NPC Conduct Codes

Club Code of Conduct

Newcastle Paragliding Club thanks you for your membership contribution. We also welcome your ideas and the giving of your time to club meetings and projects. Your club supports your access to the site, but needs your support in return.
In order to fly our beautiful sites around Newcastle you need to be a member of SAFA (either as a full SAFA member or under the SAFA Visiting overseas pilot license).It is also a requirement of club membership that you agree to observe & abide by the following values:

1. Respect for the site. Hickson Street and surrounds are a precious resource for our sport & our club. Our custodianship of it and ongoing access is never guaranteed and is under regular scrutiny. Please ensure that you access & use it in a manner that enhances our likelihood of keeping OUR resource open. This includes familiarity with site rules – this is your responsibility. The rules are detailed on our website and in various locations around the site. If in doubt it is a requirement that you ask a representative of the club for clarity. Launching/flying/landing only from or within specifically designated areas, in appropriate conditions following approved site procedures.
It is a requirement of our “site licence” that:
All pilots be aware and adhere to the” No Fly Zones” of the site
All Pilots should ensure that they are aware of any airspace restrictions within the scope of their intended flight. The Club does not condone any episode of airspace breach and will not protect any pilot from investigation by the SAFA or CASA should this occur.

2. Respect for other stakeholders. Please respect the rights and differing expectations of other site stakeholders – these include residents, landowners, and members of the public and other site users and/or custodians such as National Parks or Newcastle City Council. Flying is not a right – it’s a privilege and our ability to participate requires quality relationships with other stakeholders whose interest may not necessarily be aligned to ours.

3. Respect for our sport.  Know the rules, know your limitations, participate within them and make safety your primary consideration. Every time you fly the site you are representing your sport & your club. Please help portray an image we can all be proud of. Consider the safety of locals and other visitors. This particularly applies to where large numbers of the public can be found near launch and landing zones i.e Beach areas. Pilots are also asked to keep their language in check at all times.

4. Respect for your club and your fellow members. In a sport like ours we may not always agree but we can control the manner of our disagreement. Please be considerate towards others. Animosity between any member of the club or public will not be tolerated by the club in any instance. This applies to either verbal or electronic formats such as Email, Social Media postings or any other such carriage service. Should it be felt that an issue warrant’s investigation on Pilot Behavior or Safety grounds, the member should direct their concerns in writing to the NPC Committee.
It is a common courtesy to fellow pilots that the following is considered at all times:-
That all setting up of hang gliders or paragliders is done outside of launch areas to maximize the efficient use of this space and to prevent any likelihood of damage occurring to equipment or persons due to a launch issue.
Ground handling of paragliders is to be immediately ceased when other pilots show a genuine intention of launching.
If, whilst you are flying, you can see that other pilots are set up to launch but appear to be waiting; there is a good chance that they are waiting for space to fly. Even though you may feel that there is room for another aircraft, you should remember that we are a community which includes low airtime or tandem operations and that we all deserve the opportunity to fly. Share the air by having several short flights rather than one or two longer ones.
All landing zones are to be vacated as soon as practicable to allow safe flight operation.

5. Respect for our environment. Please don’t litter whether biodegradable or not. This means anywhere in or around our sites including car parks. Whilst we cant always control other site users in this regard, we can lead by example by leaving the site clear of rubbish at the end of a flying day.

6. Media Involvement. Should any incident occur where the media seeks comment or information, all pilots are requested to refrain from making detailed comments on any such incident/ accident which has occurred. Instead the member is to direct any enquiry to the Club President, or Club SSO, or other Committee member for comment. This is to prevent the fueling of speculation, inaccuracies or a negative portrayal of the Club/Sport; and prevent the names of the persons involved being released prior to informing of family/partners etc.

Please be active in upholding these points with other club members and visiting pilots. The future of our site and our sport depends on these efforts and having a consolidated club voice.

Failure to abide by the above ‘Code of Conduct’ above could result in suspension of flying privileges or escalation to the SAFA as deemed necessary at the time by the committee.

Safe and enjoyable flying.

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