INTERNATIONAL PARAMOTOR PILOTS GLIDE DOWN TO UUM
UUM ONLINE: 28 April 2015-11 professional paramotor pilots from Malaysia, Belgium and Holland landed with a smooth touchdown at the stadium in Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) Sports Centre to complete the mission of the 56th Merdeka Paramotor Circuit recently.
The activity manager of the Malaysia Paramotor Pilots, Radio Tan, said that the one-hour flight from Timah Tasoh, Perlis, to UUM was one of their flight missions to explore Malaysia after undertaking a series of flight activities at various places of interest previously.
“Previously, they had flown to several places of interest in Terengganu, Perak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Negeri Sembilan. These areas were chosen to be part of the paramotor flight circuit in conjunction with Malaysi's 56th Independence Day celebration," he said.
Meanwhile, the Director of the UUM Co-curriculum Centre, Dr. Kamarul Faizal Hashim, said that the international paramotor professionals chose UUM as one of the spots for their paramotor activity as it is boasts attractive panoramic views and landscapes, as well as strategic locations for the paramotor pilots to land.
“The pilots plan to enjoy the view of the sugar cane plantation in Chuping, the Timah Tasoh Lake in Perlis, and also the serene equatorial rainforest in the Sintok area," he said.
He added that the visit from the professional paramotor pilots would serve as a bonus activity that could benefit the students of the Paramotor Class at the UUM Co-curriculum Centre in terms of enriching their knowledge and sharing experiences with the professional paramotor pilots.
“We would like to invite all students of the Paramotor Class to witness the touchdown of the paramotor pilots this evening. They could observe the proper landing techniques employed by the professional pilots," he said.
Meanwhile, a participant from Holland, Ben Ubacaas, 59, said that the experience of flying in the Malaysian airspace with the picturesque tropical rainforests and rice fields was an experience he would never forget.
“It's cool and beautiful. Over the past 10 days, I have found the view of many places in Malaysia to be very impressive. The green tropical rainforests and terrain are just amazing and unforgettable," said Ubacaas, who is a first-time visitor to Malaysia.
The UUM Co-curriculum Coordinator, Abdul Hakim Othman Koya, who was asked to comment on the safety aspects of this paramotor activity, said that it was a high-risk sport but that the risk factor could be reduced by following the proper procedures correctly when handling the paramotor.
“All kinds of sport are risky, but if it is learned and practised according to the correct procedures and in stages starting from the basics, undergoing practice and tests, obtaining a licence and a comprehensive insurance coverage, this paramotor activity can be carried-out safely," he said.
He also encouraged the campus community to participate in this sport so that professional paramotor pilots could be raised from among the members of the UUM community.
“Students can join the Co-curriculum Paramotor Class and interested UUM staff can contact the Co-curriculum Centre directly for further information. We are in the midst of searching for talented staff to represent UUM in this sport," he said.
The touchdown of the paramotor pilots was received with a rousing applause from sightseers and visitors who were present at the UUM Sports Centre. They were given the chance to pose questions in a Q&A session with the pilots before being given a photo opportunity with them.
The paramotor pilots' final flight in this circuit would be in the vicinity of the Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur.