There’s been plenty of talk on social media lately about paramotor pilots flying where they shouldn’t, sometimes by accident and sometimes through not knowing the rules. UK air law is a core part of our training at Sky Riders, but it helps to have the key points to hand. This guide covers what you need to make informed, legal and safe decisions every time you fly.
Remember: even though paramotors fly in uncontrolled airspace, we are still aircraft, with responsibilities under the Air Navigation Order.
NOTAMs: check them every time
A NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) is a notice from the aviation authority warning pilots of hazards on a route or at a location that could affect the safety of a flight. Think of them as live updates for the sky. They tell you about:
- temporary airspace restrictions, for example for airshows, military exercises or VIP flights
- new obstacles, such as temporary masts or cranes
- changes to the usual airspace boundaries or procedures.
Ignoring NOTAMs isn’t an option. It can lead to serious incidents and legal trouble, and it reflects badly on the whole paramotoring community. Check the current NOTAMs before every single flight. NOTAM Info is a great place to do it.
Our local skies: Yeovilton and the AIAA
If you fly in the South West, you need to know the local restrictions. We’re close to RNAS Yeovilton, so we share the sky with a lot of military aircraft.
- Yeovilton MATZ: RNAS Yeovilton has a Military Aerodrome Traffic Zone (MATZ), protected airspace around the airfield designed to keep civilian aircraft clear of military operations.
- The AIAA: the Area of Intense Air Activity stretches a long way into Somerset. It’s mostly Class G (uncontrolled) airspace, but the amount of military flying means you need to be extra alert.
What we do at Sky Riders: whenever we train or fly as a group, we file a CANP (Civil Aviation Notification Procedure) or call Yeovilton to let them know. It makes everyone safer and keeps a good relationship with our military neighbours, and we teach our students to do the same.
Conspicuity devices: help others see you
Some useful tools make you more visible to other airspace users:
- SkyEcho: transmits your position by ADS-B, so aircraft with ADS-B receivers and the relevant air traffic control units can see you.
- SafeSky and Gaggle: SafeSky is an app that combines traffic data from several sources, including ADS-B from SkyEcho, FLARM and OGN. It links with Gaggle, so paramotor pilots flying as a group can see each other. It’s a great way to cut the risk of a mid-air collision with other light aircraft.
These devices are excellent for being seen by general aviation and many commercial aircraft, but not every aircraft can see them, especially military ones. Military helicopters may not have compatible ADS-B receivers switched on. That’s why checking NOTAMs, filing CANPs, contacting military air traffic control such as Yeovilton, and knowing your restricted airspace inside out are still essential. Your flight plan and direct communication are often the main way you’re kept apart from other traffic.
Hidden restrictions in “open” airspace
It’s a common myth that you can fly anywhere in open airspace. Even in Class G (uncontrolled) airspace, there are areas where paramotors are banned or heavily restricted:
- Danger Areas (D): defined areas where activities dangerous to aircraft may happen at set times, such as military firing ranges or explosives testing. A prime local example is the Lulworth Ranges, which are often active for live firing. Activation times are published by NOTAM, and for busy ranges like Lulworth you can also find the firing times on GOV.UK (search “Lulworth Ranges firing times”). It’s your responsibility to know when they’re active.
- Restricted Areas (R): areas where flying is only allowed under specific conditions.
- Prohibited Areas (P): areas where flying is banned. They’re rare but critical, for example over some nuclear sites and sensitive government sites.
Fly smart, fly safe, fly legal
Respecting UK air law isn’t just about avoiding fines or prosecution. It protects your life and the lives of others in the air, and it helps keep paramotoring an unlicensed sport. At Sky Riders we give you the knowledge and skills to be a responsible pilot. Plan every flight carefully, check all the information available, and when in doubt, don’t fly.
