Paramotor College
PRINT THE FOLLOWING AND BRING TO CLASS
USPPA Training Syllabus - Bring to first day of class
Wheel Launch Syllabus - Print and bring to class
Risk VS Reward Exam - Watch Risk VS Reward video and fill out the exam before the first day of class. This exam is to be filled out while watching Risk VS Reward Video that will be posted on the Flight School Messenger Chat.
USPPA Waiver - Print and fill out before the first day of class
Paramotor Arkansas Waiver - Print and fill out before the first day of class
Training Duration:
Paramotor training is a crucial step in ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience in the air. While the exact duration may vary, a typical training program lasts around 7 to 14 days. This period allows for comprehensive instruction on equipment handling, flight theory, and practical flying skills.
What to Expect During Your Time Training:
Ground School:
- Theory Lessons: Dive into the basics of aerodynamics, meteorology, and the mechanics of your paramotor equipment.
- Safety Procedures: Learn essential safety protocols and emergency procedures to handle various scenarios.
Equipment Familiarization:
- Wing Handling: Master the art of handling your paraglider wing on the ground before taking to the air.
- Motor Operation: Understand the mechanics of your paramotor engine, including startup, shutdown, and troubleshooting.
Practical Flight Training:
- Ground Handling: Practice inflating and controlling the wing on the ground.
- Low-Level Flights: Gradually progress to low-level flights, mastering take-offs, landings, and basic maneuvers.
Higher Altitude Training:
- Altitude Awareness: Acquire skills for flying at different altitudes and understanding the impact on performance.
- Navigational Techniques: Learn basic navigation and flight planning for a safer and more enjoyable experience.
FAR 103:
FAR 103 refers to Federal Aviation Regulation 103, which outlines the guidelines for ultralight vehicles, including paramotors. Understanding FAR 103 is crucial for compliance with safety regulations and responsible flying.
Learn More By Clicking The Links Below
Weekend Only 1 Month Training Curriculum
Weekend Only 2 Month Training Curriculum
Things to do and Pre-Class Quizzes and Tests:
JOIN THE USPPA - ITS ONLY $35 A YEAR
LEARN THE PARTS OF A PARAMOTOR
LEARN THE PARTS OF A PARAGLIDER
Know these before you come to class!
CLICK AND READ ALL BELOW
Motor Problems and how to correct
VIDEOS TO WATCH
How to untangle paramotor wing lines - VIdeo
Taking your first SIV clinic - What to expect - Video
How to fix pull start on my MY19 Moster 185 - Video
How to mix your 2 stroke oil for your paramotor - Video
Getting ready to go to class? Watch these videos...
Part 1 Watch this before going to paramotor school - Video
Part 2 How to clip in and work on the forward and reverse inflations - video
DO THE AIRSPACE TEST ON THE USPPA WEBSITE
Airspace Course on USPPA
TAKE YOUR PPG 1 TEST ONLINE
Instructors Name: Sean Symons
Instructors Email: PPGGrandpa@gmail.com
PPG 1 Ground Requirements
- Proper layout and preflight check of canopy and motor (including harness).
- Has successfully completed a basic ground school.
- Understanding of proper canopy packing, storage and care.
- Site analysis including wind direction and velocity, terrain shape, obstructions and engine-out planning.
- Proper canopy handling and kiting skills.
- Explains motor, propeller, and fueling safety.
- Understands basic operation the motor including at least two ways to shut it off and what to look for on preflight runup.
- Explains effects of Center of Gravity and wing connection location on the harness or cart frame.
- [WL] Explains the cause and cure to rollover-type accidents.
- Has passed the USPPA/USUA PPG 1 written exam.
PPG 1 Flight Requirements (Launch/Landing/Inflation)
- Two controlled forward inflations with visual canopy check each time.
- (FL) Two controlled reverse inflations with proper surge dampening.
- (FL) Half-minute of controlled kiting overhead in a steady wind.
- (WL) 15 seconds of controlled taxiing without lifting off.
- Demonstrates a method of establishing proper connection to the wing, with cleared lines and risers, just prior to inflation.
- Demonstrates two unassisted (other than radio) flights.
PPG 1 Limitations
These recommended limitations are intended to provide a guide for those at this skill level to remain within their ability. Obviously there are other considerations before flying but this is a good starting point. Only exceed these limitations under instructor supervision.
- All flights must be under the supervision of an instructor.
