HGFA Skysailor Magazine

20 SKY SAILOR November | December 2018 I write this article with mixed feelings. The people of Lombok are still dealing with the aftermath of their disastrous earthquakes and it may seem perhaps insensitive to talk about paragliding there. However, tourism is important to the island and by visiting Lombok. one will contribute to its recovery. I hope this article will encourage you to consider Lombok as a flying destination sometime in the future. When it is cold and wet in Australia, the usual answer is Bali. However, with Bali now increasingly crowded and access to sites such as Candi Dasa becoming problematic, Andrew and Fiona Polidano decided to shift their tours this year to Lombok. Having enjoyed some great Poliglide tours in the past, I leapt at the opportunity to fly in Lombok. Some might think tours are just for low airtime pilots. but as far as I am concerned. I think there is no better way of maximising your flying time within the constraints of a limited holiday period, no matter what your ability and experience. If you are going somewhere unfamiliar, such as Lombok, a tour is especially good value. You get to visit sites you would not even know of, let alone know how to get to. At each site you receive guidance on how to get the most out of it and any hazards to avoid. If you bomb out, no problem, the van will be down to pick you up and have you back on launch again in 40 minutes. With transport all organised, life is simple and, of course, you have the great company of a group of like-minded people. In addition to this, however, there are a few bureaucratic complications to flying in Lombok – which is why going with a tour is very worthwhile and simplifies your life. Airspace is managed by the military, rather than being a civil matter, and a weekly permit must be obtained for every site that you fly. Many sites have significant airspace restrictions that must be observed. The development of paragliding in Lombok, and in the neighbouring island of Sumbawa, is very much due to the extraordinary efforts of local pilot Nanang Wirawan and his colleagues. Over the years they have pioneered well over 30 sites across Lombok and Sumbawa. While many of these sites are somewhat undeveloped and better suited to the adventurous hike and fly enthusiast, a good number are very accessible to the average pilot. One reason why there are so many sites is that the climate in Lombok is significantly drier than in Fly Lombok Lombok offers a relaxed and laid-back alternative to Bali with some great paragliding options across a variety of sites. by Peter Kovesi Flying at Prabu All photos: Peter Kovesi Torok