Glider pushes park in the sky

American billionaire adventurer Steve Fossett takes in views of the Southern Alps and Mt Cook from his sailplane in preparation for his attempt on the world altitude record from Omarama airfield in 2002.

The heavens above Omarama could become the world's first "national park in the sky".

It could cover the upper Waitaki and Mackenzie Basins, reaching 20,000 feet into the sky.

The proposal comes from the director of the New Zealand gliding grand prix, Peter Newport, and builds on Omarama's reputation as an international mecca for gliding.

On Thursday, he will meet with Cabinet ministers in Wellington to introduce the proposal.

But Mr Newport sees the national park as being bigger than just gliding - with local airfields becoming the base for up to 15 official aviation sports.

These include gliding, parachuting, hang gliding, aerobatics, hot air balloons, astronautics and model aircraft.

He wants to see New Zealand, and the region, position itself, with the support of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) - as the global centre for the development of those aerial sports.

"No country has yet managed to provide the facilities which these air sports need to grow and develop," he said.

The area around Omarama could provide those facilities - uncluttered airspace (which is disappearing in the Northern Hemisphere), technology (for mass-media coverage), event management (for spectator marketing and infrastructure) and training and education (essential for new members).

Existing users of the air space would not be disadvantaged by the proposal.

The national park in the sky would protect in perpetuity air space for recreational and sports use, but provide an access corridor for general and commercial aviation.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES