Sikkim trains 22 youths as paragliding pilots, plans Rhenock hub

The Sikkim government has trained 22 young people in basic paragliding as part of a plan to turn the Rhenock area of east Sikkim into a paragliding destination and create local jobs in adventure tourism, Northeast Live reported on Saturday.

The course

The P1-P2 basic paragliding pilot course was held at Kaharey in Mulukey, in the Rhenock Assembly constituency. It was led by Arjun Rai, described as Sikkim's first commercial paragliding pilot.

The training was organised under RAMP (Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance), a programme of the Union Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises that funds states to strengthen small businesses. Certificates were handed to all 22 trainees at a closing ceremony at Rorathang on Saturday.

P1 and P2 are the entry-level stages of paragliding pilot training. They cover ground handling, take-off and landing and short supervised flights; pilots need further training and logged flying hours before they can fly tandem passengers commercially.

Rs 8 crore for a Rhenock hub

According to the report, the state government has sanctioned Rs 8 crore in its latest budget to develop Rhenock as a paragliding hub. Under the plan, Rorathang will serve as the landing point and two locations will be developed as take-off sites. Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, who represents the Rhenock constituency, has backed the project.

Commercial paragliding for tourists had been available near Gangtok, but the service is currently suspended because of technical issues, the report said.

Why adventure tourism

Tourism is one of Sikkim's biggest sources of income and jobs, and the state has been trying to spread visitors beyond Gangtok, North Sikkim and the Nathu La circuit. Adventure activities such as paragliding, rafting on the Teesta and Rangit, and trekking are seen as a way to bring visitors to smaller towns and villages and to keep spending local.

Rhenock lies on the route towards the old Silk Route villages of east Sikkim, such as Zuluk, which already draw tourists. A working paragliding site there could add another reason for visitors to stop in the area.

The government has not yet said when the Rhenock take-off sites will be ready or when commercial flights could begin. Any commercial operation will need safety certification and trained tandem pilots.