Further to the post below, Florida legislature passed a parasailing regulation law (April 10, 2014). It is a pretty good example of how 'regulation' works: the bill requirements are so low as to be useless, and will not realistically change operations. The bill requires:
1 - $1mill insurance: at present there is no requirement, however the realities of US lawsuit happiness means any adventure operator is insane to run without insurance anyways. The cost of defending any legal action (frivolous or otherwise) is beyond most individual's means.
2 - be licensed as a boat operator by the Coast Guard. Technically this already is on the Coast Guard's books. This has nothing to do with parasailing.
3 - have a VHF radio (existing Coast Guard reg) plus a separate weather radio.
4 - not operate in winds greater than 20mph, or if a lightning storm is within 7 miles of operation. This point is the important one, as the serious rope breaking incidents (that usually end in severe injuries) usually involve impending storms and wind gusts that overload the rope. Having observed these operations, there is a natural tendency to squeeze in 'one more fly' before the storm hits. When I was there, no one was flying the one afternoon because of the wind and chop. Operators, previous to these regulations, had some form of cut off with wind, whether it was published or not.
Reportedly, the parasailing industry pushed for years to get these passed as legislation. Industry types take note: it is better to be regulated by your own standards rather than those imposed from outside. These guidelines are the internal ones, and don't change current practice in any way. No operator license (beyond the boat), no accident reporting, no minimum equipment/system requirements, and no training standards. Nothing will change.
1 - $1mill insurance: at present there is no requirement, however the realities of US lawsuit happiness means any adventure operator is insane to run without insurance anyways. The cost of defending any legal action (frivolous or otherwise) is beyond most individual's means.
2 - be licensed as a boat operator by the Coast Guard. Technically this already is on the Coast Guard's books. This has nothing to do with parasailing.
3 - have a VHF radio (existing Coast Guard reg) plus a separate weather radio.
4 - not operate in winds greater than 20mph, or if a lightning storm is within 7 miles of operation. This point is the important one, as the serious rope breaking incidents (that usually end in severe injuries) usually involve impending storms and wind gusts that overload the rope. Having observed these operations, there is a natural tendency to squeeze in 'one more fly' before the storm hits. When I was there, no one was flying the one afternoon because of the wind and chop. Operators, previous to these regulations, had some form of cut off with wind, whether it was published or not.
Reportedly, the parasailing industry pushed for years to get these passed as legislation. Industry types take note: it is better to be regulated by your own standards rather than those imposed from outside. These guidelines are the internal ones, and don't change current practice in any way. No operator license (beyond the boat), no accident reporting, no minimum equipment/system requirements, and no training standards. Nothing will change.