Flying
Tandem
by Ross Robinson
A. How’s it going today? There are a few things to know about participating in an instructional tandem paragliding flight.
1. The purpose of our flight is instruction. What is the purpose of our flight?
2. There’s not much you need to do as a student, other than relax and enjoy yourself.
3. It’s a really fun thing to do...
4. Is there anything that would prevent you from taking our flight today?
B. Just to give you an idea of what is going to happen today, let me give you a brief overview:
1. There is some paperwork to take care of and you also need to pay me.
2.
Once we are finished with that, we’ll get some gear on and do a short
simulation on launching and how to get comfortable in your harness once we
are in the air.
3. I’ll coach you on what to do in the air and on landing when we come to them, Ok?
We are able to fly tandem today under FAA exemption #4721 to FAR part 103, which allows for instructional tandem flying with ultralight aircraft. I am also required to tell you that our tandem paraglider does not meet aircraft certification standards as set forth by the FAA. No ultralight aircraft meets those standards. Our glider, however, is certified by a different agency. If I weren’t comfortable with it I wouldn’t be flying it.
1. We have to run to get into the air.
2. The glider is controlled by weight shift and brake line thingys. To turn right, we shift our weight to the right and I pull the right thingy, to turn left, we do just the opposite. It’s pretty simple, I will control it, please don’t touch nuthin’.
3. We have to run together to get into the air.
4. You have to listen to my instructions and be able to carry them out.
5. We have a reserve parachute designed for two people, in the unlikely event we need it, I will deploy it.
6. Our certifying organization’s (USHGA) insurance is third party liability only. It doesn’t cover you—it doesn’t cover me.
B.
Paperwork (USHGA temporary membership
form)
Ok, now that we are done with that, I need you to fill this out, answer
all the questions and sign both sides. Once
you are finished, we’ll get ready to go flying.
If you have any questions, let me know.
A. Student
1. Helmet on & fastened
2. Harness on-- 1,2,3 buckles secure.
B. Pilot
1. Reserve pin check.
2. Helmet on & fastened.
3. Harness on-- 1,2,3 buckles secure.
C. Launch Simulation
1. Hook pilot & student together
2. Demonstrate Launching
a. Look at that point on the horizon
b. Bend your knees; sink low in the harness
c. When the glider comes up, you will feel a tug on your harness—just keep sinking in the harness and resist the pull. Be ready to step forward and then back a couple of steps, and then move forward again.
d. Keep running until I say stop running.
e. Once we are in the air, I will tell you to get into your harness. You do that by looking over your right shoulder, bringing your arm through here and sliding your thumb down the harness to this strap here. Do the same on the other side. Now push with your thumbs and bring your knees up to your chest.
f. Any questions?
g. Unhook passenger.
A. Get glider and move with passenger to launch, check conditions.
1. Unfold & Layout glider
2. Clear lines.
3. If there is wind, fluff and weathervane the glider into the wind, checking for snags, tangles, lineovers, or sticks. Otherwise, lay out for no wind launch.
B. Final Preflight
1. Student
a. Helmet on & fastened.
b. Harness on-- 1,2,3 buckles secure.
2. Pilot
a. Helmet on & fastened.
b. Harness on -- 1,2,3 buckles secure.
3. Spreader Bars and Trimmers
a. Holding the risers, clip pilot & student together while maintaining slight pressure in the glider.
b. Right side:
1. Student hooked in & locked.
2. Pilot hooked in & locked.
c. Left side:
1. Student hooked in & locked.
2. Pilot hooked in & locked.
d. Trimmers:
1. Correct position.
C. Launch—check conditions again.
1. Hook into glider, 2 carabiners hooked in & locked.
2. Ask student : “Are you ready?”
3. Ok, on three, 1..2..3...
4. Get glider overhead in control.
5. Visually check glider and lines.
6. Launch, telling student to run. Kick & bump student if necessary.
A. Once flying and clear of terrain, get student into seat using method described in simulation. Get into your harness.
B. Talk to student continuously if needed.
C. Fly like a PRO. Remember, they are precious cargo and deserve your absolute best efforts.
A. Get student out of harness early (200’ agl minimum) and ready to run.
B. Check the wind
C. Once on long final into wind, get off brakes, take wrap if necessary, visually check for no trailing edge deflection.
D. Begin bottom turn about 8’ agl (depending on glider type), feel the glider for flare timing and then use full arm extension for flare.
E. Hold flare, run if needed, turn student and move toward glider and set it down.
F. Unclip from the glider immediately.
G. Unclip from student and let them take pictures while still in the gear & stuff. Congratulate them on what a great job they did.