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Powered Paragliding Instruction:
Introductory Flights $149! See Pricing page for details!
What is a powered paraglider? A PPG, as it's known, is a fabric glider, similar to a parachute, connected to a body worn harness with a gas or electric powered motor attached. Sometimes the glider and motor are attached to a tricycle with wheels and a seat, as seen at right. With foot launch PPGs the pilot's legs are the landing gear, and a small strap seat is provided for once they are in flight. The pilot can control the glider with a set of brake handles connected to the glider. The pilot controls the engine power through a hand-held throttle. A PPG IS a glider! It can glide to a landing without engine power. No license is required to fly a PPG, and people of all ages can join in the fun!
PPGs are not highly regulated by the FAA, but they are regulated. For example, a PPG (Considered an "Ultra Light aircraft.") cannot fly over congested areas of houses and buildings. They can't fly over groups of people, or in a way that creates a hazard to anyone's property or personal safety on the ground. (Click here to view the FAA Part 103 regulations on Ultra-Light aircraft.) PPG's can't fly into most controlled airspace, and where they can there are additional requirements. PPG pilots are not allowed to carry passengers unless they hold an instructor rating AND have an exemption from the FAA. (For instructional flights ONLY!)
PPGs can fly over sparsely populated areas, and can fly as low as they want, or all the way up to 17,999 feet! But a PPG pilot must always be able to make a safe landing in the event of an engine failure. A cornfield or road is a safe landing area.
PPG's are legal to operate in and out of almost all non-towered airports. So if you live by a smaller airport without a control tower, you may see PPGs zooming around the area. Sometimes you will even see them do things like aerobatics! This can look quite scary, but it's perfectly legal if all the other rules are followed. These smaller airports are not allowed to exclude PPGs from operation at their facilities. If they try to, they risk losing their federal funding.
While training in PPGs is not required by regulation, no person in their right mind would jump into a flying machine without training! That's where Marker Inbound Flight Training comes in!
Marker Inbound provides training from instructors certified through the Aero Sports Connection. Our instructors are required to have the FAA exemption for tandem flying so they can actually take you up on your first few flights to let you get the hang of it before solo flight. While we do provide wheel launch (Pictured at right) training, we specialize in tricycle (Trike) training.
At Marker Inbound, we have an Advanced Flight Instructor on staff that trains instructors. So if you're an old pro in PPG's and want to share your passion with the next generation of pilots we can train you to be an instructor.
Also, if you have been flying foot launch and want to transition to trikes we have a course just for you!
Discover the Beauty of Flight with Marker Inbound Flight Training:
Frequently Asked Questions
Please reach us at info@markerinbound.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
A powered paraglider, or PPG, is considered an ultra-light aircraft by the Federal Aviation Administration. (FAA) They are generally designed for a single occupant and consist of an engine, propeller, and gas tank on a body worn harness or mounted on a tricycle or quad-wheeled frame. (Marker Inbound only uses tricycles.) A cloth glider (Similar to a parachute, but quite different.) is attached via lines and risers to the harness or frame. Once set up the engine provides thrust and the glider provides lift and directional control through two handles called "brakes". They must weigh less than 254 pounds, excluding fuel and emergency equipment.
For foot launch, the pilot starts a slow run while adding power to the engine to inflate and lift the glider overhead, then hops into a seat once the glider is ready to lift off. For wheel launch the pilot is seated in a frame with 3 or 4 wheels. (Trike or quad.) The craft rolls for takeoff and after landing, but the glider inflates and works the same way as for foot launch.
No, there is no license requirement for operating a PPG. And by the letter of the law training is not required. But no reasonable dealer is going to sell you equipment without training, and no reasonable person would try to fly a PPG without having instruction from a sanctioned instructor. By not doing so you risk death or great bodily injury to yourself and others, and significant property damage.
Marker inbound uses the Fly Products Eco 2 Light trike, with a powerful RMZ-500 engine for our tandem introductory instructional flights. And while the trike will glide perfectly well with the engine off, it is equipped with a ballistic parachute for emergencies. A ballistic parachute fires like a cannon to launch the emergency parachute.
We currently do not do retail sales. Contact us for a recommendation on where to purchase equipment.
No. The FAA does not issue certificates for PPG pilots. However, the FAA does require PPG instructors to be certified through a national organization. Certified PPG instructors are the only people that can take passengers (Called a tandem flight) and the flight must be instruction.
No. Since ultra-lights can only be single seat machines, a special exemption is needed to fly "passengers" on instructional flights in a two-seat PPG, or tandem as they are known. The FAA has granted an exemption to several national organizations who certify PPG instructors. Only instructors with a current exemption may carry passengers and it must be for INSTRUCTIONAL PURPOSES, not just joy riding or seeing the sights. If someone is offering to take you for a ride in a PPG, ask to see their exemption letter or just steer clear! You may be putting yourself at great risk by flying with someone who is willing to break the rules!
Part 103 of the Federal Aviation Regulations govern PPG rules and equipment. You can view part 103 here. You will notice it is very short compared to the volumes of pages and pages governing certified aircraft and pilots. That's because the PPGs and pilots are not FAA certified, and largely unregulated.
Admittedly, one big purpose of an introductory instructional flight is to get you "bit by the bug"! But you may want to learn more about the sport for many reasons. The lesson begins with a little bit of what we call ground school. This includes a safety briefing and some basic information about paragliders and how they work. (Nothing too complicated!) We will then strap you in, get your helmet on and communications working, then off we go for a nice, gentle, informative ride. Your instructor will be doing take-offs and landings, but you will actually get to control the glider in flight during your instruction. Your instructor will explain what they are doing and point out some of the sights in the area to help orient you. Things look different from the air! You will then land back at the site you departed from. We don't recommend a flight over one hour. Thirty to 45 minutes is about perfect for a first flight.
No. Paragliders cannot fly over congested areas, or an open-air assembly of persons. Would you want an uncertified aircraft with an uncertified pilot flying over your house?
I hope, very soon! I am in the process of finishing my instructor requirements. We will post prices and availability once I have my exemption. STAY TUNED!
Marker Inbound Flight Training, Fishers, Indiana
info@markerinbound.com
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Email: info@markerinbound.com