If
you are planning to visit Australia and do some flying,
there are some things you need to do.
You will need to obtain visitors membership of the
Hang Gliding Federation
of Australia (HGFA).
It is a legal
requirement in Australia that you be a member of the HGFA.
Membership to the HGFA provides the pilot member with 3rd party liability
insurance.
For the insurance to be in effect the pilot must be a current member
of the HGFA
prior to flying in Australia - This applies equally to
visiting pilots, so please
ensure you have organised your HGFA membership
before flying
and preferably before arriving in Australia.
Visiting
Pilot Membership
Visiting pilots
have the option of taking out either a full HGFA membership
or Visiting
Pilot Membership (VPM). The following VPMs are available:
2 months for
$49
4 months for $69
6 months for $89
This form of membership is only renewable once in any 12 month period
from the date of the initial application.
To take out
Visiting Pilot Membership click on the following link
and follow the instructions:
HGFA Office
4a/ 60 Keilor
Park Drive
Keilor Park,
Vic 3042
Australia
Fax: + 61 3
9336 7177
Ph: + 61 3
9336 7155
office@hgfa.asn.au
Please
contact a pilot in the area where you intend to fly.
This person can advise you about local airspace restrictions
and any other local anomalies or protocoles.
Please 
to
let us know
when you're coming and where you wish to fly.
We will
send you contact details of local pilots or Safety Officers.
FAI IPPI
CARDS
Australia recognises and uses the FAI
International Pilot Proficiency Identification (IPPI) system and all
pilots
are encouraged to obtain these Identification Cards prior to travel
to Australia.
You will be asked to provide a copy of your IPPI card
when you request
membership to the HGFA. Once your application for
membership is received
along with your payment of membership fee, you will issued with
an HGFA member card. This card will likely be requested by Clubs,
Competition organisers, Senior Safety and Safety Officers and
Duty
Pilots for any area in which flying activities are undertaken.
RADIO USE
The use of some
Radio Frequencies (VHF for example) which is not
in the UHF (CB Citizen Band) Range is only available for those
appropriately licensed in Australia for its specific use.
The Hand Held 40 channel UHF (CB) in the range (476.425 – 477.400
MHz) is
the predominantly used radio device for free flight in Australia.
