The Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association of Canada says it has taken the measure pending the outcome of its own investigation into the case, which has raised questions about safety in the sport.
“Caution is important. We’re dealing here with members of the public and members of our own sport. We need err always on the side of caution until we have the conclusion of the investigation that’s about to start,” Margit Nance, executive director for the association, said in an interview Wednesday.
The association has named Martin Henry, a hang-gliding pilot with more than 30 years experience and former association president, to investigate the accident.
Ms. Nance said her organization is also co-operating with investigations by the police and coroners’ office.
Jon Orders, a veteran pilot, has been in the custody of RCMP in Chilliwack along with his equipment since Saturday’s incident in Agassiz, about 120 kilometres east of Vancouver.
Mr. Orders is facing a charge of obstruction of justice over allegations he swallowed a video card in a camera that recorded the flight. He had a court appearance Wednesday.
Lenami Godinez of Vancouver fell to her death after taking off on a tandem flight with Mr. Orders from Mt. Woodside in Agassiz. The 27-year-old somehow came loose from her harness and fell almost 300 metres to her death.
Ms. Nance said the association, which has about 900 members – 330 of them in B.C. – is in shock over the incident.
“This has never happened before in Canada,” she said. “It can’t happen again.”
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