Pilot Notes - P1 - v2 - Temple · PDF fileTemple Pilots P1 Notes Page 1 PARAGLIDING...

Temple Pilots P1 Notes

PARAGLIDINGTEMPLEPiLOTS

Beginner (P1)Pilot Training Manual

Revised and Updated

Picture courtesy: Darren Waring (Club Pilot) Flying Site: Candidasa, Bali, Indonesia

Beginner Pilot Training Manual

READ THIS FIRST

Paragliding is a form of aviation, with all of the inherent and potential dangers that

are involved in aviation. No form of aviation is without risk. Injuries and death can and

do occur in paragliding, even to trained pilots using proper equipment. No claim is

made or implied that all sources of potential danger to the pilot have or can be

identified. No one should participate in paragliding who does not recognize and wish

to personally assume the associated risks.

The training manual is intended to be used as one part of a professional and

instructional course. It is intended to be used in combination with personal flight

instructions by a qualified paragliding instructor. No one should attempt to teach

himself/herself to fly.

SYLLABUS FOR P1

LEVEL 1: Site & wind assessment, equipment know-how, canopy layout, pre – flight checks, inflation, deflation

and ground handling.

LEVEL 2: Take off and landing techniques, direction control (Hops), Solo clearance.

LEVEL 3: Solo flights under supervision

Note:

You will graduate to the next level only after you have acquired the necessary skill and

knowledge to the satisfaction of your Instructor.

Welcome to the Skies

The world of free flight This journey is fun, fascinating and rewarding. Let's lay the groundwork so your skyward quest is made easier through understanding. The useful attributes are good judgment, a concern for personal safety,

the ability to make reasonable decisions, a positive attitude and the will or desire to fly.

Skill development: We will always emphasize the gradual approach and we strive to ensure safety through good judgment.

1. Site and wind assessment: You will begin your introductory

lesson on flat ground and gradually work your way higher as you progress. Your instructor will guide you in assessing wind conditions that are appropriate for your level and in understanding your limitations.

2. Equipment introduction: Knowing the paragliding lingo let's you understand and communicate the technique.

In the beginning many of your decisions will be made for you by your

instructor, but gradually you will begin to take charge. If you already have goods decision making skills, fine. If not, they will be developed in the training program along with your judgment of flying skills.

Over confidence is a deficit in aviation.

Fear is natural. If you have no fear whatsoever, it may create fear in

your Instructor. How we deal with fear is the important thing. Fear is manageable. Discuss your fears with your instructor.

Remember: Knowledge dispels fear

Beginner Pilot Training Manual Page 1

Visualization Technique

Pro Tip: Use visualization.

Imagine what you want to do, and

then imagine your success. This

will train your body's responses

more readily.

VMR (Visual Motor

Rehearsal)When you visualize,

then you materialize. Here’s an

interesting thing about the mind:

Some Olympic athletes were made

to run their event only in their

mind, and were then hooked up to

sophisticated bio-feedback

equipment. Incredibly, the same

muscles fired in the same

sequence when they were running

the race in their mind, as when

they were running it on the track.

How could this be ? Because the

mind can’t distinguish whether you

are really doing it or its just a

practice. If you’ve been there in

the mind, you’ll go there in the

body. Whatever the mind can

conceive, it can achieve.

Use the imaging technique

throughout all your flying and it will

make you a better pilot.

LEVEL 1Getting Started

Learn the basics well and be thorough in everything you do; this

is laying a solid foundation for becoming a safe & competent

pilot.

Unpacking, laying out and packing the canopy

Putting on the harness and helmet

Assessing the wind direction and clearing the area for spreading your canopy

Canopy layout – perpendicular to the wind, horse shoe shape, clearing the lines and connecting the risers to your harness

Your Objective

To learn how to prepare your glider and your position for forward

inflation (alpine launch).

Pre-Flight Checks

After equipment inspection and having connected yourself to the

glider, just prior to launch:

The Checklist

Make sure you learn them by heart, from Day 1.

