KARACHI: If you’ve ever watched a mama bird teaching her fledglings how to fly, you’ll understand the feelings of the paragliding enthusiasts and their instructors.

“The rules of paragliding are based on the flight of birds,” explains Mohammad Rashid, a paragliding instructor and co-founder of EMAC, an adventure company that teaches paragliding across the country to whoever is interested and daring enough to do it.

While the winds and weather are favourable in other parts of Pakistan such as Khanpur Lake and Haripur where the activity goes on round the year, here in Karachi it’s suitable only from October to February. “That’s when we come down here from Islamabad for paragliding sessions near Mubarak Village for which we had to acquire special permission, too, every two weeks in a month ,” says Saeed Alam, who founded the adventure company with Rashid back in 2002.

The instructor demonstrating the ‘W’ arms position. Photos: Fahim Siddiqi / White Star

The teachers and students take an early start at around 6am to reach the area. In between they also stop for a hearty breakfast of paratha, fried egg and channa curry to be washed down with hot tea at the Nasir Brohi Hotel at Hawkesbay, which faces the road leading to Mubarak Village. “This is a favourite eating spot for other adventurers, too, such as motorcyclists and scuba divers, who pass by this area,” Saeed adds.

The training begins with a briefing inside the coaster itself while heading to the spot. “Paragliding is different from para-sailing but similar to para-trooping,” explains Rashid, the instructor. “You can glide for even 400km on just wind if you know how to handle your controls that can help you ascend or descend and with your hand and arm movements which can help you manoeuvre your movements once you are airborne,” he adds.

Injuries can happen but are usually nothing more serious than a few scratches or a sprained ankle. Photos: Fahim Siddiqi / White Star

There are just three simple steps to paragliding which are first taught and polished during ground training before taking flight. They include launching the glider, which is bringing it up above your head, knowing what to do once airborne and landing.

Rashid explains how one is to keep the arms in a ‘W’ or neutral position, how to turn in air, how to land, etc. The trainees are also warned about experiencing an adrenaline rush. “For now, please remain within your flight plan even if you think you are doing great and can glide a long distance,” he says.

Harnessed and ready. Photos: Fahim Siddiqi / White Star

Meanwhile, Saeed says there are only two official bodies — British Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (BHPA) and the US Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association — from where one can get a proper licence in order to be able to teach paragliding. Also, he says, the gliders can be bought after proving one’s expertise by showing the licence. “Coming about in the 1980s only, paragliding is a relatively new sport. A glider usually costs between 3,500 and 4,000 Euros as it is handmade. There are also different designs and models available. The ones we are using are almost for beginners, DHV 1 and the like, but as one advances in expertise the gliders become smaller in size,” he says as a few locals climb down from the hills to assist them in carrying and handling the equipment near Mubarak Village.

“We have trained these locals who are all fishermen to help them earn a little extra,” says Saeed as the men after carrying the gliders to the training ground put up windsocks, too. “We constantly monitor the windsocks to know the direction of the wind,” he explains.

On-ground training before actually taking flight. Photos: Fahim Siddiqi / White Star

About danger of injuries, he says people can receive mild scratches during a rough landing but there is hardly any danger of any major injury while paragliding as we are very careful that way. The most extreme could be a sprained ankle, he shrugs. “If we feel that a person is not confident enough to do it and may end up hurting themselves, we don’t allow them to para-glide and give a refund,” he claims.

“More often the gliders get damaged or torn and have to be replaced. Frankly,” he continues, “the gliders have 30 hours of life. When the crispiness of the material goes, it is time to replace your glider anyway.”

Arsalan Ali Bostan, one of the enthusiasts receiving training in paragliding from the EMAC team, says he was suffering from extreme boredom in his office one day when he decided to Google paragliding and was surprised to see it happening in Karachi. “Without even asking them, I booked a session for myself, my brother Irfan and six of my friends,” he says. “Now two of them didn’t turn up as I’m sure they are still sleeping and one is here to support us but wouldn’t take part as he says he is afraid of heights,” he laughs. “Still, we need more such activities in our city,” he says.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2014