criminal-law england-and-wales is-x-legal
Is it illegal to parachute from a paraglider in the UK?
<p>Question 1: Is it illegal to parachute from a paraglider in the UK?</p>
<p>The jumper and pilot would know and understand what they are doing. Jump would (ideally) take place over an unpopulated body of water. There would be a briefed person on the ground to react in case of an accident. Equipment would involve BASE parachute and an unpowered tandem paraglider.</p>
<p>I am aware that 'normally' skydiving takes place in designated areas, with all manner of controls and regulations. This activity would take place outside of these controls, regulations, British Parachute Association etc.</p>
<p>Question 2: If this is illegal, is there a way that it could be made legal - as a 'stunt' or similar...?</p>

<p><strong>Is it <em>illegal</em> to parachute from a paraglider in the UK? ... This activity would take place outside of ... regulations...</strong></p>
<p><strong>YES</strong></p>
<p>See <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/765/article/90?timeline=false" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Article 90(1)</a> of the Air Navigation Order 2016:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Subject to paragraphs (9), (10) and (11), a person must not drop, be dropped or be permitted to drop to the surface or jump from an aircraft flying over the United Kingdom except under and in accordance with the terms of either a police air operator's certificate or a parachuting permission granted by the CAA under this article.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The penalty, found via Schedule 13, is at <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/765/article/265?timeline=false" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Article 265(6)</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Any person who contravenes any provision specified in Part 2 of Schedule 13 is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>&quot;Aircraft&quot; is not expressly defined within the Order or in its parent - the Civil Aviation Act 1982 - but an unpowered paraglider is (in my opinion) insinuated by <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/765/article/3?timeline=false" rel="nofollow noreferrer">paragraph 3(b)</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>An aircraft is deemed to be in flight —</p>
<p>...</p>
<p>(b) in the case of a pilotless flying machine, <strong>or a glider</strong>, from the moment when it first moves for the purpose of taking off, until the moment when it next comes to rest after landing ...</p>
</blockquote>
<p>But it would ultimately be a decision for the court to make whether it is an aircraft or not.</p>
