A paramotor was photographed flying over Harrington Sound and Hamilton Harbour just before 7am yesterday morning, setting off a search for its pilot.

The airborne vehicle is in effect a motorised paraglider, and the sight of a paramotor flying over Bermuda is rare, if not unique.

Once news of the unusual flying vehicle was out, Tariq Lynch-Wade, Flight Operations Inspector at the The Bermuda Department of Civil Aviation issued the request for the pilot of the vehicle to contact them. He later reported the unnamed man did communicate with the Department. The BDCA is responsible for the rules that regulate civil aviation.

Mr Lynch-Wade had emphasised: “We don’t want to create a stir.”

He said his team at the Department of Aviation had been concerned that the pilot was trained, and was also medically able to operate the unit. The pilot was able to confirm that he was trained and capable of piloting the craft.

“It is best practices that we are concerned about,” said the Flight Operations Inspector.

Mr Lynch-Wade explained that regulations governing these vehicles are pending. “We are internally discussing local legislation,” he said. “We will be releasing guidance in accordance with those best practices shortly.

“We will work quickly, but pragmatically (on them),” he said.