Armen Sargsyan: From Paragliding Flights to Small Aviation
Paragliding is an exciting and emotional experience. Forget about fear—it only seems frightening at first glance. When you leave the ground behind, when the rocks begin to float beneath your feet, and when you see birds flying below you, the tension disappears. You no longer want to come back down, says Armen Sargsyan, founder of Sky Club (skyclub.am).
“Armenia is a very small country, but it is incredibly rich in diversity. We have mountains, fields, places carrying history, and natural attractions. The only thing we lack is the sea—and our sea is Lake Sevan. We have everything needed to surprise and introduce our country to visitors who arrive here. However, there is one issue: compared to many other countries, Armenia is not sufficiently promoted.
I always give Iceland as an example. Its nature is very similar to Armenia. The only differences are the large amount of water and glaciers. The nature there was also shaped by volcanic processes, just like ours. But because the country is well promoted, it has become one of the most desirable destinations.”
Diversity
“Armenia is a very small country, but it is incredibly rich in diversity. We have mountains, fields, historical sites, and natural attractions. We only lack a sea—and our sea is Lake Sevan.
We have everything needed to amaze and present our country to guests arriving here.
However, there is one problem: compared to many other countries, Armenia is not sufficiently advertised.
I always bring Iceland as an example. Its nature is very similar to Armenia. The only difference is the large amount of water and glaciers. The natural landscapes there were also created through volcanic processes, just like ours.
But because the country is promoted, it appears on the list of desirable destinations.”
I Stay Silent
“For guests who come to Armenia, nature itself tells the story, and I remain silent.
I don’t tell tourists anything—the nature tells its own story.
The greatest advantage and treasure of Armenia is its people, who genuinely love welcoming tourists.
Why? Because for them, visitors are interesting and bring new experiences.
That is why tourists are always welcomed and loved here.
Local people will invite them into their homes, offer food, communicate, and show hospitality.
When I witness such warm hospitality, I feel proud.”
I Noticed
“I used to skip classes and go to the library. I read adventure literature. Apparently, those books taught me to have aspirations in life, to dream, and to turn dreams into goals. I noticed something interesting: subconsciously, I live the kind of life that the heroes of those books lived. It is true that at this moment I have difficulty remembering the characters, but as soon as I reread them, I will find myself among them.”
I Study
“In my free time, I enjoy exploring new platforms and fields. I believe you should compete with the person you were yesterday. There were times when I was angry with myself, but you have to accept that it is simply one episode of life.
You need to draw conclusions and move forward.”
The Need for Advice
“I need my father. If only he were alive…
I truly need serious advice—honest advice. A friend’s advice is one thing, but a father’s advice is something completely different.”
Air Transport
“Aviation has interested me from an early age. I made my first paragliding flight at the age of 14.
I already knew clearly that I wanted to connect my life with the sky. Small aviation is a tool for a big dream. If you want to travel, you need air transportation. And in order for such opportunities to exist, infrastructure must be created. It is not a bicycle—it is an aircraft… For an airplane to take off, many different structures must work together: service personnel, insurance systems, management bodies, and many other components. I could list them for a long time. It is a large infrastructure that for 30 years did not simply fail to operate—it did not exist at all. Now, slowly but steadily, something is being created that represents a new page in Armenia’s history, a new opportunity for the future…”
