VOICED : Aerial sports take flight in landlocked Laos

Aerial sports in Laos are gaining popularity, with only 20 recreational pilots initially. Mark Nathan shares his childhood dream of flying, inspired by living near an airport. Seth A. Franco Lawson, a trained flight instructor, returned to Laos to establish the country's first Aero Club, overcoming challenges to gain necessary permissions. While airplanes are mostly for expats and wealthy citizens, paragliding is becoming popular, with Laos forming a national team. Despite limited national support, the passion for flying transcends borders, as seen in competitions held in Thailand.

What is the current status of recreational pilots in Laos?

• There are hundreds of pilots.

• There are only around 20 pilots.

• There are thousands of pilots.

• There are no pilots.

Who played a key role in establishing the first Aero Club in Laos?

• Mark Nathan

• Seth A. Franco Lawson

• Tim Lahan

• John McCain

What was a major challenge faced by the Aero Club in Laos?

• Weather conditions

• High cost of equipment

• Convincing authorities of the sport's safety

• Lack of interest from locals

What is a recent development in the field of paragliding in Laos?

• Formation of a national paragliding team

• Introduction of paragliding in schools

• Ban on paragliding

• Paragliding competitions held in Laos

Where was the first paragliding competition co-organized by Laos held?

• Vietnam

• Thailand

• Cambodia

• Myanmar