The SAHPA Risk Universe is a structured catalogue of risks relevant to hang gliding, paragliding, and associated activities conducted under SAHPA recognition. It identifies foreseeable operational, safety, environmental, legal, and governance risks across pilots, instructors, sites, clubs, events, and organisational activities.
The Risk Universe does not prescribe how activities must be conducted, nor does it replace pilot judgement or operational rules. Its purpose is to support informed decision-making, proportional oversight, and continuous safety improvement by providing a common, documented understanding of the risk landscape within which SAHPA operates.
The Risk Universe is used internally to inform policy development, oversight priorities, and risk mitigation measures, and to demonstrate a reasoned, systematic approach to risk management consistent with SAHPA’s regulatory role.
Risk 1: Pilot conduct and decision-making risk
Recreational hang gliding and paragliding inherently rely on individual pilot judgement, situational awareness, and decision-making under variable and sometimes rapidly changing conditions. Pilot conduct risk arises where decisions relating to weather assessment, launch timing, landing selection, airspace awareness, proximity to terrain or obstacles, or interaction with other airspace users may create elevated safety exposure.
This risk is influenced by factors including experience level, currency, confidence, fatigue, peer pressure, competitive dynamics, and informal site culture. It may also be affected by misunderstanding or selective interpretation of rules, guidance, or customary practice at particular sites or events.
Pilot conduct risk exists independently of formal instruction or site management structures and may manifest both within and outside organised activities. While SAHPA provides governance, oversight, and disciplinary frameworks, pilots ultimately retain autonomy over in-flight decisions, making this risk intrinsic to the activity.
This risk category does not imply negligence or misconduct. It reflects the reality that recreational aviation requires continuous judgement under uncertainty, and that errors of assessment can occur even in the absence of rule breaches.
Risk 2: Site Access and Landowner Permission Risk
Hang gliding and paragliding activities frequently take place on land not owned or controlled by SAHPA, including private property, communal land, conservation areas, and municipal land. Site access risk arises where permission to access, launch from, land on, or traverse land is unclear, informal, conditional, or subject to change.
This risk includes misunderstandings regarding the scope, duration, or conditions of landowner consent; unauthorised access by pilots or third parties; changes in land use or ownership; and failure to recognise landowner rights to restrict or withdraw permission.
Site access risk is distinct from aviation safety risk and may arise even where flying itself is conducted competently. Consequences may include legal disputes, loss of site access, reputational damage, or exposure to liability claims.
This risk category recognises that landowner tolerance is not guaranteed and that continued access depends on respectful, lawful, and disciplined use of land.
RISK 3: Site Environmental and Terrain Risk
Flying sites are often located in complex natural environments characterised by variable terrain, vegetation, wildlife presence, erosion, and micro-meteorological effects. Environmental and terrain risk arises from the interaction between pilots, equipment, and the physical characteristics of the site.
This includes risks associated with launch and landing areas, access paths, cliffs, trees, power lines, fences, livestock, wildlife, and changing surface conditions due to weather, fire, or seasonal factors.
Environmental sensitivity may also introduce constraints unrelated to aviation safety, such as conservation requirements, protected species, or land rehabilitation concerns.
This risk category recognises that natural environments are dynamic and cannot be fully controlled, and that site conditions may change independently of governance structures or pilot intentions.
Risk 4: Meteorological and Atmospheric Risk
Hang gliding and paragliding are highly sensitive to weather and atmospheric conditions, including wind strength and direction, thermal activity, turbulence, cloud development, and visibility. Meteorological risk arises from imperfect forecasting, localised effects, and rapid changes that may not be fully observable prior to launch.
This risk includes misinterpretation of forecasts, over-reliance on technology, incomplete understanding of local weather patterns, and the inherent unpredictability of atmospheric behaviour in mountainous or coastal regions.
Weather-related risk exists even where pilots act in good faith and with reasonable preparation. It is intrinsic to free-flight aviation and cannot be eliminated through governance alone.
Risk 5: Airspace and Regulatory Compliance Risk
Recreational aviation operates within a regulated airspace environment governed by national aviation law and civil aviation regulations. Airspace risk arises where pilots may inadvertently or deliberately operate in controlled, restricted, prohibited, or otherwise sensitive airspace without appropriate authorisation or awareness.
This risk may be influenced by inadequate situational awareness, outdated information, equipment limitations, or misunderstandings regarding applicable rules.
Airspace compliance risk carries implications beyond individual safety, including interaction with manned aviation, regulatory enforcement, and reputational consequences for the broader recreational aviation community.
Risk 6: Equipment and Technical Risk
Hang gliders, paragliders, harnesses, reserve parachutes, helmets, radios, and associated equipment are subject to wear, damage, improper configuration, and maintenance variability. Equipment risk arises where failure, degradation, or misuse may compromise safety or performance.
This includes manufacturing defects, age-related deterioration, incorrect assembly, incompatible components, or inadequate inspection.
While equipment standards and training reduce exposure, technical risk cannot be entirely eliminated and may manifest unexpectedly.
Risk 7: Training, Instruction, and Competence Risk
Recreational aviation relies on structured training pathways and instructor judgement to develop pilot competence. Training risk arises where gaps exist between formal qualification, actual skill level, and operational context.
This includes risks associated with transitioning to new sites, conditions, or equipment; skill fade due to lack of currency; and mismatches between training environments and real-world complexity.
This category recognises that qualification does not equate to immunity from error and that learning continues beyond formal instruction.
Risk 8: Events, Competitions and Organisational Activity Risk
Organised activities such as competitions, fly-ins, training camps, and club events introduce additional layers of complexity, including increased traffic density, time pressure, spectator presence, and logistical coordination.
Event-related risk arises from the interaction of multiple participants, varied experience levels, temporary site arrangements, and public interface.
This risk category exists even where events are well-planned and competently managed, reflecting the inherent complexity of group aviation activity.
Risk 9: Third-Party and Public Interaction Risk
Recreational flying may intersect with members of the public, landowners, hikers, tourists, emergency services, and other airspace users. Third-party risk arises where activities impact or are perceived to impact persons not directly involved in the sport.
This includes injury risk, nuisance complaints, misunderstanding of activities, and reputational harm arising from public perception.
This risk category recognises that public tolerance and trust are essential to the continued viability of recreational aviation.
Risk 10: Environmental Protection and Conservation Risk
Many flying sites are located within or adjacent to environmentally sensitive areas. Environmental risk arises where activities may conflict with conservation objectives, protected area regulations, or environmental legislation.
This includes disturbance of wildlife, damage to vegetation, erosion, or non-compliance with environmental restrictions.
Environmental risk is distinct from safety risk and may arise even where aviation operations are otherwise conducted responsibly.
Risk 11: Discipline, Enforcement, and Governance Risk
SAHPA exercises governance and disciplinary authority within defined limits. Governance risk arises where expectations of enforcement, consistency, or authority exceed legal mandate, or where decisions are perceived as arbitrary or unfair.
This includes risks associated with complaints handling, disciplinary action, delegation of authority, and interaction with external regulators.
This category recognises that governance itself carries risk and must operate within principles of lawfulness, reasonableness, and procedural fairness.
Risk 12: Reputational and Organisational Continuity Risk
SAHPA’s ability to function as a approved Aviation recreation Organisation depends on credibility, trust, and regulatory confidence. Reputational risk arises where incidents, disputes, or public narratives undermine confidence in the organisation or the sport.
This includes media exposure, regulatory scrutiny, and erosion of relationships with landowners, authorities, or insurers.
Reputational risk may arise from isolated events but have systemic consequences.