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For a lot of people, paragliding is often considered a dangerous and unsafe activity. And although there is a certain level of risk, when you put in the work, take the precautions and build some important habits, not only is paragliding extremely safe, but it is also one of those adventures that once started, you will not be able to stop.
Developing Good Habits can be challenging, and breaking bad habits, especially bad paragliding habits, can be even harder to break. This is why developing a good habit as early into your Paragliding journey as possible is vital to making each flight safe and fun.
Riding epic thermals and pushing maximum speeds are thrilling, however, they do come with a price, and sometimes checking your ego can be just as important as checking your gear. Hence why we put together this guide on our favourite paragliding takeoff practices to help you take to the air the safe way.
Showing off like a paragliding rock star doesn’t count if the only people there to see it are the paramedics. But you can avoid many serious pitfalls by checking the weather forecast ahead of time and studying the actual wind conditions on your planned route. Plotting your flight based on real-time data of precipitation and barometric pressure can not only eliminate surprises, but it can also help you make tough decisions about when and how long to fly. Remember: good safety habits and paragliding equipment inspection can only go so far against erratic wind gusts and dangerous thermals.
It may be easy to relax in a supine position on a couch at home, but doing so while vaulting through the air is a different story entirely. Many accidents happen due to the pilot’s inability to fully enter the paragliding harness during takeoff. Juggling between the brake and the harness seat can sometimes send your glider into a stall, spin, or, on rare occasions, a full-on collapse. Instead, try leaning back with your knees bent towards your chest as you squirm into the seat, avoiding sudden death or, worse, an uncomfortable groin position.
Whether you’re a Red Bull X-Alps champion or launching for the first time, one thing is certain: overconfidence kills. One fail-safe way to prepare for a launch is to do a test inflation, lifting the wing without launching fully in order to test the air and turbulence. Even paragliding pros have a hard time decoding wind conditions, and doing a test inflation can help you get a real-time feel of what you’re likely to experience in the air.
When paragliding in thermals goes wrong, a good paragliding reserve can make all the difference. One good tip is to test your reserve handle before you even get in the harness. That means peeling off and resetting the handle so that the Velcro binding is ready to release when you pull it. This is especially useful after long drives, which can cause the Velcro around the handle to become offset by the vibrations of the car. Be sure to double-check the pins also, to double-check that they are fully inserted and ready to release when pulled.
Launching is optional, but landing is mandatory. In other words, after you’ve taken off, the only option is to land somewhere, whether it’s a landing zone or in someone’s backyard. That is, unless you have an exit plan. If conditions don’t feel right for takeoff, have a Plan B for aborting your launch. That means studying the landscape around your launch point and memorising the best places to make a sudden landing, i.e. spots with minimal structure and maximum clearance. Knowing when to call it a day, and how to do it, can not only let you live to fly another day but it will also make you a better pilot.
For more information on any of our paragliding habits or to book your next paragliding session, please feel free to contact us at Fly Cape Town, and we will be glad to set you up for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The Fly Cape Town team are a group of highly experienced Tandem Paragliding Flight Instructors who can provide you with the best paragliding Cape Town has to offer. Come and experience the joy of a tandem paragliding flight in the beauty of Cape Town.
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Checking the weather forecast is crucial because it helps you avoid dangerous conditions such as erratic wind gusts and dangerous thermals. By studying real-time data on precipitation and barometric pressure, you can make informed decisions about when and how long to fly, minimizing the risk of accidents.
Test inflation is a technique where you lift the wing without fully launching to test the air and turbulence. This practice allows you to get a real-time feel of the wind conditions, which can be difficult to decode even for experienced pilots. By doing a test inflation, you can better prepare for what you might encounter in the air.
Testing your reserve parachute is vital because it ensures that your backup safety equipment is ready to deploy in case of an emergency. Before getting into the harness, you should peel off and reset the reserve handle to ensure the Velcro binding is ready to release when pulled.
Having an exit plan is essential because, while launching is optional, landing is mandatory. An exit plan allows you to safely abort a launch if conditions are not favorable or if something goes wrong during the flight. It involves studying the landscape around your launch point and identifying the best places for a sudden landing.
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26 Virginia Avenue, Vredehoek
Cape Town,
Western Province
8001
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