- Max wind, including gusts of 8 mph
- Launch and land directly into the wind
- Use canopy rated for beginner (DHV 1, 1-2, EN-A, EN-B or equivalent other rating).
- Takeoff and landing area should allow unimpeded climb and landing approach without maneuvering below 100′ AGL.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO LEARN HOW TO WHEEL LAUNCH, TAKE THIS TEST
PPG 1 - WHEEL LAUNCH
TAKE YOUR PPG 2 TEST AFTER YOU TAKE YOUR FIRST SOLO FLIGHT
Instructors Name: Sean Symons
Instructors Email: PPGGrandpa@gmail.com
PPG 2 Ground Requirements
- Pilot uses judgment commensurate with the rating.
- Attends a minimum of 8 hours of ground school.
- Has passed the USPPA/USUA PPG2 written exam and reviewed incorrect answers.
- Verbal analysis of general site conditions including a flight plan (flight path, avoidance areas, obstacles, wind effects).
- Has received at least simulator training in avoidance and recovery from collapses, stalls, spins, and is familiar with the canopy owner’s manual on them.
- Demonstrates sufficient knowledge by explaining the following:
- Correct motor, cart [WL], and wing maintenance.
- Basics of airspace as it pertains to PPG and how to determine legal flight areas from sectional charts including how to obtain a weather briefing.
- Proper strong wind landing procedures and how to keep from being dragged back.
- USPPA incident reports.
- Flight performance and the effects of weight, wing size, thrust, twist, winds, and density altitude.
- Fitness for flight from an Aeromedical perspective.
- How to shorten and lengthen flight path with no power.
- Speedbar and trimmers, their use, risks, and limitations, including for reflex wings.
- Airport operations.
- CFR 14 Part 103 regulations.
- Directional control and correction of significant asymmetric wing fold (that causes turning).
- Causes, cures and risks of torque and its side effects.
PPG 2 Ground Requirements (Demonstrations)
- Demonstrates PLF technique sufficient to show understanding.
- Demonstrates reserve deployment while hanging in a harness [FL] or sitting in cart [WL] in simulated turbulence or malfunction. This may be done without an actual reserve if none is available.
- Setup and preflight of the glider, harness and reserve (reserve may be explained if not equipped).
- [FL] Two minutes of controlled kiting overhead.
PPG 2 Flight Requirements (Launch/Landing/Inflation)
- Consistently succeeds at 2 out of 3 no-wind (0-2 mph) forward inflations.
- (FL) Consistently succeeds at 2 out of 3 controlled reverse inflations with proper surge dampening.
- (WL) 30 seconds of controlled taxiing without lifting off.
- Two cross-wind (> 15º cross to takeoff path) launches in light wind (<= 5 mph).
- Power-on landings are consistently smooth, within 15′ of a target, and into the wind.
- Landings, after removing thrust from at least 300′ high, are consistently within 100′ of a target (40′ for the Precision Landing special skill).
- (WL) Brief and instruct ground crew for assisted launch.
- Demonstrates smooth variation in airspeed and throttle to maintain level flight from just above min sink to fast flight on a constant heading
- Alternating ‘S’ turn (at least 90° heading change) flights along a planned path. Heading change < 45° into wind.
- Hands off (or up) flying with smooth transition to climb and descent using throttle only.
- Hands off (or up) flying with turns using weight-shift (if available) and rear risers.
PPG 2 Minimum Logged Flight Experience
These are minimums. It is common to need 40 or more flights before attaining PPG 2 skill levels.
- 25 flights except that, for USHPA P2 or higher rated paraglider pilots, 15 non-powered flights can be used to count towards the 25 flight requirement.
- 5 flying days.
PPG 2 Limitations
These limitations are intended as a guide for those at this skill level to remain within their ability. Obviously there are other things that should be considered before flying but this is a good starting point.
- Only exceed these limitations after thoroughly mastering all PPG 2 tasks and with full understanding of the potential problems and dangers involved in doing so.
- Max peak thermal strength 200 fpm.
- Max gusts of 12 mph.
- Max gust rate of 5 mph in 5 seconds.
- Should not launch with the wind aligned more than 25 degrees from the takeoff path.
- Avoid using of brake beyond 2/3 of full travel (stall).
- Max bank angle of 30 degrees.
- Avoid flying downwind less than 150′ above the ground.
