USHPA call to action Delaware Water Gap

[Dan T]

In response to the USHPAs "call to action" announcement sent out to its members via email, I posted the following response to the NPS comments site.

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This comment is a request to permit the launching and landing of human occupied unpowered hang gliders and paragliders from within the Delaware Water Gap area being considered for conversion to a National Park.

With a few exceptions the National Parks Service prohibits the operation of manned unpowered aircraft within the boundaries of its administrative authority, including but not limited to National Parks. These prohibitions were written into the Code of Federal Regulations (CFRs) in the 1960s. At that time the only manned unpowered aircraft of significant interest were sailplanes, commonly referred to as "gliders," and hot air balloons. (The Wright brothers and aviation pioneer Otto Lilienthal previously flew unpowered craft that could be described as hang gliders, however I do not believe that they were the intent of the legislation.) Hang gliding as a sport originated in the United States and was effectively born in the 1970s. Paragliding followed about a decade later. Neither of these sports existed at the time the original prohibition against unpowered flight was published. Therefore it could not have been Congress's intent to prohibit these activities when the legislation and CFRs were written.

What was the intent? I believe the intent was to prohibit aviation activities which were inconsistent with the mission and charter of the NPS. I have quoted that mission below

[To conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations. ~NPS Mission]

Hot air balloons are intermittently very noisy. One can hear the gas jets being fired from miles away. Traditional sailplanes must be towed to and from their launch and landing points and require approximately the same amount of space, and therefore disturbance of the natural environment as a small airport. It is not surprising that these activities were prohibited in the 1960s.

Hang gliding and paragliding, in contrast, require no more launch space than is typically employed to provide a parking area at suitable and NPS acceptable trail head. The landing areas require no modification to the existing landscape whatsoever. The pilots of these craft fold them up and carry them out on their backs.

If any form of recreation is a suitable use for a National Park then I believe that the operation of unpowered hang gliders and paragliders is as well. The environmental impact of these activities is far less that which is created by providing access to fishing waters or hiking trails.

I can assure you from first hand experience that their is no view of the spectacular expanses of our great country like the literally birds eye views that the relative handful of us pilots who can fly like birds experience. I feel honored to be one of the one person in 50,000 in the US who is capable of engaging in this activity. I hope that you will not deny us the opportunity to participate in it at Water Gap, and I invite you to come witness it for yourself. You will find it exhilarating, even if you just watch.

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When I previously held the position of Regional Director I made convincing the National Parks Service to eliminate their blanket prohibition on launching and landing HGs and PGs from within the park boundaries my top priority. While I was unsuccessful there are a few exceptions to the general prohibition. Our own Skyline Drive sites are among them. Let's lend a hand to our northern neighbors and see if we can't contribute to doing the same for Delaware Water Gap.

Dan T