Losing millions through aerial sports potential

CYPRUS IS potentially losing millions of euros because of its inability to host air sports, such as parachuting and hang gliding, the House Communications Committee heard yesterday.
Even though an area has been designated in Tseri to create a small airport for aircraft to land, legal hitches have prevented it from operating. This means anyone interested in aerial sports and activities – such as paragliding, hot air ballooning or aerobatics – needs to use the main airports in Larnaca and Paphos at increased costs, which discourages fans from visiting.
“We have received a number of complaints over the lack of a small airport to facilitate small aircraft,” said Committee Chairman DIKO’s Zacharias Koulias. “The state approved a 500 to 600 acre land in Tseri with a two kilometre landing strip a few years ago, but because of various legal disagreements, this project wasn’t completed.”
He said the bulk of the money had already been spent.
“We hope the Communications Ministry deals with this matter as soon as possible; not just to satisfy those who are interested in aerial activities but also to bring in significant cash flow.”
Koulias explained that the duties paid at the two main airports were so high, people who want to come to Cyprus change their minds and go elsewhere. “This could be losing us millions,” he pointed out.
There is a businessman in Cyprus who builds small aircraft, yet has to go abroad to have his creations approved as the state doesn’t even have the legal framework to support him.
“It is important that our compatriot constructs these planes and sells them abroad,” said Koulias. “We need to support him and help him project his work; not financially, he handled that aspect by himself.” 
The President of the Cyprus Air Sports Federation, Demetrakis Hadjidemetriou, said reinforcing air sports at times of financial crisis would be greatly beneficial to the state.
“We hope the problems can be surpassed so the airport can be created as soon as possible,” said Hadjidemetriou.
In the current airports, he added, parking fees are such that avert pilots from landing. “For example, in Greece it costs just €2.50 to land, while in Cyprus it could cost anything from €300 up to €500, depending on who is doing the handling,” said Hadjidemetriou.
The federation’s member Georgios Koumi agreed. “Cyprus is a little unwelcoming; we don’t have the luxury for this,” he said. “There is a large number of people from the Middle East and Europe that want to come here but don’t. We have the sun, which is free, yet we don’t take advantage of it.”
Air sports, Koumi added, is under development everywhere in the world except Cyprus. “We can’t organise events or host tournaments. This is a healthy sport, with no relation to hooliganisms and violence; it cultivates self respect, which is a presupposition for respecting others.”

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