- Use canopy rated for beginner (DHV 1, 1-2, EN-A, EN-B or equivalent other rating).
- Takeoff and landing area should allow unimpeded climb and landing approach without maneuvering below 100′ AGL
TAKE YOUR PPG 3 TEST AFTER YOU TAKE YOUR PPG 2 TEST
Instructors Name: Sean Symons
Instructors Email: PPGGrandpa@gmail.com
This rating builds on the knowledge and skills from the PPG1 & PPG2, only additional areas are included here. These are bare minimums. It is common to need 200 or more flights before attaining PPG 3 skill levels. It is for paramotor what the FAA Commercial License is for General Aviation.
Pilots should have a thorough understanding of the knowledge items required of those ratings. He/she should be able to judge and safely fly from any launch site within his skill level. Launches should be consistently successful with the ability to easily steer during the launch run as well as control the flight path immediately from liftoff.
PPG 3 Ground/General Requirements
- Uses judgment commensurate with the rating.
- Explains characteristics of impending stall or spin and the recovery technique for each.
- Explains how to shorten and lengthen flight distance by adjusting speed, height and the relationship of headwind/tailwind in doing so.
- Explains how to maintain directional control during and correct for an asymmetric wing fold of 50% or more of the wing span.
- Has passed the USPPA/USUA PPG3 written exam and reviewed incorrect answers.
PPG 3 Flight Requirements (Launch/Landing/Inflation)
- All landings are safe, smooth, on the feet, in the desired touchdown area and in control.
- Consistently succeeds at 3 out of the 4 no-wind (0-2 mph) inflations/launches.
- Good canopy control while doing turns of at least 20 degrees while on ground (FL) running or (WL) rolling with the wing overhead and under power.
- Consistently makes 2 out of 3 power-on landings within 5′ of a target and into the wind.
- Consistently makes 2 out of 3 power-off (from 300′) landings within 15 feet of a target and into the wind without falling.
- Demonstrates smooth transition from descent to climb in a go-around maneuver while controlling the surge.
- Demonstrates smooth, single-swing dampening of surges using throttle only.
- Demonstrates smooth, single-swing dampening of left/right oscillations.
- Linked 180° turns along a predetermined ground track showing smooth controlled reversals and coordination at various speeds, throttle settings and bank angles.
- Demonstrates ability to use Trimmers and Speed Bar setup and use. (gives explanation if not installed on wing)
- Significant asymmetric tip folds and/or big ears (25% each side, 50% total) or other canopy reduction method to increase descent rate.
PPG 3 Logged Flight Experience
- 90 flights. It is common to need 200 or more flights before attaining PPG 3 skill levels.
- 30 flying days.
- Has had USPPA PPG2 rating or equivalent for at least 120 days.
- 20 solo airtime hours.
PPG 3 Limitations
These recommended limitations are intended to provide a guide for those at this skill level to remain within their ability. Obviously there are other considerations before flying but this is a good starting point.
- Only exceed these limitations after thoroughly mastering all Novice tasks and after acquiring a full understanding of the potential problems and dangers involved in exceeding these limitations.
- Follows safe flying guidelines.
- Max peak gusts 15 mph without high-wind add-on.
- Max gust rate of 7 mph in 5 seconds.
- Limit turns to bank angles recommended my the manufacturer, Smoothly exit any spiral turn that is becoming steeper or accelerating.
- Should not fly in thermals where peak climb rates exceed 500 fpm or where significant cloud development exists.
- Avoid using of brake beyond 3/4 of full travel (stall).
- Avoid steep banks close to ground.
- Avoid flying downwind less than 100′ above the ground.
Resources:
Places to send in your wings for inspection:
Website or Contact | Highlights of it’s contents |
Cloud 9 Soaring Center | Paraglider & Harness Inspection & Repair |
FourWindsPPG.com 615-626-5738 |
Paraglider & Harness Inspection & Repair
Basic inspection $175, Four Winds PPG, Avon Park Executive Airport |
MojosGear | Paraglider Wing Inspection & Repair |
Paramotor City Glider Shop | Paraglider Wing Inspection & Repair |
Paraglider Inspections Andrew Fuller (813)391-0237 |
Paraglider inspections and minor Repair, Reserve Repacks and Lines |
Superfly Paragliding | Paraglider Wing Inspection & Repair, Reserve repacks |
WillsWing.com | Paraglider Wing Inspection & Repair |