Start from below (leg straps) making your way up:

Leg straps – locked & secure

Safety belt – locked & secure

Carabiners – locked & secure

Risers – not twisted

Control (brake) lines – clear, untangled, free

Shoulder straps – locked & secure

Helmet strap – locked & secure

Checks before launch:Canopy layout – last look over the shoulder for alpine launch

Area in front & above clear for take off

Check wind-strength and direction

Launch


Safety Tip

Finding and

connecting an

equipment problem

on the ground is

infinitely better

than doing so in

the air.

Leading Edge Trailing Edge

Left steering of control line

Right steering of control line

Pilot

Harness

Suspension Lines

Preflight Requirements

Thoroughness (in detail), organized (systematic manner), uninterrupted process and correcting the deficiencies. Take your time and make sure

you miss out nothing.

Develop habits for Safety from NOW. Nothing is worth compromising safety!

Inflation (Alpine)

Make sure that canopy is laid out exactly perpendicular to the wind direction and then pulled up from the center to give it a horseshoe shape to ease inflation.

That you are standing in the center and square to the canopy

That you are not stepping on any lines

That you are holding the risers properly, correctly

Good arm position so that you apply equal & even pressure on both the risers

A smooth and continuous run

Release the risers in timely fashion – your instructor will demonstrate the

technique to you and you learn a lot by observing other students.

Look up to check the canopy

Note: For an even inflation you need an even wind and an even pull on both sides.

Your Objective

To learn how to inflate consistently in various conditions while facing forward.

In very light winds, take one step back to slacken the lines, this helps you gain momentum for a forward launch.

In calm or light winds your run supplies the canopy

airspeed. Don't slow down or stop during inflation or launch

Common Mistakes

Non centered start

Uneven jerks or improper hand position

Early or late released risers or pulling down of risers

Stopping the run when checking the canopy.

Skill Check

To see how well you can inflate the canopy. Keep a tally of how

many attempts are successes. When you are scoring 9 out of 10 you are quite adept. Now work on the tenth one.


Caution: Never

unfasten your leg

straps once you

are in your

harness until you

are ready to take

off the harness.

Ground handling

“Ground handing skill is the key to expert piloting skill”

Ground handling indeed prepares you for your entire flying career. The more adept you are at controlling your canopy on the ground, the better you will be able to launch and the more sensitive you will be to the feel of the glider in the air.

Your Objective

To learn how to control the glider on the ground in relation to the wind.

Note: Practice in both smooth and varying conditions. Practice turning forward and backwards while maintaining the canopy stable.

Kiting Skills (Side-to-Side controls)

This involves using the controls asymmetrically. The ability to perform these controls correctly is extremely important for handling turbulence and varying wind during launch. Also, you will be beginning to learn the proper controls for turning.

Controlling the canopy on ground is actually more difficult than it is in the air.

Pull the control on the side opposite to the direction in which the canopy is pulling and move towards the canopy. Always maintaining the forward momentum.

Remember

Steer left, step right

Steer right, step left

Stay below the canopy

Always keep the glider loaded using your body weight and forward motion

Most accidents in paragliding happen on ground (either on takeoff or landing). Thus the importance of ground handling should be thoroughly realized. It is your glider that will give you the confidence to enjoy flying.

Summary

By now you should have a real feel for the canopy and how it obeys your every command - even if your commands are incorrect! But never fear, continued practice at inflation and ground handling will soon have you making all controls automatically, timely and precisely.


Pro Tip : To feel how your

canopy is heading, sense

the pressure in the

controls. The mark of a

good pilot is his or her ability to know

what the canopy is doing without

constantly looking at it. This is sensed

through the forces in the control lines

and the pull' of the harness on you –

true seat of the pants flying.

