Para-troopers to train Phuket parasailing operators

 

Phuket — Paratroopers will be invited to train parasailing operators in an effort to step up safety measures after an Australian tourist plunged to his death while flying on a parasailing chute into the sea at Kata Beach on July 12.

 

Governor Norapat Plodthong called a meeting of agencies and officials concerned on Friday in the wake of the incident that killed Roger John Hussey, 71.

 

It was agreed at the meeting that paratroopers will be invited to train all 52 operators of parasailing services in the island province.  The operators will be advised to set up a club or group in the form of a community enterprise so that they can be properly regulated regarding the launches of parasailing chutes, safety measures and deployments of lifeguards to ensure maximum security.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/para-troopers-train-phuket-parasailing-operators/

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2017-07-16

Only in Thailand .. sigh sigh.  What about some sort of license to operate ... insurance that I doubt any company will offer at a price acceptable to the beach guys.

Set up a club? Like the tuktuk club patong? Interesting to see who will be the president of this new club and what are the fees .........?

Jeez- you can't make this stuff up!

 

Instead of banning it we'll encourage it- pathetic.

I used to know a Thai "parasailing operator" who was an ex-paratrooper, more correctly an instructor. From what I gathered, he wasn't the only one. Seemed to know his stuff. How much of this was applied in his civilian life, I have no idea. It was off season and weather conditions were bad, so didn't try.

 

Seems doubtful this move will accompanied by a halt on parasailing activities while instruction is going on. And sounds like it applies to Phuket operators only. Sounds like another PR campaign more than addressing issues.

 

On another note, if authorities support this move is puts the operators arrested at a disadvantage with regard to accusations, kinda shoots down their claims that it wasn't a safety issue.

42 minutes ago, Psimbo said:

Jeez- you can't make this stuff up!

 

Instead of banning it we'll encourage it- pathetic.

 

Banning it is just another routine cop out.

"paratroopers will be INVITED to train parasailing operators" means absolutely nothing just another smoke and mirrors issue so as not to affect the income being made at the expense of gullible tourists

What ever happened to the people who caused the deaths of those student military? Sub standard equipment, if I remember right?

One would hope that military paratroopers would have some inkling of proficiency....which is most likely a whole lot better than what has been available......but of course, there's the ever present pay-offs to gain  the unknown standard....

The next stage would be an international proficiency test.......lets hope that things improve for the better.

1 hour ago, clockman said:

What ever happened to the people who caused the deaths of those student military? Sub standard equipment, if I remember right?

 

If I remember correctly, those were police cadets. Not sure their training had something to do with the army.

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

It was agreed at the meeting that paratroopers will be invited to train all 52 operators of parasailing services in the island province.  The operators will be advised to set up a club or group in the form of a community enterprise so that they can be properly regulated regarding the launches of parasailing chutes, safety measures and deployments of lifeguards to ensure maximum security.

Maximum security, does he mean: Maximum safety ?

 

So are they going to stop them going up until they are, completely regulated, qualified, insured.

 

Will they stop them taking off from the beaches and landing on the beaches, ooops sorry, forgot where I was again.

 

Stay tuned, until the next unfortunate death, which of course will be the farangs fault again, no doubt !

Shame on them and an insult to Mr Hussey's family. RIP sir.

Another transparent publicity stunt to make it look as if something is being done to improve safety for tourists with the real emphasis being on keeping the tourist dollars rolling in and protecting the income of the people who receive income from bribes from parasailing and, bungy jumping, jet ski scams and other dangerous tourist activites without having to  increase the scamsters' qualifications or cost.

 

Since Thailand has neither the ability nor the will to operate these activities safely, the best way to protect the tourist dollars would actually be to ban all of these activities completely.  Getting rid of the noise and menace of jet skis would also be a huge benefit to the vast majority of foreign tourists who only want to lie on the beach and soak up the cancer inducing rays.          

16 hours ago, petermik said:

"paratroopers will be INVITED to train parasailing operators" means absolutely nothing just another smoke and mirrors issue so as not to affect the income being made at the expense of gullible tourists

Will that ne the BIB paratroopers??

15 minutes ago, Dogmatix said:

Another transparent publicity stunt to make it look as if something is being done to improve safety for tourists with the real emphasis being on keeping the tourist dollars rolling in and protecting the income of the people who receive income from bribes from parasailing and, bungy jumping, jet ski scams and other dangerous tourist activites without having to  increase the scamsters' qualifications or cost.

 

Since Thailand has neither the ability nor the will to operate these activities safely, the best way to protect the tourist dollars would actually be to ban all of these activities completely.  Getting rid of the noise and menace of jet skis would also be a huge benefit to the vast majority of foreign tourists who only want to lie on the beach and soak up the cancer inducing rays.          

Absolutely correct on all points!

 

The only problem is that banning these unsafe operations would have a negative impact on the wallets of  individuals with offices in the tessabaan and police station as well as their masters, and we can't have that, can we?

 

One of the fundamental problems that Phuket faces is that decision-makers can't seem to look past their own interests when it comes to matters concerning public safety and ensuring the long-term viability of a profitable tourism industry for all stakeholders.

Parasail Training Completion certificates on sale now on Khao San road!

19 hours ago, LivinginKata said:

Only in Thailand .. sigh sigh.  What about some sort of license to operate ... insurance that I doubt any company will offer at a price acceptable to the beach guys.

Certainly NOT only in Thailand.

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tanyamohn/2014/07/20/parasailing-lack-of-regulation-inadequate-training-and-faulty-equipment-cause-serious-accidents-a-new-report-finds/#5ac2fb1175b3

 

 

thats these guys training them then ?       what a joke .  

There are international associations like the APPI and the WSIA that can help with instruction and licensing of these operations like PADI and BSAC do for diving. 

 

Why don't the authorities make these compulsory, as most countries have done with PADI? This would protect the operators and their customers without diverting paratroopers from their important job of ..........???