Bonanza 36
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 35; Flight Crew Total 1700; Flight Crew Type 150
Other / Unknown
Conflict NMAC; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airspace Structure; Human Factors
Near-miss collision with non-motorized paraglider. Visually detected paraglider at same 3;500 feet. MSL altitude approximately 1 mile directly ahead of aircraft. Made evasive turn to right and cleared paraglider by about 500 feet. Noted another paraglider about 1;000 feet above. Location best approximation. On personal flight; departed on IFR plan; climbed to 5;000 feet MSL; with Tampa departure. Handed over to Orlando Approach and was is VMC with broken layer at near 5;000 feet and cancelled IFR and descended to 3;500 feet and turned direct to ORL. In constant IFR or VFR flight following with ADS-B Traffic and TCAS operating correctly. No detection of paragliders on traffic systems or by approach radar. Made immediate radio report of near-miss to ORL Approach. I was told by the Approach Controller that this was not uncommon and he had reports of paragliders on previous occasions reaching up to 10;000 feet MSL. Controller stated that the approach radar could not detect paragliders and that there was no restriction to their operation. Controller said he had personally driven to these approximate areas before to talk to these paragliders to no avail. This uncontrolled operation of paragliders is very dangerous and will result someday in a fatal event.
BE36 pilot reported a NMAC with paraglider; ATC stated it is a common occurrence for the ORL area.