Skill Check - Level 1

Site and wind assessment

Proper canopy layout, connection

and setup

Pre flight checks

Forward inflation run - consistency

Good canopy control -

pendulum & directional control

Canopy Deflation

Understanding canopy packing,

storage & care


How does a paraglider fly?When inflated, the canopy of the paraglider creates an aerofoil

The canopy is inflated by air entering the open cells on the leading edge, which are closed on the trailing edge

This is achieved at launch in two ways: Alpine/Forward Launch and Reverse Launch

Because of the shape of an aerofoil, air that passes over the top has to travel a greater distance than air which passes under. The air that passes over the top of an aerofoil creates a lower pressure than that which passes underneath

The higher pressure air underneath wants to equalize the lower pressure on the top thus forcing the canopy up and creating lift

The paraglider is designed to descend. It will go up only in lifting air; like in ascending air over a ridge or thermals.

Basic paraglider control movementsA paraglider is controlled by moving the control lines with your hands, independently or together, to alter the profile of the wing above your head and thereby alter the amount of lift and drag created by different areas of the wing

The glider responds by changing its airspeed or by turning.

Of the three axes of movement - pitch, roll and yaw - the pilot can normally only control pitch by moving controls together, and yaw (i.e. left or right change of heading) by moving controls differentially. In a turn, roll (banking to the left or right) develops automatically when the glider is turned.

Developing Lift

Airflow past a wing

Stalled wing

Longitudinal Axis

Vertical Axis

Lateral Axis

Vertical Axis

Lateral Axis

Longitudinal Axis

LEVEL 2Take Off and Landing (Hops)

People of all ages (from very young to very old) and body types (form couch potatoes to body builders) have successfully learned to fly paragliders.

Early on paragliding is about 90% physical and 10% mental effort. Soon this changes to 10% physical and 90% mental.

Your Objective

To learn consistent, smooth take-off's including smooth transitions from

ground to air and smooth landings on feet and into wind.

Pre Launch Check

Proper air conditions, proper glider setup and proper mental preparations.

Launch

Remember to lean forward and crouch in your initial run. This posture

helps pull against the backward pull of the glider, keeps your feet under you. This also allows you to maintain contact with the ground longer. Remember - Shorter steps initially and after the canopy is over head (after release) longer strides to accelerate. Do not slow down and do not sit.

Keep running until your feet are no longer touching the terrain. You're flying !

Your Objective

To perform a smooth, straight flight without changes in airspeed from take off and landing, then learning careful, intentional speed control.

Sitting Down – Develop the habit from your first flight of remaining in launch position (legs down) until you are well clear of the terrain.

Flight - Never lock your arms, but keep them loose and floating, maintain an even pressure (3-5 kg's) depending on how slow you want to fly.

Never – hold the risers or even touch them. Feel the amount of force on the control lines and feel the wind on your face.

All control inputs should be smooth and gentle.


Angle of attack is the

angle between the

chord line of the wing

and the direction of

flight through the air.

With brakes off, the

paraglider flies at a

relatively low angle of

attack

When the brakes are

pu l led down, the

trailing edge of the

canopy is depressed,

which rotates the

chord line upward

and raises the angle

of attack. As a result

of the higher angle of attack, the canopy

slows down. If the angle of attack is

raised too high, the airflow over the top

of the canopy separates, the wing stalls

and the canopy collapses

Chord line

Chord line

Flight Direction

Flight Direction

High angle of attack

Low angle of attack

Common Launch mistakes and cures

Slowing down the run once the glider begins lifting. Avoid this tendency by focusing on a point well ahead and visualize running to

that point.

Sitting down too soon. Resolve to run into the air and keep your feet under you for an imminent landing.

Over-controlling. Make all controls slow and gradual. It's better to

under control than over control at this point

Landing During Hops

The most important rule about landing is to always land into wind. Flying into wind gives you

your slowest speed over the ground, and this makes your landing easier and safer.

You will need a greater and quicker

application of brakes in zero or light winds, and less if there is more wind.

Once you have your height judgement fully developed, the

ideal “landing flare” is a smooth application from 0% brakes (or whatever your initial brake setting is) to 100 % brakes over a period of about 2 seconds, beginning

when your feet are about 5 to 8 feet off the ground.

STRONG WINDS

Remember that in strong winds, the canopy will want to inflate harder and faster, and may inflate unexpectedly. Pay attention all the time, keep a

firm grasp on the “C” risers and use them to keep the canopy on the ground until you are ready to perform the inflation.

