Why DGCA amended its norms for operating powered hang gliders after the Hamas attack on Israel

Following the use of motorised hang gliders by Hamas terrorists to infiltrate Israel and incite violence, India's aviation regulator, the DGCA, has issued new rules for the operations and security of powered hang gliders.

What happened

The events of October 07, 2023, in Israel shocked the entire world when Hamas carried out an attack using paragliders to infiltrate Israel, launching deadly assaults on its people.

According to PTI, India swiftly updated its regulations for powered hang gliders upon learning about the potential misuse of hang gliders for large-scale terrorist attacks.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) revised these rules on October 16.

Reasons for the sudden rules revamp

In a horrific act of violence, Hamas caused the deaths of over 1,400 people, including women and children, in a brutal attack on Israel. This attack is widely regarded as one of the deadliest terrorist acts in history, triggering global tension and concerns about the prevention of future similar incidents.

• As reported by PTI, the DGCA considered recent security concerns and amended hang-gliding rules to prevent their potential misuse for purposes similar to those of Hamas.

• Under these new rules, the DGCA aims to rigorously regulate hang-glider operations to prevent the misuse of these flying vehicles through continuous government intervention.

The new rules for hang-gliders

• Unauthorised operation of a powered hang glider is strictly prohibited without prior approval from a DGCA examiner or instructor.

• According to the updated eligibility requirements, an individual must have a minimum of 50 hours of powered hang glider operation experience, with at least 10 hours on the dual machine.

• Flying a powered hang glider requires a Commercial Pilot License with a minimum of 25 hours of powered hang glider flight experience.

• Purchasing or selling a powered hang glider is strictly regulated. A certificate from the DGCA is mandatory, issued only after the buyer's background check by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

• The hang glider cannot be leased or rented out by the owner or operator.

• A powered hang glider may not carry any remote sensing devices, weapons, or photography/video equipment without explicit approval from the MHA, unless necessary for the aircraft's safe operation.

• The security protocols sanctioned by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security must be adhered to when parking and conducting operations prior to each flight.