This course is an initiation, a discovery, your very first step in the sky and into the magical world of free flight. In a short time of just three days you will be able to surprise yourself, feeling sensations never experienced before and be able to gift yourself an experience of a lifetime – your First Solo Flight.
– Avi Malik
- Duration: 3 Day / 4 Day P1
- Rating: APPI 1 Discover / FAI-IPPI 1
This course is designed to give you a fair idea about paragliding and what it promises. We are confident that you will learn a lot after the first day of the solo lesson:
First of all, you are the pilot! You will learn to inflate, kite, run, launch, fly and land the paraglider wing yourself. The overwhelming response after the first flight is “WOW, I can’t believe it was so easy to fly!”
THE COURSE COVERS
Flight Training
1. Site and wind assessment
2. Equipment introduction
3. Canopy layout
4. Pre-flight checks
5. Forward inflation
6. Control familiarization
7. Ground handling
8. Canopy deflation
9. Take off & landing technique
10. Steering and Speed Control
11. Solo flights - assisted take off, radio supervised flying & landing
12. Post flight procedures
13. Canopy - care & maintenance
WHERE DO I REACH AT THE END OF THE COURSE… WHAT NEXT?
You now know what the sport is all about and what it promises to you in the future. You are able to take-off, make turns, fly an intended flight plan for this level and comfortably able to make a good approach and a safe and smooth landing.
You now have the necessary knowledge and skills to fly on your own with the supervision and guidance of your Instructor.
Now that you are a pilot and have tasted the skies, be sure you will look for more.
The P1 Certificate (APPI 1 Discover – FAI IPPI 1 Rating) makes you eligible to sign up for next 4 day P2 course or 8 day (P2 + Certification course ) to get your APPI 2 Explore – FAI IPPI 2 rating.
VISUALIZE THE COURSE
THE BEGINNING
We arrive at the site in the morning or afternoon depending on the weather conditions. We begin your first session in paragliding by introducing you to the equipment and the paragliding flying site. Your first training lesson is on flat ground where we explain and demonstrate the paragliding basics - canopy inspection, canopy layout, how to connect oneself to the paraglider and most importantly the paragliding pre-flight checks.
We will then determine if there is any wind, and lay the canopy out on the ground facing the direction the wind is coming. Once we attach the harness to the risers and put our helmets on, we will hook ourselves into the harness and do a pre-flight check. The next step is to inflate the canopy and familiarize oneself with the canopy and controls. Running along the ground with the wing above you, you will see how to control the wing's direction with the brakes (also used for steering). You will also learn to bring down the glider by using the brakes.
We will then demonstrate how to gather the paraglider into a mushroom-shaped ball, ready for carrying. This is how we walk with the glider so we don't drag the wing on the ground.
After brief explanations and demonstrations, it's time to get started! Don't expect anything on the first go, just follow the instructions and see what happens. After the first attempt, things will begin to make some sense and your patient instructor will help and assist you to understand what's going wrong and why. It's like learning any other sport, playing around with the wing and a few more attempts will familiarize you with the wing and the controls.
Soon you will be able to inflate the glider with ease and be able to correlate its behaviour with the wind conditions.
LEAVING THE GROUND
Now that you have an idea of the forward inflation technique, we are going to make it easier for you. We are going to go up a nursery slope and let you run down the gentle slope.
The slopes will allow you to start to feel the lift created by the wing as you run with it.
Next, you learn the take-off and landing techniques by a simple use of brakes that will help you during your small lift offs.
You are now doing what is called as 'hops' (no it's not a joke, they are really called hops!).
All along your instructor will keep giving you tips and tricks to improve your skills.
Once you have mastered your takeoffs and landings, you will be ready for your first epic flight popularly known as your "FIRST SOLO" flight.
FIRST SOLO
You are cleared for your first flight after your Instructors are fully convinced about your ability to fly solo and so are you. This is where the magic begins. You will be assisted for take-off from a 200 ft. hill and your flight will be radio supervised by your instructor and there will also be an Instructor down below as a landing marshal.
There is nothing quite your first solo. You are filled with a feeling of exhilaration, fear and excitement before take off and your Instructor will guide you how to overcome all this.
And of course, on landing, you will have the largest smile ever!
Be sure to get a camera as your first paragliding flight happens only once!
