Interesting. I had a friend come back from a flying trip to China a few weeks ago and he said much the same thing - not common and too hard logistically.

It's not the sport for everyone, that's for sure. I love it, and am never quite so happily as when the vario is screaming, although I'll admit it's 98% bliss and 2% pure terror.

It's worth mentioning that a CuNim will happily break a 747 too - that's why all aircraft give them a wide berth.

In Manilla it was a case of competitive pilots taking disproportionate risks. Based on the photos I've seen of that day, I think a lesser pilot such as myself would never even have launched.