Nemesis
03-11-2004, 05:10 PM
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,8944267%255E13762,00.html
By Cameron Smith
March 12, 2004
A PARAGLIDER sparked a security scare when he flew into the grounds of a country prison.
Bendigo man Russell Wilson was flying near Castlemaine when he landed inside Loddon Prison on March 2. Fearing a security breach, guards pounced on the 37-year-old.
The incident increased calls for restricted air space to be placed over all Australian prisons.
Aircraft can fly 150m above prisons in the country and 500m over metropolitan jails.
Mr Wilson, who took off from nearby Mt Alexander, said the prison car park was the only place he could land after being caught in thermal wind.
"I got near the prison and I was losing height because it was a bit windy," he said.
"I had to land and had two options - the rifle range where someone was shooting or the prison car park. I think most people would choose the car park."
A spokesman for Police and Emergency Services Minister Andre Haermeyer said the Government had been pushing Canberra for restricted air space over prisons for several years.
Herald Sun
By Cameron Smith
March 12, 2004
A PARAGLIDER sparked a security scare when he flew into the grounds of a country prison.
Bendigo man Russell Wilson was flying near Castlemaine when he landed inside Loddon Prison on March 2. Fearing a security breach, guards pounced on the 37-year-old.
The incident increased calls for restricted air space to be placed over all Australian prisons.
Aircraft can fly 150m above prisons in the country and 500m over metropolitan jails.
Mr Wilson, who took off from nearby Mt Alexander, said the prison car park was the only place he could land after being caught in thermal wind.
"I got near the prison and I was losing height because it was a bit windy," he said.
"I had to land and had two options - the rifle range where someone was shooting or the prison car park. I think most people would choose the car park."
A spokesman for Police and Emergency Services Minister Andre Haermeyer said the Government had been pushing Canberra for restricted air space over prisons for several years.
Herald Sun