Strong Wind Emergency Procedure

The single line save your life (and dignity) maneuver:

In strong winds, when handling the canopy on the ground, you may get

into a situation where controls of the canopy have gotten away from you, you have been or are about to be dragged off your feet, and are trying to avoid being dragged across the ground. In this case, grab one line (whatever you can get yours hands on) and reel it in hand over hand as you run towards the canopy until you have canopy cloth in your hand. In

this mode, the canopy cannot inflate and drag you.


Skill Check - Level 2Unassisted inflation & run (pendulum & direction control)

Smooth transition from ground to airDirection control in the airAbility to judge and maintain heading into wind for landing

Controlled touchdown on feet Into the wind

Canopy deflation & immobilization

LEVEL 3

Preparing For Your First Solo

Pre - Take Off

Know where you are going to land. Check the wind strength and direction at take off for consistency over ten minutes, before and

then during setting up the glider.

Take Off - Remember the sequence :Inflation, Control, Speed

Inflation: Once the canopy is inflated in the overhead position, some

brakes should have been applied to stop the canopy from over-flying

you.

Control: If something does not feel right, or the canopy is out of

control – ABORT, before it is too late (be decisive)

Speed: Airspeed means safety, therefore, you should create a sufficient

margin of airspeed before you leave the ground. Provided you have reached sufficient airspeed, the glider will begin to lift you. A touch of brakes at this stage will take you off your feet.

DO NOT JUMP. Shuffle back into your harness without pulling on or lettinggo of the brakes.


IN THE AIR : Congratulations you are flying !!

Follow your flight plan. For the time being, all you need to

worry about is speed to fly, steering (direction control),

and landing

Flying the paraglider at trim speed. Raising

the control handles from this position

increases airspeed

Lowering the controls handles decreases

airspeed

Steering

All steering inputs should be smooth and gradual

To turn left / right, gently pull on the left / right brake and ease up

gently on the right / left brake, leaning into the turn.

Clear your turns and turn in time to make good your landing area. Do not delay your turns.

Landing

Only takeoffs are optional, landings are mandatory !

Keeping an eye on the wind sock and landing field, align yourself on your landing approach.

If you need to lose some height, do so by making “S” turns, but not too tight.

Once you are on landing approach (30 feet. approx.) you should not

be turning and should not be flying with much brake – fast is safe.

On final approach (10-15 feet) – apply some brakes to slow down your descent rate and forward speed. Make sure you're heading into the wind.

At this time your legs should be out and you should be sitting

forward on the edge of your seat.

Now depending on your descent rate and forward speed (between 5-8 feet) – Pull both brakes smoothly (flare) to arrest your descent rate and forward motion to make a soft touch down.

The Key : Stay relaxed and follow instructions

Common mistakes

Not landing into wind: Will cause side travel and higher landing speeds.

Early Flare: You will drop whatever remaining distance you are

from the ground because your glider is no longer flying, so don't flare too high.

Late Flare: Will result in higher descent rate and higher landing speeds.


Skill Check - Level 3Consistency in unassisted and committed launch

Ability to make corrections on t/o runAbility to be decisive and abort when necessary

Ability to fly straight, make turns & align into wind for landingAbility to time flare for smooth landing on feet into wind

Proper flight planning and confident of flying solo

Proper post flight procedures

Pulling down hard on the control handles

to flare the glider for landing

Initiating a left turn Initiating a right turn

Remember to always land on your feet and

into wind.

A perfectly timed flare will result in practically

no forward motion and no significant drop but

a smooth and soft landing.


All rights reserved.

No part of this manual may be reproduced in any manner without the consent of the

author.

Originally introduced in 2001

Revised and updated over the years

Recent edition 2007

Author: Amarjit Malik (Avi)

Chief Flying Instructor,

Temple Pilots

This training manual will be retained by the school.

Please try and maintain it in good condition for usage by future student

pilots

TeMple PilotsAssociate Member,

Indian Parachuting Foundation

Cell: 9823384654

[email protected]

www.templepilots.com

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