Circular No. 06/2018/TT-BVHTTDL stipulates on material facilities, equipment, and training of specialized staff for Paragliding and Kite Flying.

CIRCULAR

Article 24REGULATING MATERIAL INFRASTRUCTURE, EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING OF PROFESSIONAL STAFF FOR THE SPORTS OF PARAGLIDING AND KITE FLYING

 PROFESSIONAL STAFF FOR THE SPORTS OF PARAGLIDING AND KITE FLYING

Pursuant to the Law on Physical Culture and Sports dated November 29, 2006;

Pursuant to Decree No. 106/2016/NĐ-CP dated July 1, 2016 of the Government stipulating conditions for operating sports activities;

Pursuant to Decree No. 36/2008/NĐ-CP dated March 28, 2008 of the Government on unmanned aircraft and ultra-light aircraft management; Decree No. 79/2011/NĐ-CP dated September 5, 2011 of the Government amending and supplementing certain articles of Decree No. 36/2008/NĐ-CP dated March 28, 2008 of the Government on unmanned aircraft and ultra-light aircraft management; and Decree No. 58/2010/NĐ-CP dated June 1, 2010 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Civil Defense;

Pursuant to Government Decree No. 79/2017/NĐ-CP dated July 17, 2017, on functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism;

At the proposal of the Director-General of the General Department of Physical Training and Sport;

The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism issues this Circular regulating material infrastructure, equipment and training of professional staff for the sports of Paragliding and Kite Flying.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

Article 1. This Circular regulates material infrastructure, equipment and training of professional staff meeting the requirements for practicing, competing and performing the sports of Paragliding and Kite Flying.

Article 2. The standards for material infrastructure and equipment for high-performance sports training and competition in Paragliding and Kite Flying shall be implemented in accordance with Article 43 of the Law on Physical Culture and Sports.

Article 2. Applicability

This Circular applies to organizations and individuals organizing training, competition, performance and training of professional staff for the sports of Paragliding and Kite Flying in Vietnam.

Article 3. Explanation of Terms

In this Circular, the following terms shall be understood as follows:

1. Paragliding Kite Flying and Paragliding are aviation sports with human control. Paragliding includes two types as follows:

a) Unpowered Paragliding (Paragliding): The pilot sits in a harness suspended under the wing-shaped canopy, controls flight with two steering lines, and takes off by running.

b) Powered Paragliding (Paramotor): The pilot wears a motor on their back that provides enough thrust for takeoff and flight using the paraglider wing.

2. Kite flying Kite Flying is an aviation sport with human control, using triangular kites with rigid frame structures to fly. Kite Flying includes two types as follows:

a) Unpowered Kite Flying (Hang Gliding): Can be folded for carrying, takes off by running and lands on foot. During flight, the pilot uses body weight shifting to control the kite.

b) Powered Kite Flying (Microlight): Equipped with wheels or floats to take off and land like an airplane on land or water. The engine providing thrust during takeoff, landing, and flight is attached to the kite's frame structure.

Article 4. Training, Competition and Performance Infrastructure

Clause 1. There must be a starting area and a landing area meeting the following requirements:

Point a) The height difference between the higher starting area and the landing area must be at least 70 meters.

Point b) Size of the starting area

- For Paragliding, it must be at least 15 meters wide and 10 meters long.

- For Kite Flying, it must be at least 10 meters wide and 10 meters long.

Point c) Size of the landing area

- For Paragliding, it must be at least 30 meters wide and 30 meters long.

- For Kite Flying, it must be at least 15 meters wide and 60 meters long.

Clause 2. Suitable wind conditions for takeoff

Point a) For low-level paragliders (EN A, EN B level) up to 5.5 m/s.

Point b) For high-level paragliders and competition paragliders from 0 to 8.8 m/s.

Point c) For unpowered kite flying from 6.6 to 8.8 m/s.

Point d) For powered kite flying from 0 to 8.8 m/s.

Clause 3. Regulations and guidance boards placed in easily visible locations in the starting and landing areas for the following contents:

Point a) Regulations board specifying: Practice hours, eligible participants for practice, competition, and performance; ineligible participants for practice, competition, and performance; practice, competition, and performance attire; safety measures during practice and competition, and other regulations.

Point b) Guidance board specifying: Flight area map, flight area limits, flight area regulations, contact phone number of the responsible flight manager, radio frequency, and communication methods when necessary.

Clause 4. Safety Plan, Search and Rescue Plan

Point a) The plan clearly outlines safety measures, search and rescue procedures within the operational flight area under the management responsibility of the facility and must be regularly checked and updated with flight plans.

Point b) Participants in Paragliding and Kite Flying activities must be informed and guided on the flight plan to understand communication methods and the sequence of search and rescue steps.

Article 5. Training, competition, and performance equipment

1. Main parachutes, reserve parachutes (for Paragliding), kites, reserve kites (for Kite Flying), seat belts, safety harness systems, walkie-talkies, helmets, shoes, altitude measuring devices, and global positioning systems.

2. There must be communication means ensuring smooth communication from the control department to airspace management, paragliding and kite flying activity areas within the scope of responsibility of sports facilities and competent authorities.

3. The form of Paragliding and Kite Flying must comply with local customs, traditions, and cultural heritage.

Article 6. Frequency of Flights and Instruction Density

1. The minimum time interval between takeoffs for each flight is 90 seconds.

2. Instruction density during training

a) Each instructor must ensure:

- Not more than five people are instructed in one hour;

- Accompanying flights not exceeding one person per flight.

b) A trainee may not exceed two flights per training session.

1. The General Department of Physical Culture and Sports, national-level social-professional organizations for Paragliding and Kite Flying, or provincial Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism, provincial Departments of Culture and Sports under central cities shall organize specialized training for instructors, rescue personnel in Paragliding and Kite Flying.

2. The General Department of Physical Culture and Sports is responsible for developing the content, program, and duration of specialized training for instructors and rescue personnel in Paragliding and Kite Flying, to be decided by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

3. Certificates of specialized training for instructors and rescue personnel in Paragliding and Kite Flying shall be issued by the organizing body. The certificate formats are specified in Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 accompanying this Circular.

Article 8. Implementation organization

1. The General Department of Physical Education and Sports shall be responsible for guiding and inspecting the implementation of this Circular.

2. Cultural, Sports and Tourism inspection agencies shall conduct inspections and handle violations according to their authority when organizations and individuals organize training, competitions, and performances of Paragliding and Kite Flying that contravene the provisions of this Circular.

3. Provincial Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Provincial Departments of Culture and Sports under the central government shall be responsible for implementing this Circular.

Article 9. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from April 15, 2018.

2. Circular No. 19/2011/TT-BVHTTDL dated December 5, 2011, of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the conditions for operating sports facilities conducting motorized paragliding and kite flying activities ceases to be effective from the date this Circular takes effect.

During implementation, if any issues arise, organizations and individuals are advised to report them to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for study and resolution./.