Budva, 29 March 2015 – Prior the paragliding season, Montenegro Civil Aviation Agency organised Seminar on paragliding safety this weekend in Budva which was opened for all interested entities.

The seminar objectives were to help paraglider pilots improve their theoretical and practical knowledge, to introduce amendments of rules and regulations referring to paragliding in Montenegro, and thus, to improve safety of this attractive tourism activity.

Particular focus covered the application of practical knowledge in emergency procedures and assessment of equipment and paraglider, which were presented by paraglider flight instructors Ivica Knežević and Zoran Petrović. They also commended Montenegrin paragliders who tested their knowledge and acquired paraglider pilot licences at the workshop. Furthermore, essential elements to be checked by tourism workers prior the inclusion of paraglider pilots in their tourist arrangements were also presented at the seminar.

“Regular workshops on refreshment and training of paraglider pilots contain tests for conversion of foreign licences into Montenegrin ones, as well as examination for all who meet requirements for paraglider pilot licences. Every person who wishes to deal with paragliding should undergo a training in some training centre in Montenegro, and after getting certificate on successful training completion, the second part of examination should take place where the final phase includes flight assessment, such as this one today at take-off field Brajići”, Zoran Petrović, the paragliding instructor, said.

Zoran Lalović, air transport inspector with the Civil Aviation Agency emphasised the importance of workshops where all paragliding entities are connected. “Today we had an opportunity to observe activities of the Civil Aviation Agency, which continuously works on raising awareness of importance of regular training and safety level. The workshop objective was inclusion of all air traffic participants, so we gathered paragliders, operators of take-off and landing fields and flight control personnel, which proved to be both successful and fundamental. The Agency shall be engaged in similar workshops in the future, and it shall conduct field inspection control, to check compliance with relevant rules. In cases of non-compliance, we shall apply our legal obligations and impose sanctions to anyone who violates rules and law”, Lalović stated.

The seminar is only one of the activities through which the Civil Aviation Agency tries to influence all who are paragliding to conduct it in accordance with legal procedures and to obey all safety standards and procedures.