hang glider unless the person me ets the following criteria- a pilot holding valid Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) with 25 hours of flying experience on powered hang glider; or a person holding authorisation with 50 hours of flying experience on powered hang glider, the revised regulations reads.

DGCA also described the eligibility for becoming an examiner or instructor. It said he/she shall be a person with 50 flying hours on a powered hang glider and 10 hours on dual machines.

After being approved by the DGCA, such a person can authorise people to fly motorized hang gliders. The updated rules further read that powered hang gliders can't be sold or disposed of to any person or firm without producing a certificate issued by DGCA.

 “The details of flight plan and flying shall be notified by the pilot to the nearby aerodrome, defence establishment and district local authorities concerned as applicable and obtain necessary clearance. No person shall operate a Powered Hang Glider at night. The Powered Hang Glider shall not be used for public transport or aerial work or any commercial activity,” DGCA said.

DGCA will grant the certificate after checking the background of the buyer from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Any person or firm intending to acquire/manufacture or register a Powered Hang Glider is required to obtain security clearance from MHA through DGCA and comply with the requirements specified by MHA, as per the regulations.