Page 60 - Cross Country Travel Guide 2019

PYRAMIDS

OF GIZA

ilots have been trying to gain permission to fly around
and above the Pyramids of Giza for years – and in 2018
Pit finally happened. Emilia Plak worked with Egypt’s
Sky Sports, a local company owned by four pilots, to win all the
permissions needed. The Pyramids are not only an internationally
important archaeological site, they also sit on the very edge
of Cairo, a sprawling city of 20m people. And of course they
see millions of tourists a year. So there are multiple layers of
bureaucracy to negotiate.
Emilia and Sky Sports are organising four dates in 2019 when
pilots will again have the chance to fly the pyramids. Pilots must

be licensed and have a minimum of 100 hours.
Each trip will last four days, and pilots must bring their motor
as luggage as shipping paramotors into Egypt ahead of time is not
possible. Alternatively there are some motors available to rent.
Flying is allowed between 7am-11am; afternoons are usually too
windy. Each group is limited to a maximum of 20 pilots. The price
for this opportunity is $1,000, which includes accommodation,
airport transfer (including a helper at the airport dedicated to
helping you get your machine through customs), equipment

storage and security, and three flying days. Dates for 2019 are 15-
19 Feb, late June, 5-9 September and 5-9 December.
Contact Emilia (emiliaplak@gmail.com) or Hany Shaker
(hanybatshaker@gmail.com) from Sky Sports in Egypt by email
to reserve your slot.
Photo: Jeff Hamann

60 CROSS COUNTRY TRAVEL GUIDE 2019 EGYPT