HOW TO PROGRESS AFTER AN INITIATION COURSE ?

CHOOSE YOUR TYPE OF FRAMEWORK

We do not recommend flying alone and do not encourage you to try to progress by watching poor quality tutorials on Youtube.

Progress in school (improvement course) :

It is the logical continuation of the initiation course, systematically supervised by a paragliding instructor or paramotor instructor.

• Avantage : progress is faster
• Disadvantage : it's not free

Club progress (outings or flights with friends) :

You can enjoy a mutual aid atmosphere and get advice from more experienced pilots.

• Avantage : it's free (the price of membership is ridiculous)
• Disadvantage : progress may be slower because the quality of advice, which is very variable, depends closely on the experience of the pilots.

PROGRESS WITH OR WITHOUT YOUR OWN MATERIAL

Depending on your feelings and your budget, you can immediately invest in your own equipment or continue with rented equipment. In both cases, talk to your instructor who is best placed to advise you because he knows your strengths and weaknesses.

TAKE INSURANCE

In air liability and possibly in individual accident. You can take advantage of a club rate by clicking here...

I HAVE MY EQUIPMENT AND I AM LOOKING FOR A SLOPE ?

To practice inflating your paraglider, you just need to choose, next to your home, a grassy field or a cow meadow clear of all obstacles (ask the owner for permission to go play on his land).

If you do not find land, you can have the base of Saint Jean Rohrabach, that of Algrange, Kanfen, Sierk les bain or other places. Detailed information on the grounds is regularly communicated to club members.

WHAT MATERIAL TO BUY TO GET STARTED ?

At least :

• A paraglider or a paramotor
• Possibly a helmet (recommended for beginners pilots)

Thereafter :

• A rescue parachute
• An altivariometer
• A radio
• Appropriate warm and light clothing

IS A PILOT'S PATENT MANDATORY IN FRANCE ?

It exists in free flight and in engine flight but is only compulsory if you hang an engine on your paraglider (we then speak of paramotor).

Even if it is not compulsory, the pilot's license attests to your level of autonomy and your ability to make the right decisions. It is indeed easier to fly than to judge if it is time to take off.

WHAT TO DO WHEN I ARRIVE ON A SITE AND I DON'T KNOW ANYONE?

When you are a beginner pilot, taking the decision to take off alone from a site you don't know is a difficult and emotional moment.

For your safety and that of other pilots, do not hesitate to seek advice from the pilots present because you will always find one to assist you and tell you the traps of the day to avoid.

ADDITIONAL TIPS

• If you practice paragliding in the mountains, we highly recommend a blue level (see my level section on your account).
• Nobody can prevent you from going to fly alone after an initiation course (see even without initiation course). Keep in mind, however, that risk is inversely proportional to experience.
• If you do paramotor, you necessarily need a patent but thanks to the engine you can more easily get out of the shit in which you could put yourself.

Warning : even if you have no authorization to ask your instructor, remember that your actions necessarily impact the image of the school in which you learned, the club in which you are registered and that of the paraglider (motorized or no) in general.

And don't forget that to fly, you also need to :

• the authorization of your spouse
• permission from your boss (in case of good weather when we are at work)

Don't worry, it's going to be fine :)