No longer up in the air: Gliders demand reopening of flying club

Local pilot inspired by the 1978 James Bond film built the first glider aircraft the same year at a cost of Rs25,000.

PESHAWAR:

Local pilot Qazi Tufail Ahmad has demanded that the provincial government reopen their flying club.

He claimed that despite clearance from the ISI and the deputy coordination officer, the flying club was shut down.

“The Ababeel Ultra Light Sports Flying Club is for sports enthusiasts, but Governor Masood Kausar closed it down without any reason,” Tufail lamented.

The pilot said that he and his older brother, Qazi Sajjad Ahmad, introduced gliding in Pakistan. “My brother was inspired by the 1978 James Bond film and built the first glider aircraft in the same year at a cost of Rs25,000.”

Tufail informed The Express Tribune that the Rs20 million club was inaugurated by former Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani under the aegis of University of Peshawar at the Azakhel Botanical Garden in Nowshera District on June 15, 2010.

Criticising the government, he said, “We are license holders and our gliders are registered.

In spite of this, the government has closed down our flying club and the land is now being used to grow maize.”

The pilot demanded that the government take serious note of the matter and reopen the flying club.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd, 2011.