Newsletter – February 2026
The Launch | February 2025
Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association of Canada (HPAC)
Happy New Year!
We hope you had a great holiday season, whether you got away on a trip somewhere sunny or kept sneaking in flights at home when the winter weather allowed.
Action Required: Your Input Matters (Deadline Friday)
Last Friday we sent a dedicated message about NAV CANADA’s ADS-B consultation. If you haven’t submitted yet, please do—your individual response matters and directly strengthens HPAC’s input to Transport Canada. (Link to message)
It’s also important to clearly state that a traditional, permanently installed ADS-B transponder is not realistic for hang gliding and paragliding, and that any framework must include a portable, lightweight, and affordable alternative for our aircraft. The survey closes this Friday, so please submit before the deadline.
FAI Sporting License
HPAC/ACVL is pleased to announce that all pilots can apply for an FAI sporting licence at no cost for 2026! If successful, this program will continue on into the future. Competition is an important part of our sport that helps pilots develop their skills and is a great way to showcase our sport to increase our numbers across the country..
Who needs an FAI Sporting License?
FAI Sporting Licences are required for any sanctioned FAI Cat 2 competition, including the 2026 Canadian Paragliding Nationals and 2 paragliding competitions in Chelan, Washington this summer.
The more pilots with their licences, the more points the competition is worth. Higher ranked pilots bring more points with them too. More info on the FAI pilot ranking system is here:
https://fai.org/sites/default/files/civl/documents/sporting_code_s7_e_-_wprs_2025.pdf
Pilots must apply each calendar year for this licence. Applications are still processed by the Aeroclub of Canada which is liaison to the FAI for all airsports in Canada.
Link to the application is here:
https://pq3ivecn4rb.typeform.com/to/EhU0AhCT
Link to FAI Cat2 events
Hang gliding:
Award Nominations for 2026 open now
Do you want to recognize a pilot, volunteer or landowner for their contributions over the past year? We’ve simplified the nomination process – to nominate someone for an HPAC award, please click on the link below to fill out a nomination form:
Nominations will be reviewed and voted on at the Annual Directors Meeting in February, so please make sure you have submitted your nominations by February 28, 2026.
Competition News
Scott Meikle is our new Competition Chair!
Thank you Moon for your help in the interim as Acting Chair and also to Joey Villeneuve for volunteering as Chair for the time before that after JP (Robert) Vandenbegine stepped down after many years in the role.
Volunteers from the east and hang glider pilots are particularly requested. For more information you can email competition@hpac.ca
International Competitions
Canadians are competing at these upcoming events:
Niviuk Coppa ( from January 25th to February 1st ) https://airtribune.com/copa-niviuk-2026-iii-edicion/info
British Open ( from February 10th to 17th) https://airtribune.com/bwo2026/info
Email your links to admin@hpac.ca if you are attending an event and would like to share so our members can follow along and cheer you on!
Upcoming Canadian Competitions:
July 18-25, 2026 – HG Nationals, Golden BC (more info to come!)
July 11, 2026 – 50th Anniversary of Lumby Air Force, Lumby BC
Note from Randy re 50th Anniversary Event:
In case anyone feels like a little 2026 summer flying vacation of interest and fun, The Lumby Airforce flying club, The Freedom Flight Schools and the Freedom Flight Park will be celebrating 50 years of hang gliding flight, flight instruction and free flying in Lumby BC Canada on July 11 2026. All retired free flyers and current free flyers are welcome to come out and join in the fun as a big dinner and hang glider flyers reunion will happen with a live music dance afterwards. The week before July 11th there will also be a closed circuit triangle and distance racing fun contests for hang gliders and paragliders with prizes for best flights (self scored using xcontest). Self contained camping is also available at the flight park for flyers and spouses and the Kelowna International Airport is only 1 hour away. We hope some of you can make it. Free Flight is alive and well in Lumby : ) for more info just contact randy@rauck.ca
50 years of hang gliding flight