On a clear day when the winds are just right, the skies along the 4.5-mile stretch of coastline at the Torrey Pines Gliderport fill with one of the most diverse groups of aviation sport enthusiasts in the state. When two paragliders collided mid-air Aug. 8, seriously injuring one of the gliders, questions arose about the safety risks of hang gliding, paragliding and other affiliated sports. Bruce Elder, attorney for the Gliderport and a certified tandem instructor pilot for paragliders, witnessed the accident. “One paraglider tangled his wing with the feet of another paraglider and lost control of the wing,” he said. “As a consequence, he fell against the cliff edge. Fortunately, he’s going to be all right.” While Elder called the accident “unfortunate,” he added that such incidents are extremely rare. “I’ve been flying at the Gliderport for 10 years, and I’ve never seen two gliders collide like that,” he said. “Collisions are extremely rare, but when there is an accident, we take it very seriously.” Lifeguard Chief Rick Wurts said that lifeguards keep statistics on cliff rescues but do not track which ones pertain specifically to gliders. “We do get a number of cliff rescues each year, but the vast majority are from people trying to hike up or down the cliffs,” Wurts said. “Occasionally, there’s an incident of a hang glider colliding with the cliff, but it’s certainly not a large percentage of the overall number of cliff rescues we do.” Elder said most gliding accidents do not occur due to faulty equipment or unstable conditions, especially at Torrey Pines. “The conditions at Torrey Pines are very benign and safe relative to most flying sites around the world,” he said. “There’s typically a very smooth airflow coming off the ocean, rather than turbulent air that often comes in mountainous areas.” Instead, most accidents occur when riders are distracted, he said. “Pilots need to take extra care to be very alert,” he said. “Accidents almost always result from a momentary lapse in judgment or attention, very much like running into a curb or getting into a fender bender while driving because you’re not looking.” Four types of gliders — hang gliders, paragliders, radio-controlled models and full-size sailplanes — frequent the Gliderport, and each requires a unique level of training and certification. “No one can fly at that site without having training and without being certified,” he said. Paragliders and hang gliders must be certified through a training program approved by the U.S. Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (USHPA), a nonprofit organization that defines training levels and instruction standards and issues certifications. Elder said many people confuse the two types of gliders. Hang gliders have triangular-shaped wings and the pilot lays flat, while paragliders travel at slower speeds. “Hang gliders are required to have a higher level of certification than paragliders because of the aircraft and conditions,” Elder said. The programs involve a combination of classroom instruction, ground training, tandem flying with an instructor and solo flight with observation and radio communication from an instructor on the ground. “The pilot has to prove proficiency to advance through the program,” Elder said. “It’s a very individualized process.” For those who want to experience gliding without going through the training process, the Gliderport offers tandem flights with instructors. As many as 20 to 30 gliders may fill the sky on a good day, Elder said. While no official limits to the number of gliders exist, a flight director at the Gliderport regulates operations to maintain safety standards. “He oversees all the activity and makes sure everyone stays coordinated,” Elder said. Elder, who has been paragliding for nine years locally and in sites throughout Central America, Europe, and the Himalayas in Nepal, said the Torrey Pines Gliderport has an allure that distinguishes it from the rest. “The Gliderport is really special,” he said. “The gorgeous scenery and predictable weather make great flying conditions.” Founded in 1930, the Gliderport has a rich past that appeals to gliding aficionados. “It has a lot of history that makes it really special for pilots who are into the sport,” Elder said. The Gliderport is the last remaining site on the West Coast where visitors can see full-size sail planes. “To see full size sail planes, particularly in a city setting, is quite unique,” Elder said. The minor risks associated with aviation sports, he said, can be easily mitigated with caution and good judgment. “There’s a famous saying that aviation is notoriously unforgiving of carelessness,” he said. “But flying at the Gliderport is fantastically beautiful. I encourage everybody to come out and try it. Just bring your brain with you.” To learn more about the Torrey Pines Gliderport, tandem flights and certification processes, visit www.flytorrey.com or call (858) 452-9858.