AZTEC is the nationally recognized governing body overseeing canopy walk/zip line tours in the Philippines.

AZTEC Mission Statement

Promoting and advocating that certified safety equipment and backup systems be incorporated into the zip line industry.

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Would You Ride This Zip Line?

The zip-line industry promotes adrenaline rushes on high cable treetop tours and speed zip lines. But there is another side to this adventure-based market in which the excitement of riding on cables suspended high in the air or through a canopy of trees can turn into a serious accident should something go wrong.

The young lady pictured at left has inadvertantly entrusted herself into the hands of unqualified staff. All certified facilitators know that helmets are mandatory.

Accidents Happen
The are several published press reports of serious accidents including deaths that have occured on zip lines. In 2006 a teenager was killed on a zipline in the US state of North Carolina. In 2007 a man was killed in Nevada. More recently, in 2008, a woman was killed in Honduras when a cable snapped and she fell to her death.

There are additional reports detailing a full list of accidents. Sadly, most accidents blame 'guide errors' as the principal cause. Examples include riders colliding into each other because the line wasn't cleared, riders accidentally released from the platform prior to being fully connected to the harness system or brakes failing and riders smashing into wooden structures.

In comparison, the participant about to be launched in the picture at left (in the red helmet) is connected into a redundant backup system. If one of the cables or any of the multiple connection points were to fail, a backup system is in place thus preserving the safety of the rider.

Promoting Safety Before Speed and Distance
Commercial based zip lines in the Philippines is a growing industry. Safety in this newly emerging adventure-thrill industry begins with proper engineering of the infrastructure, appropriate safety equipment, adequate backup sytems in place and competent staff.

The zipline industry is quick to use the mantra 'faster-longer-higher' but the industry must responsibly embrace 'safer' before it promotes speed and distance.

It is crucial that the zip line industry establish certain guidelines for the purpose of self-regulation because the cables and safety equipment are literally holding the participant's life. Therefore, there is a moral and ethical obligation on the part of all owner/operators that safety is of paramount concern.

AZTEC primarily serves owner/operators engaged in rope or cable access systems such as traverse lines, canopy walks, burma bridges and zip lines for the purpose of;

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