Is Paragliding Dangerous?

Any activity has some inherent risk. Paragliding, as with any type of aviation, is no exception. Although with the proper education and a healthy awareness of your own personal motivations and attitudes, risk can be a minimal part of your flying experience. We have found that the single most important variable in pilot safety is the pilot himself. We spend a great deal of time educating our students how to evaluate their own skills, their attitudes, motivations, and awareness levels before each and every flight. With the ability to objectively evaluate one's own attitude and aptitude, (which vary with each day), and when appropriate, being able to say to yourself "I don't feel up to the task today, so I'm not going to fly," paragliding can be very safe, and one of the most rewarding things you can experience in life. Respect for the sport can make all the difference between a safe pilot and a dangerous one.

But Wait!!! I am afraid of Heights!?! So, there is No Way I could ever Paraglide!

Not surprisingly, we hear that quite often. Actually very, very often. Don't feel at all alone if you have this fear, or perceived fear as the case may be. If you have found your way to this page, you obviously have some dreams of flight, and believe it or not, it's probably a lot more possible than you think.

Consider this: In our ongoing survey, at least 95% of the people that feel they have a fear of heights, are actually afraid of 'edges', or more specifically, from falling off of them. Have you ever flown on an airplane? Did you have a window, or an aisle seat? If you sat by the window, did you look down and enjoy the view? From 30,000' or more high?!? So really, do you have a fear of heights? Paragliding is quite like that. You feel you are one with the sky, and the fear of the dreaded 'edge', or of falling from it, rapidly 'falls away' as you experiene your first flights.

On the other hand, are you the type that would sit in the aisle of the airplane, shades drawn, never glancing the the great view of the mountains below? Don't worry, there is paragliding hope for you too! There is an entire branch of paragliding that is excellent fun, great excercise, and never gets you much higher than 30' or so over the ground. (Lower if you like.) One of our favorite former students falls into this category. He doesn't like heights at all, but dune skimming is what he excels at. Find him at Cape Kiwanda, or at Area B almost any day it's soarable. Great fun, while still allowing you to experience flying as you have probably dreamed. Some of the best fun in paragliding comes from giving the kids, (and adults), a high five as you fly by them and they cheer you on! Seriously good fun!

How long does it take to fly on my own?

Short flights off the beginner hill or via our towing system usually occur by the end of the first day with any of our solo training programs. To become educated enough to make your own flight decisions normally takes between 7 and 15 days of instruction. Afterwards you can become certified with the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, (USHGA), as a Novice rated pilot. The Novice, or Para - 2, rating indicates that you have met the minimum requirements for solo flight. We at Discover Paragliding! recommend a minimum of 10 days of instruction, with our preferred average being closer to 15 days.

...Sky Diving or Parachuting?

...BASE Jumping?

BASE jumping is defined as parachuting from a fixed object like a mountain, as opposed to from an aircraft. BASE is an acronym for Bridges, Antennas, Spans and Earth. The primary similarity between paragliding and BASE jumping is that we launch from and land on the earth. Again, Paragliding does not involve leaping off of a cliff, but simply inflating your glider over your head before you leave the ground, and then running down a gentle slope until you gain enough airspeed to become airborne.

...Hang Gliding?

Hang gliding is probably Paragliding's closest cousin. Although they are quite different in design, the methods of flight are very similar. Hang gliders are also designed for soaring flight just as Paragliders are. The biggest difference between the two is that hang gliders have a significantly greater maximum airspeed and are better suited for stronger wind conditions. Paragliders fly slower and can generally stay aloft in lighter conditions than hang gliders. That said, paragliders and hang gliders are often found soaring and 'sharing the air' together. Paragliders, with their light weight and small size, are much more convenient to transport and then carry to launch than hang gliders.

...Parasailing?

Parasailing is a sightseeing type of activity that uses a round parachute style canopy. The passenger is attached to the canopy, then is towed aloft by a boat or other vehicle. There is very little input required by the passenger, as the boat driver decides where the flight will go. Paragliders can be launched in a similar fashion, but the tow is only used in lieu of an appropriate mountain launch. When the maximum altitude for the tow is reached, the pilot releases from the tow line and begins normal flight. Paraglider pilots in flat land areas routinely use towing to gain enough altitude to find sustaining thermal lift and try for cross country flights. At Discover Paragliding!, we use a sophisticated towing system as a teaching aide, allowing students to gain a significant altitude over the ground in preparation for higher mountain flights. We are the only school in the area to have this extra teaching tool. See our Towing Page for more information.